Pondering the Final Curtain
Taking a look at my life; found no regrets.44 total reviews
Comment from acerisestory
I enjoyed your essay very much. I especially like the idea that you have no regrets and the reasons therefor. I am from your generation and "sort-of" went the way you did. The essay is well written and clear. My only hope is that you aren't dying anytime soon! Good job. Best wishes. acerisestory
reply by the author on 03-May-2014
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I enjoyed your essay very much. I especially like the idea that you have no regrets and the reasons therefor. I am from your generation and "sort-of" went the way you did. The essay is well written and clear. My only hope is that you aren't dying anytime soon! Good job. Best wishes. acerisestory
Comment Written 03-May-2014
reply by the author on 03-May-2014
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acerisestory: thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts on this story. Unfortunately, ten months ago I was given six months to live. I'm in congestive heart failure after 18 years of coronary artery disease. My heart is black, three times the normal size and I have one coronary artery left. So, when I talk of my "final curtain", I'm not exaggerating. But, I'm stubborn, have good doctors and great medication and will manage to stretch these last months into a year or two. livelylinda
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I am so sorry, livelylinda. I wish you the very best. I'll pray for more YEARS for you.
acerisestory
Comment from GWHARGIS
This was a great heaping spoon of Frank Sinatra. I liked the way you brought the whole thing together. nice synopsis of your life, without it being dry and rigid. I really enjoyed the way your dreams were shot down, one by one. Only thing left was suburbia. Great story.
reply by the author on 03-May-2014
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This was a great heaping spoon of Frank Sinatra. I liked the way you brought the whole thing together. nice synopsis of your life, without it being dry and rigid. I really enjoyed the way your dreams were shot down, one by one. Only thing left was suburbia. Great story.
Comment Written 03-May-2014
reply by the author on 03-May-2014
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Thanks GW, for reading and sharing your thoughts. livelylinda
Comment from JB Lynn
"...my final curtain hovering over-head, soon to be making its last closure." - Very provocative image.
"I then questioned some of the roads [I chose]." - Using "I chose" instead of "I've chosen" strengthens this statement a little more.
"My excitement was such a high, that I forgot to be scared." - I love this statement!
I especially liked the "no regrets" ending to this mostly because you're honest enough to share that not everything is "picture-perfect", but it's your life and that's what makes it perfect for you.
Thank you for sharing and good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 03-May-2014
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"...my final curtain hovering over-head, soon to be making its last closure." - Very provocative image.
"I then questioned some of the roads [I chose]." - Using "I chose" instead of "I've chosen" strengthens this statement a little more.
"My excitement was such a high, that I forgot to be scared." - I love this statement!
I especially liked the "no regrets" ending to this mostly because you're honest enough to share that not everything is "picture-perfect", but it's your life and that's what makes it perfect for you.
Thank you for sharing and good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 03-May-2014
reply by the author on 03-May-2014
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Thanks so much for reading, JB, offering help and your thoughts on the story. livelylinda
Comment from judester
Wow, an honest and brave look at your life. Good choices or bad, this is your journey. I think that you are extremely truthful in retrospect and that's what makes this piece so powerful. I wish you peace,love and clarity. Judester
reply by the author on 03-May-2014
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Wow, an honest and brave look at your life. Good choices or bad, this is your journey. I think that you are extremely truthful in retrospect and that's what makes this piece so powerful. I wish you peace,love and clarity. Judester
Comment Written 03-May-2014
reply by the author on 03-May-2014
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judester: thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. livelylinda AND, thanks for the six stars which are always always unexpected but delightful.
Comment from Norbanus
You did quite well, and we can tell
you've learned to face that curtain
The Bible says three score and ten
but we don't know for certain
There comes a time in all our lives
When we must take a look
At what we're leaving in our wake
And what it really took
to leave the world a better place
for having seen our tread.
And know that we've not left disgrace
or something else to dread.
reply by the author on 03-May-2014
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You did quite well, and we can tell
you've learned to face that curtain
The Bible says three score and ten
but we don't know for certain
There comes a time in all our lives
When we must take a look
At what we're leaving in our wake
And what it really took
to leave the world a better place
for having seen our tread.
And know that we've not left disgrace
or something else to dread.
Comment Written 03-May-2014
reply by the author on 03-May-2014
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Thanks for reading. livelylinda
Comment from Chrisfiore
Greetings livelylinda,
Nice story elegantly told. You and I are about the same age and probably shared many life changing moments during the 60's and 70's. I agree with your assessment, we do the best we can with the information and life experience we have at the time. We can always look back and think, "If I'd known that I wouldn't have done this" But the key is, we DIDN'T know that so we did what we did.
I was raised with 6 sisters by a single mother on welfare. (one of my sisters was named Linda, by the way) I hated my life and blamed my mother for all my miseries and short comings, blamed her for my own failings, blamed her for my lack of initiative, intelligence, interaction... you name it. It was only as I became an adult with my own children and problems that I realized her circumstances and her limited choices.
There is an old saying, "The older I get, the smarter my parents become" and it is true. My oldest sister still gets angry and blames my mother for things that happened to her over 50 years ago and refuses to let go of the past. I learned a long time ago just what you have stated here, we act and re-act according to the information and knowledge we have at the time. Sometimes life is not fair, but we make of it what we can, with or without regrets.
Sinatra sang the song, but Paul Anka wrote it. Here's to writers like you and me.
My best to you with this contest entry. ;) Chrisfiore
reply by the author on 03-May-2014
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Greetings livelylinda,
Nice story elegantly told. You and I are about the same age and probably shared many life changing moments during the 60's and 70's. I agree with your assessment, we do the best we can with the information and life experience we have at the time. We can always look back and think, "If I'd known that I wouldn't have done this" But the key is, we DIDN'T know that so we did what we did.
I was raised with 6 sisters by a single mother on welfare. (one of my sisters was named Linda, by the way) I hated my life and blamed my mother for all my miseries and short comings, blamed her for my own failings, blamed her for my lack of initiative, intelligence, interaction... you name it. It was only as I became an adult with my own children and problems that I realized her circumstances and her limited choices.
There is an old saying, "The older I get, the smarter my parents become" and it is true. My oldest sister still gets angry and blames my mother for things that happened to her over 50 years ago and refuses to let go of the past. I learned a long time ago just what you have stated here, we act and re-act according to the information and knowledge we have at the time. Sometimes life is not fair, but we make of it what we can, with or without regrets.
Sinatra sang the song, but Paul Anka wrote it. Here's to writers like you and me.
My best to you with this contest entry. ;) Chrisfiore
Comment Written 03-May-2014
reply by the author on 03-May-2014
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Chrisfiore: thank you for reading this story and sharing your thoughts and life history. You know, I didn't realize that Paul Anka wrote that song. It was and still is, a great one. livelylinda
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Yes, it is pretty cool. Paul Anka wrote some good songs but most associate him with "Diana" and little else.
Paul says the song was written especially for Frank and he tried to write it as he thought Frank would.
Writers never get the credit they deserve. ;)
Comment from Carolyn 'Deaton' Stephens
Your story of no regrets for the life you chose to live, is quite touching. It causes one to reflect back on their own life and take inventory of things done, or things left undone, and to ask oneself, do I regret this.
Well done and good luck in the contest.
:-) Carolyn
reply by the author on 03-May-2014
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Your story of no regrets for the life you chose to live, is quite touching. It causes one to reflect back on their own life and take inventory of things done, or things left undone, and to ask oneself, do I regret this.
Well done and good luck in the contest.
:-) Carolyn
Comment Written 03-May-2014
reply by the author on 03-May-2014
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Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts on this story. Glad it made you think! livelylinda
Comment from visionary1234
Bravo for you Linda! To be in the 'no regrets' position is indeed one of power and peace my dear, even though all is never 'perfect'. I know what it's like to feel choiceless and defeated (part of the 50's culture unfortunately - we'd yet to break free). But I'm so glad for you that you've reached that position of piece - may your 'final curtain' be one of red velvets and comfort ...
Some spacing errors between paragraphs you might want to check?
:)Sharyn
reply by the author on 02-May-2014
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Bravo for you Linda! To be in the 'no regrets' position is indeed one of power and peace my dear, even though all is never 'perfect'. I know what it's like to feel choiceless and defeated (part of the 50's culture unfortunately - we'd yet to break free). But I'm so glad for you that you've reached that position of piece - may your 'final curtain' be one of red velvets and comfort ...
Some spacing errors between paragraphs you might want to check?
:)Sharyn
Comment Written 02-May-2014
reply by the author on 02-May-2014
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Sharyn: thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts on this story. The spacing errors are not mine, something to do with the site?? liveylinda
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oh goodness, this damned site drives me nuts when it does that! glad it's not on your end Linda - it's really obvious stuff like foreshortened lines cut off. Maybe ask Tom to look at it?
Comment from Muffins
Extraordinary, no fuse honest voice regarding the choices we made and didn't make in life. The voice is smart and unapologetic. Your essay makes the reader stop and think about the choices they did and did not make in their own life , and isn't that the job of a writer to make people think? And you've done just that.
reply by the author on 02-May-2014
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Extraordinary, no fuse honest voice regarding the choices we made and didn't make in life. The voice is smart and unapologetic. Your essay makes the reader stop and think about the choices they did and did not make in their own life , and isn't that the job of a writer to make people think? And you've done just that.
Comment Written 02-May-2014
reply by the author on 02-May-2014
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Muffins: thank you so much for reading this story and sharing your thoughts. I am always so happy when what I have written gets some reaction from readers. Linda
Comment from Pegcook
This is an honest, reflective appraisal of what this reader views as "a life well-lived."
The lines that caught my attention have the creative thinking that marks a true writer. They are:
"Unfortunately, that road was filled with the notorious Michigan post-winter pot-holes and after only one semester, I fell into a pot-hole and that journey ended, too."
"Some 60's music which poked fun at these old-fashioned values"
And the last line assures me that you, too, view your life as a life well-lived. "My soul will be light and free to explore the Heavens."
Thank you for sharing your story.
reply by the author on 02-May-2014
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This is an honest, reflective appraisal of what this reader views as "a life well-lived."
The lines that caught my attention have the creative thinking that marks a true writer. They are:
"Unfortunately, that road was filled with the notorious Michigan post-winter pot-holes and after only one semester, I fell into a pot-hole and that journey ended, too."
"Some 60's music which poked fun at these old-fashioned values"
And the last line assures me that you, too, view your life as a life well-lived. "My soul will be light and free to explore the Heavens."
Thank you for sharing your story.
Comment Written 02-May-2014
reply by the author on 02-May-2014
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Pegcook: thanks for reading this story and sharing your thoughts. A writer's goal is to reach her/his readers and leave an impression, hopefully positive. livelylinda
