What a gripping, moving story. I loved that you had all of this on tape, which is such a smart way to capture a conversation like this. I especially loved your clear statement at the end of this chapter, about what the real choice was. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.
Oh, thank you for reading and commenting on it. I wish I had BOTH sides of the conversation, but I could only hear my Mom's sighs and faint murmur. It was hard to listen to again. Thanks again for reading!
I'm sure it was! I can see how it would take a LOT of courage to listen to it. That's what I loved about the fact that you had the tape--we recreate difficult conversations so quickly in our memories, often inaccurately, and I loved that you had the foresight to record it so that you could be clear about what happened. I felt for both of you in this story--how hard it must have been for your mother to live with all those beliefs , how they must have stifled her, blocked love for herself and you, and how achingly hard that was for you and how hard you tried to be different. And then the freedom of saying the word homosexual! It's a very powerful piece.
Yes, if I’d just remembered it, I’m sure it would have been quite different. I’m glad I wanted to document this important conversation, even if it wasn’t pleasant. Pretty impressive for a 23 year old! I know it pained Mom to feel this separation between us and I truly believe that if she’d lived longer into the 21st century, she would have found a way to accept me because society has changed so much. Thanks again for your comments!
What a gripping, moving story. I loved that you had all of this on tape, which is such a smart way to capture a conversation like this. I especially loved your clear statement at the end of this chapter, about what the real choice was. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.
Oh, thank you for reading and commenting on it. I wish I had BOTH sides of the conversation, but I could only hear my Mom's sighs and faint murmur. It was hard to listen to again. Thanks again for reading!
I'm sure it was! I can see how it would take a LOT of courage to listen to it. That's what I loved about the fact that you had the tape--we recreate difficult conversations so quickly in our memories, often inaccurately, and I loved that you had the foresight to record it so that you could be clear about what happened. I felt for both of you in this story--how hard it must have been for your mother to live with all those beliefs , how they must have stifled her, blocked love for herself and you, and how achingly hard that was for you and how hard you tried to be different. And then the freedom of saying the word homosexual! It's a very powerful piece.
Yes, if I’d just remembered it, I’m sure it would have been quite different. I’m glad I wanted to document this important conversation, even if it wasn’t pleasant. Pretty impressive for a 23 year old! I know it pained Mom to feel this separation between us and I truly believe that if she’d lived longer into the 21st century, she would have found a way to accept me because society has changed so much. Thanks again for your comments!
Thank you for who you are, the risks you have taken, and your willingness to share so much with us all.
Thank you, Lisa! That means a lot. This was a tough chapter—probably the toughest!