“You shouldn’t be ashamed of us just because we choose a different lifestyle. When did you lose your sense of adventure?” Rose Mary Walls (The Glass Castle)
Book Proposal Fail
As many of you know, I’m working on a book about my mother’s murder and the events that preceded the tragedy, as well as, our lives after. For a while I was wrapped around the book proposal, particularly two parts: The genre and the competitive/comparative book list. I suppose if I had settled on the genre perhaps the book list would be easy, but no. I’d researched faith books about loss, memoirs, books specifically about a murder victims surviving family, true crime, etc. Throwing in the towel sounded really tempting to me at that point.
The Glass Castle
Well, I landed on a few potential books that actually have nothing to do with murder but do have a great deal to do with loss/tragedy and overcoming it. You may even say self-discovery. One book in particular was The Glass Castle. Strange how I stumbled upon it but so glad I did. First of all, Jeanette Walls is the story teller of all story tellers. The pages filled with the ups and downs of her life, her desperate attempt to escape it, and through it all- her undying love for her parents. I kept asking myself, how can she remember such detail? I also thought her ability to bounce from a heart wrenching memory to a lovingly unique one was incredible.
I finished the book, recommended it to my sister, and what do you know!!!??? It’s been transcribed into a movie! Yes! I cancelled cable a month ago so haven’t seen previews for anything. This is definitely marked on my calendar now- August 17, 2017. Mark Yours too!
Take Away
As I finished this story, I was inspired to begin embracing my past, or demons if you will, and the most important take away was this;
Whether we return to our roots on our own or God leads us to acknowledge them, there is power in the process.
I have a 20 year old daughter born with a chromosome deletion. Part of her health issues include spinal cord issues,visual impairment,developmental delay. SO many surgeries. She is young for her age. She is funny and sweet and oh so close to God. She is the most honest and the kindest person I have ever known. (& not just bc she is my girl!) She has never had a friend outside of family cousins and eventually they outgrow her. Tell me…how ? How do I teach her of her own self worth when the world around her tells her she is less then?How do I help her find her place in the world,to hold her head up high when the world tends to push her down? She is a gentle lil soul,naive and trusting…. she is also a strong lil warrior woman . I really need to know how to protect her and how to help her blossom. I have been very sick ad she will not have e forever. Thankyou.
Hello Belle. I cannot put into words how grateful I am for your courage and vulnerability. I will write a “Dear Mindy” post and speak to your questions.