This March I will be participating in the mont
h-long Slice of Life Challenge. Each day I will be posting a ‘slice’ from my life. This year I am using Natalie Goldberg’s book Old Friend from Far Away: The Practice of Writing Memoir to provide my sparks for memoir writing. Each post will be a quick write using one of Natalie’s exercises.
I was asked by a slicer why I chose to write out my slices and share the notebook pages. Here are my thoughts on that.
I want to write out my memories by hand. I find my thought process is very different when I do that. I think the slowness of it (compared to my typing speed) invites me to linger/envision a bit more and a bit longer and I am more immersed in the memories. I can often type at the speed of memory, but the handwriting puts it all in slow motion, which if you think about it in videos and movies, brings importance, nostalgia, and, focus to the moment. I would encourage everyone to reflect on how your tools shape your writing and your remembering.
What have you waited a long time for? Go. Ten minutes
litcoachlady 
Paula, I can’t imagine this sadness. I know so many women who have been through it. My heat goes out to all. Now look at your 2 adult babies! Weird how time is. When we want something to happen or to be over, we wait and wait and wait. Remember the classroom clock? Ha, I’m sure you still do. 😆 And when we want things to last forever, poof, over.
Oh my word, I think those classroom clocks were rigged! Haaa!
Thanks for your honesty. I was lucky and didn’t experience any miscarriages, but my daughters have not been so lucky. I went through grief as if it were happening to me. Now I have two beautiful grandsons. I’m so sorry for your losses but happy for your gift of children. Do you have just the one?
I am blessed with two children. My son was born two years and one additional miscarriage later. I think I appreciate them more than I could have ever imagined without that heartache.
What a wonderful look into your life. Thank you for sharing.
What a heartfelt slice. Thank you for your honesty. It made me remember my own babies and their birth. What joy that you have your two beautiful children- hold them close! Thank you also for sharing Natalie Goldberg’s book… I bought it last night and used it in my slice today.
Oooh, I hope that book helps you with your memories the way it has helped me! Good luck!
Paula, I waited as I read, longing for a happy ending. The wait was worth reading the good news. I’ve never experienced a miscarriage, but my sister-in-law had five. I know this loss is every bit as real, every bit as painful as the loss of any other parent.
I also appreciate your comments about writing. I’ve been thinking about this much lately.
Oh, Paula, it must have been a hard piece to write – so honest and filled with emotions! Thanks for sharing this. I had to read it twice – your words pulled me in. I also am glad you talked about writing your posts. I do best when a pen (with ink that is purple, green, or turquoise) rides high in my hand, searching for rich oases to drink from. Your posts inspire me!
Oh, Paula. Don’t know where to begin. Just want to jump in my car and head north! Cherish your two lovely kiddos. I love your process. I so agree that writing longhand is distinctly different than composing on a keyboard. On the computer I feel as if we are jumping to the finished product right away, despite the fact that we edit and delete.
Hey my friend, jump in your car any day. Everyone we know is working through heartache, tragedy, and disappointment. We just never know how deeply. ((hugs))
I feel like I grieved and celebrated with you in this SOL. The road to parenthood is often filled with disappointment and despair. Yet, that moment of joy when sh was placed near your cheek brought you, and your reader, to tears of celebration.
Thanks for sharing this….I have not experienced grief like that, but I am still waiting to be a mother and I feel that the time for that to happen is slipping away. So I get the longing. And I’m so glad the long wait and pain eventually led to your two beautiful kiddos! I always appreciate how honest you are in your posts, even when it is something so personal, you still share it. It’s inspirational. As far as handwriting goes- I do like writing in my notebook, but I find for the slices and other longer stories I am better on the computer- but I love your handwritten posts and your sketchnotes!
Paula, you have me in tears, and I want to hug you. But, what a beautiful outcome of such a heartbreaking wait time.
I also love your reasoning as to why you choose to hand write- I’ve always preferred to hand write, but could never pinpoint why- but I think you did for me 🙂
I am going to try this writing prompt! Thank you as always for sharing ❤