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Through The Fire: Better than where I’ve been
Through The Fire is a series of reader submissions. It offers people a safe, anonymous place to tell their personal stories of separation and divorce, with the intention of fostering empathy and compassion around the shared experience of having a marriage fail. If you would like to submit an original story to this series, click here. Today’s guest post is by an anonymous reader.
I always find myself disgruntled about the fact that I am divorced when I’m asked to fill out forms that have these choices:
Married – Single – Divorced – Separated
Because, how is that relevant to my impending root canal? Now the medical receptionist gets to judge the fact that I am divorced now too…I check all of the boxes – I have been all of the things. I follow the check all that apply way of life.
That lovely September day I didn’t think that I’d be checking that box – as I unwrapped presents from Crate & Barrel and picked out the trio of green toned hydrangea for my bouquet I didn’t think it would happen. And yet, it happened.
Crown and anchor me, or let me sail away
This weekend we celebrated my birthday, and of course Mother’s Day.
Four-two
So. Several things have happened. Are happening.
First I should note that’s it’s my birthday today. This is more of an incidental plot point than anything else, because the real matter at hand is that yesterday I received flowers from my parents for my birthday, and the card attached read, in all-caps:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND MOTHER’S DAY TO
OUR BEAUTIFUL, SMART, AND
SUCCESSFUL DAUGHTER. YOU ARE IN
OUR THOUGHTS. LOVE, MOM AND DAD
And I sat there clutching that note in my fist, crying, because, 1) this is the soul of what parents are, or at least what they should be, to their children: a relentless cheering section with boundless faith in who you are, have become, and will be, despite any and all failures, setbacks, mistakes and disappointments. And my recognition of that – of this essential capital-T life Truth, and of how lucky I am to have parents who embody that – made my throat tighten with a gasp of joy and appreciation.
And I was also crying because, 2) I don’t believe any of it.
Required Reading for May 11th, 2012
Stuff around the web this week that inspired, enlightened or amused me:
- Mysterious Marine Monster Caught in Video – HOW DO WE KILL IT WITH FIRE?!?!
- The State Department’s Official Travel Advisory for Your Mother’s House. – Take heed, children.
- George Clooney though the years: 50 photos for his 50th birthday – Fifty years old and he’s still got it.
- Touching, Beautiful Uncensored Outtakes from Colbert’s Maurice Sendak Interview – Get out your handkerchiefs, folks.
- 50 Shades of Suck – Seriously ladies, it’s just awful. But this? HILARIOUS.
- CONTINUE READING »
