One Life; Six Words
I was given a fantastic Christmas gift this year. This book is wonderful and thought-provoking. Each six word memoir is multi-faceted. On the surface, you have the story that the words tell you. Below that is the story they don’t tell you. Take, for example, the memoir “cursed with cancer, blessed with friends.” What does that say to you? I see an older woman battling breast cancer. She’s tired and sick and doesn’t want to get out of bed. Her phone rings and it’s her dearest friend on the other end. She’s coming over and can she bring anything special? A half an hour later she arrives with Chunky Monkey ice cream and The First Wives Club on DVD. For a few hours, cancer is forgotten and instead, there’s laughter and ice cream.
In reality, the memoir was written by a 12 year old girl with inoperable, incurable cancer. Quite a different story, indeed.
The first time I read through the book, I read the surface stories. Then, I read it again and tried to imagine the real story underneath. I’ve read the book three times since Christmas, and I find new stories each time I read it. I’ve also written countless six word memoirs of my own:
finally found my happily ever after
motherless daughter mothers daughter; lacks guidance
haven’t shut my mouth in thirty years
sticking foot in mouth since 1976
skinny girl inside is finally outside
It’s your turn. Either in comments or in your own post, tell me some of your six word memoirs. Sum up your life in just six words. It’s easier than you think. (If you do your own post, let me know and I’ll link it.)
Filed under: daily
LOVED your memoirs!
hmmm……
dancer turned bodyworker turned restless mom
optimist seeks truth, chocolate, peaceful parenting
never “partied”, too uptight, too late?
Dude, this is HARD.
1 Jenna said this (January 5, 2009 at 7:10 pm)
Easy my ass! This is hard!
Still trying to find my purpose
Luckily have family, friends, pets, love
Love to sleep, read, write, eat
2 Shelly said this (January 5, 2009 at 7:25 pm)
what the hell is she doing
3 lady godiva said this (January 5, 2009 at 9:03 pm)
Erica wanted some six word memoirs:
Love my girls. Both of them.
He came, he saw, he chuckled.
My life? Many problems, many solutions.
Six word memoirs are good fun!
Finally (as in one more memoir),
It all works out. . .relax, enjoy!
G E R A L D
4 gander said this (January 6, 2009 at 7:08 am)
I can’t come up with any now, but I’m definitely adding that book to my must-read list!
Also, I’m always thrilled when I find out that someone else is 32 years old. I don’t know why, but I love it when I love someone who is my own age.
My birthday is 8/15, by the way. The big three three this year!! I’m excited!
5 lora said this (January 6, 2009 at 8:22 am)
So jealous of your last one! And look, that’s six words! Done!
6 Jess said this (January 6, 2009 at 8:25 am)
Ok, mine are on my blog. I love yours!
7 heidi said this (January 6, 2009 at 10:55 am)
Wanted to be Superman; sans dick.
(It’s true!)
8 Amber said this (January 6, 2009 at 10:58 am)
No babies for me, what now?
9 June said this (January 6, 2009 at 11:51 am)
Everything I wanted, nothing I expected.
10 Marie Green said this (January 6, 2009 at 3:50 pm)
Mine is up.
http://itsnotaboutthatanyway.blogspot.com/2009/01/six-words-for-erica.html
11 Sara said this (January 7, 2009 at 7:54 pm)