Non-fiction / The Gift that Keeps on Giving (Analysis)
This is an excerpt from a blog I wrote in response to a young girl’s question to me about living with what others refer to as a disability.
It took me many years and a lot of hard work to realize I was not alone. Since I was born in the 50’s life tended to be isolating… I was one of only two “handicapped” kids in my school until high school.
I will share with you what is now termed an “Aha Moment” in my life, which paved the way for a “Take Life By The Horns” attitude which is still with me today.
When I was 5 yrs old we lived in military housing in Germany. At this time I had a 3” difference in leg lengths and wore the old metal braces on both legs, both hands and feet were severely clubbed. I refer to these times as my, “Iron Maiden Days.” Mom would let me play in the front yard, while she did her magic on her sewing machine..she loved making me beautiful dresses, always with one eye on me through the big picture window in the front room.
On this particular sunny day, I had been playing with the neighborhood kids, when one obnoxious boy who ranked a few years older (and taller) than me referred to me in a term I had never heard, nor knew, the meaning of. However, I did know right off the bat, that his tone and body language which accompanied the word were usually not used with terms of endearment!
In my determined way, I ran in the house, well… waddled in, and with a loud voice and a very stern look on my angelic face asked my mom, “Mommy, am I a cripple?”
Her one word answer was straight forward and matter of fact.
It was all I needed to hear to send me back outside, with confidence and tenacity, as if I knew I was being watched over by General Patton and his entire Army! I turned on my heels, limped back outside as though I was a soldier heading for the front line of battle. As I approached my accuser, I looked him straight in the eyes and in tandem as I raised my right arm to his body (to make certain he completely understood me) I proceeded to knock him over while uttering these words with an attitude of sheer determination and confidence, “I AM NOT A CRIPPLE!!!!”
One word, one moment in time….
Neither of us really knew that at that moment, Mom had given me the greatest gift that day…. one that I would re-open every day, for the rest of my life.
Focusing on the good “Aha” moments of my life is something which has taken practice and determination, but by doing so, I have made my Arthrogryposis an asset, one that has enriched my life far more profoundly than I could have ever imagined in my wildest dreams.”
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The blog is as well written as one can hope from a blog.
As I approached my accuser, I looked him straight in the eyes and in tandem as I raised my right arm to his body (to make certain he completely understood me) I proceeded to knock him over while uttering these words with an attitude of sheer determination and confidence, “I AM NOT A CRIPPLE!!!!”
This sentence could use some punctuation. It feels like a run on.
Really I can’t fault much here. It was well put together. I could waste words describing how meaningful it was, but you know what you wrote. Just know it was moving. Good writing.
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My only question on this piece is your note part. How do you want to have this published? As a book of excerpts? Or as this piece as part of a story? Both would work wonderfully! I loved it, I loved how you mixed humor with something that was serious. My only three suggestions, which are really small is having the title be Aha, having your mother’s actual words of what she said like “No”, and in your second paragraph when you use “now termed” I would just take it out, it would have it flow better. You know, just say is was my Aha moment in life. Good job!
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