Please be patient. I'm still here. Still writing. I'm just writing slower than I used to be able to. I'm working on this story and the one that will follow it, whichever hits my mood the most.
I’m a late-comer to trawling the internet, found your work at Fictionmania and devoured it. Wasn’t sure if I could find your blog (Hey, it took me a whole frustrating weekend just to set up an e-mail account; I’m good at following directions, but the tech world makes broad assumptions that everybody already knows the ins, outs, and jargon.).
Anyway, I left reviews all over your Fictionmania stories, they’re easy to find if you’re interested. Most of them are spread out over “The Bet”, and they’re the only ones from2022. I may be the only person to have ever read them. One thing I noticed looking at other people’s opinions was the fact that they will read an epic work like “Girlish” or “Twin Switch” and trash it because , well, it wasn’t a fantasy they were comfortable with. Get over it and find something else to do with your lives! ”.
Years ago, I had 4 of my own stories published by Reluctant Press, this would be around 1996. Then life started interfering and I lost my muse. 10years later, I, too, was diagnosed with cancer, a malignant growth blocking my stomach. People our age, I think, grew up believing that a cancer diagnosis was “the end”, especially if we had seen a neighbor or older relative succumb to it. It’s been 15 years since that day, and when I did get back to work I was good as ever, getting a job unloading trucks and pushing merchandise to the floor on the overnight shift at a nearby Target store. The side benefit was that after smoking 2 packs a day for 36 years, I quit after 3 days of radiation and chemo.before. Like you, I’ve been short and skinny all my life.. My numbers on my driver’s license are still the same as when I was 17, although I’m fudging on my height: I’ve lost close to 2inches, down to 5’5”. What I resented so much when I was growing up turned out to be an asset when I began venturing out and becoming active with the local and national tg community.
What was my point when I started ? Oh yeah: I love your work, the way you make me care about your characters to the point I can easily be moved to tears or occasional laughter. Like Stephen King’s work, even if the story isn’t your best, or if it isn’t something I’m particularly interested in (hasn’t happened yet, as far as I’m concerned), you still read on, riveted by your prose. I look forward to ordering one of your paperbacks on Amazon, and who knows, maybe get into the Kindle thing someday.
My other point? Cancer isn’t the end. I was so afraid that you might have passed on by the time I finished “the Bet”, since your self-description at the mall was not encouraging age-wise. And that was 9 years ago. As discouraging as post-surgery recovery can be, with some luck and a lot of patience, you can still emerge almost as good as new. I’m glad you’re still writing; hell, I’m glad we’re both still alive. And if you’re slowing down, well, that’s one of the privileges of senior citizenship, even if you’re still a sissy baby girl at heart (and mind). ( As am I.)
I glad you’re still here, and hope you’re doing well, also. When my surgeon told me they were going to take out my whole stomach (and I wouldn’t grow a new one, haha) I immediately asked whether I would have any quality of life. That was my main concern. He assured me I would. He also told me I’d be back at work in a month or so. Maybe on his planet.
So…Thank you for surviving, thank you for your wonderful stories, and best wishes for a long future.
Your faithful reader, Karen Baumgardner (aka Chicago Karen)
Dear Chicago Karen. Thank you so much for your inspiring words. Getting old isn't fun, but like you, I'm still here, still ticking. Everything is just so much more difficult. Thank you again - Karen Singer
2 comments:
Dear Karen,
I’m a late-comer to trawling the internet, found your work at Fictionmania and devoured it. Wasn’t sure if I could find your blog (Hey, it took me a whole frustrating weekend just to set up an e-mail account; I’m good at following directions, but the tech world makes broad assumptions that everybody already knows the ins, outs, and jargon.).
Anyway, I left reviews all over your Fictionmania stories, they’re easy to find if you’re interested. Most of them are spread out over “The Bet”, and they’re the only ones from2022. I may be the only person to have ever read them. One thing I noticed looking at other people’s opinions was the fact that they will read an epic work like “Girlish” or “Twin Switch” and trash it because , well, it wasn’t a fantasy they were comfortable with. Get over it and find something else to do with your lives!
”.
Years ago, I had 4 of my own stories published by Reluctant Press, this would be around 1996. Then life started interfering and I lost my muse. 10years later, I, too, was diagnosed with cancer, a malignant growth blocking my stomach. People our age, I think, grew up believing that a cancer diagnosis was “the end”, especially if we had seen a neighbor or older relative succumb to it. It’s been 15 years since that day, and when I did get back to work I was good as ever, getting a job unloading trucks and pushing merchandise to the floor on the overnight shift at a nearby Target store. The side benefit was that after smoking 2 packs a day for 36 years, I quit after 3 days of radiation and chemo.before. Like you, I’ve been short and skinny all my life.. My numbers on my driver’s license are still the same as when I was 17, although I’m fudging on my height: I’ve lost close to 2inches, down to 5’5”. What I resented so much when I was growing up turned out to be an asset when I began venturing out and becoming active with the local and national tg community.
What was my point when I started ? Oh yeah: I love your work, the way you make me care about your characters to the point I can easily be moved to tears or occasional laughter. Like Stephen King’s work, even if the story isn’t your best, or if it isn’t something I’m particularly interested in (hasn’t happened yet, as far as I’m concerned), you still read on, riveted by your prose. I look forward to ordering one of your paperbacks on Amazon, and who knows, maybe get into the Kindle thing someday.
My other point? Cancer isn’t the end. I was so afraid that you might have passed on by the time I finished “the Bet”, since your self-description at the mall was not encouraging age-wise. And that was 9 years ago. As discouraging as post-surgery recovery can be, with some luck and a lot of patience, you can still emerge almost as good as new. I’m glad you’re still writing; hell, I’m glad we’re both still alive. And if you’re slowing down, well, that’s one of the privileges of senior citizenship, even if you’re still a sissy baby girl at heart (and mind). ( As am I.)
I glad you’re still here, and hope you’re doing well, also. When my surgeon told me they were going to take out my whole stomach (and I wouldn’t grow a new one, haha) I immediately asked whether I would have any quality of life. That was my main concern. He assured me I would. He also told me I’d be back at work in a month or so. Maybe on his planet.
So…Thank you for surviving, thank you for your wonderful stories, and best wishes for a long future.
Your faithful reader, Karen Baumgardner (aka Chicago Karen)
Dear Chicago Karen. Thank you so much for your inspiring words. Getting old isn't fun, but like you, I'm still here, still ticking. Everything is just so much more difficult. Thank you again - Karen Singer
Post a Comment