Where'd You Come Up With That?!~ Wednesdays - Give It a Few Days

Image from Bewilderingstories.com

It's almost the first anniversary of my short story "Give It A Few Days" at Bewildering Stories. This story is one of my favorites because of the subject. It deals with how well our minds try to protect us from the things that scare us, make us sad, or a reality we just don't want to face. 

I've suffered from anxiety my entire life, so I know first-hand how well our brains can control our thoughts, feelings and just general well-being. And, my family has suffered a great deal of over the past few years, and dealing with grief is a personal journey, and no two people grieve in the same way. 

That's where I came up with this story. I lost my mother and father in 2013 and 2014, respectively. In my mind I picture my parents still alive and well, sitting on their front porch. My dad with his cigar and my mom relaxing on the porch swing. Somewhere deep in my subconscious, I know this isn't true, but it helps me so much to deal with the loss. If I sat down every day and thought about how much I miss them—their voice, laughter and hugs, and just a simple conversation, I'd breakdown and drown in my grief. I do the same with other loved ones I've lost and miss. I picture them alive and happy. 

The main character in this short story, Cheryl, has to deal with an unexpected event in her life she can't accept. So, she processes and deals with it the only way she can. Her mind protects her from reality. 

I hope this story resonates with anyone who has been forced to face an unexpected and tragic life event. 

Here is the link to "Give It A Few Days" at Bewildering Stories.

I welcome any feedback, so if you'd like to contact feel free! Contact Me

Happy Reading!

Classic Movie Mondays~ Dark Victory

Photo courtesy of IMD https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031210/

I think I've expressed my love for Bette Davis in prior posts. I watch every movie she is in, even if she isn't in the staring role. She has her own uniqueness mannerisms and voice that really stand out no matter what type of character she plays. 

In Dark Victory, Judith Traherne (Davis) is a young, rich socialite suffering from headaches and dizziness. She is urged by her family to see a doctor and learns she has a brain tumor and must have surgery. 

Dr. Steele (George Brent) performs the brain surgery and expects Judith to recover; however, he soon discovers after consulting with specialists that the surgery will only provide Judith temporary relief. And if that isn't bad enough, she will only live about a year after surgery. 
Dr. Steele decides to hide the bad news from Judith, so her last year is a happy one. 

Judith has a secretary/ best friend, Ann King (Geraldine Fitzgerald), she notices something isn't right when Judith returns home and Dr. Steele isn't as happy he should be after giving a young girl her life back. She pushes for information, and Dr. Steele reveals that Judith only has about a year to live, but he doesn't want her to know.

Photo Courtesy of https://movie-dude.co.uk/1Actors%20Pages/Geraldine%20Fitzgerald.htm

For me a viewer, I see why he doesn't want Judith to know, especially since he and Judith have developed feelings for each other, but at the same time, I have to wonder would it better to know? That's one question this move quickly brings to mind. Would you want to know if you were dying? There are advantages to knowing, such as spending time with loved ones and crossing things off your bucket list. But, there are also advantages to being left clueless, so you're not depressed and feel that others are pitying you. 

Ann keeps his secret. Dr. Steele and Judith plan to marry, but while in his office preparing for the move to Vermont, Judith finds a letter another doctor sent to her fiance' about her condition that states "PROGNOSIS NEGATIVE!" (Brings back memories of a Seinfeld episode, doesn't it?)

Judith's demeanor changes immediately. She has been lied to by someone she loves and trusts, and she is dying. Then when she discovers that Ann knew and didn't tell her, she goes into a manic depressive state and acts recklessly. 

But, her life does turn around. She and Dr. Steele finally discuss her feelings, and he urges her to find peace and enjoy the time she has left. Judith decides she will marry him and realizes she needs to enjoy her last months on earth with those who truly love her. 

They marry and move into their own little place where Judith finds peace and love. Her husband continues to search for a cure for his wife. They live happily, and Ann comes to visit. During Ann's last visit, Dr. Steele is called away to accept an award in New York, and the same day, Judith's sight darkens, which she knows is a sign she's about to die. This happens while she and Ann are outside planting bulbs. She tells Ann not to say a word to Dr. Steele and makes her promise. Ann, of course, is devastated.

Photo Courtesy of http://pictasetex.pw/BEST-PICTURE-NOMINEE-quotDark-Victoryquot-1939-with-Bette-Davis.html

 Judith acts as if nothing is wrong as she struggles to see and helps her husband pack for his trip. She does stop to hold him, which I think maybe the husband should've picked up on as something might be wrong. Maybe his excitement over the award and his trip made him miss this subtle clue? I also thought he'd notice her sort of clumsy movements, but he didn't. A doctor should notice these things! (I thought so anyway)

Photo Courtesy of  http://pictasetex.pw/BEST-PICTURE-NOMINEE-quotDark-Victoryquot-1939-with-Bette-Davis.html

I had mixed feelings about this scene and Judith's decision. I understand she doesn't want her husband to stay for her, but if given the choice, he would. I know this is her way of dying with dignity, but why alone? I would want my husband by my side--I think? It's a tough decision and not one I would make, personally, but I'm not Judith--Right?

She does die alone in her bed and that is the last scene of the movie. It is sad, but also it leaves me, as a viewer, feeling she made peace with her fate. Judith did what she felt she was right. 

Photo courtesy https://film.avclub.com/bette-davis-created-a-tearjerker-trope-in-dark-victory-1798280896

Movies like Dark Victory do make you think more about life and death. Each person handles his/her fate differently but eventually has to come to peace with death and accept it. It is a tearjerker. After watching I still have questions. 

How is Dr. Steele going to cope with being gone when Judith died? 

Does he wish he would've stayed and that she would have told him?

Bottom line is I did love this movie, even if the ending wasn't a happy one. But, we can't always have happy endings. We don't live in a fairytale world, and it's good to have movies that deal with life in a more realistic way. Sure, Dr. Steele could have miraculously found a cure for Judith and saved her, but that's not how life normally works. While I do believe in miracles, I also know that they don't happen every day, and for a story to be realistic and bring about true emotions, it has to be true to life. 

I'd watch this movie again and recommend to others who enjoy old movies as much as I do. 


Happy Reading! (And watching) 

Where'd You Come Up With That?! Wednesdays: "The Sixtieth Year"

"The Sixtieth Year" is a short story about Alice: Alice and her husband, Sam, are coming up to their 60th anniversary when the unthinkable happens. Sam dies of a heart attack, leaving Alice alone in this world of new-fangled things where she doesn’t belong. Her heart aches to be with her husband, so much so much so that she longs to die to be with him. 

I started writing Alice's story back in 2007 when my dad was first diagnosed with prostate cancer. One of my first thoughts was what would Mom do without him. At that time they'd been married 46 years. I couldn't imagine losing someone who shared my life for long. So, I stared writing the story of Alice, a women so distraught over her husband's unexpected death, that she, too, no longer wanted to be a part of this world. 

I didn't finish the story until 2013 when Mom passed away. She was diagnosed with peritoneal cancer in late 2011. She went through chemo, had surgery in early spring 2012, went though more chemo, but passed away in July 2013, leaving Dad to be the one alone.

Dad was devastated. He had so many emotions. He was inconsolable. I had never in my all life seen my Dad sob. I saw him tear up at my Grandma's funeral and caught a glimmer of tears in his eyes at my Uncle's funeral, but never saw him actually weep with so much grief. 

He felt guilty because Mom died and he was still here fighting his cancer. He was lonely, depressed, and didn't want to live without her. He stopped all treatments. 

After watching what Dad was going through, it was through tears I started writing Alice's story again. I finished the story within a few months, but didn't really do much with it. 

We lost Dad about 14 months later on September 7, 2014. The only comfort I can take in all this is that they are no longer suffering and they are together. 

So, the Alice character is sort of a combination of Mom and Dad. She is tough but lacks the will to go on with life. I do believe that people can die from a broken heart and loneliness after losing someone who was so part of their life. 

I decided it was time to share Alice's story. You can read Alice's story on HubPages.