Saying Goodbye: to the people, places, and things in our lives - Softcover

A Dream Of Things Anthology

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0982579446 ISBN 13: 9780982579442

Publisher: Dream of Things, 2010

Synopsis

Saying Goodbye is a collection of true stories about saying goodbye to the people, places, and things in our lives. The stories are universal. They are incredibly powerful and moving. And they are surprisingly uplifting and cathartic. "The stories are about love, really, not sadness," says one critic. "Despite all the sadness and grief that come with saying goodbye, there is love and joy and comedy on the Other Side." Says another: "If you have ever had to deal with loss, read this book. It will make you feel better."

These stories show that there is sadness in goodbyes, but there is also irony and humor. We cry about the sad stories, we laugh at the funny ones, and along the way, we learn valuable lessons about how we say goodbye -- sometimes under the most difficult of circumstances. We learn because the contributors are unflinchingly open and honest when it comes to sharing very personal stories about how they and their loved ones say goodbye. Taken together, these stories serve as amazing examples of how to say goodbye with grace, dignity, and good humor.

Saying Goodbye is the first anthology in a new series from Dream of Things intended to fill the gap between popular anthologies of stories that are "short and sweet" and the Best American Essays series, which are longer form. Dream of Things anthologies are collections of quality stories between 500 and 2,500 words. Instead of short and sweet, these stories are short and deep.

About this title

From the Author

A note from the editors: When we put out a call for submissions for stories about "saying goodbye," we didn't know what we would get. And frankly, we were worried that the book might end up being a real downer to read! But as the stories poured in from around the world, we began to realize that "saying goodbye" is something universal that we all experience on multiple levels. Many of the stories in this collection are sad, but many are also funny--and amazingly, there is often humor in even the sad stories. In the end, Saying Goodbye is an uplifting collection of essays that is cathartic and healing to read.

Here is an overview of the 31 essays in Saying Goodbye:

1. In "Bridget," a young man says goodbye to the memory of a little girl who has haunted him since childhood.
2. In "The Evolution of Your Goodbyes," the author lovingly recounts visits with her father as he drifts away via Alzheimer's disease.
3. In "Daddy's Request," a daughter learns that her father can sense things, even if he can't see them.
4. "Intersections" traces the comings and goings of a woman, her mother, and her daughter.
5. "The Sea Monster" begins with a brother and sister building sand castles on the beach, and ends with a woman who won't go back to the sea.
6. "Benediction: Mom's Last Scrabble Game" tells the story of an uncanny Scrabble victory by a woman in pink bedroom slippers.
7. "Love Letters" is the heart-wrenching story of a widower's decision to honor his promise to his late wife about their love letters.
8. "The Skid Row Float" recounts the humorous procession of sofas that the author's family inherits from a series of lovely old great aunts.
9. "Dawn" is a wonderful tribute from one strong friend to another.
10. "Holding Him Softly" is an intimate look at a young woman's decision to give up her son for adoption.
11. In "Dreaming as the Summers Die," an adopted daughter clings to memories of her "real" mother.
12. In "The Lilac Bush," the scent of lilacs from a sidewalk stand in New York City takes the author back to the lilac bush in the backyard of her childhood home--and to memories of her mother.
13. In "We Are Gathered," a wedding reminds us of those who are no longer with us--and of the importance of celebrating life.
14. In "Finding the Words," a four-year-old boy impresses his mother with his grasp of the situation at a funeral.
15. In "The Santa Sack," a young man leaves home, and a mother tucks away the sack that held his Christmas presents each year.
16. In "A Tree of Life," children climb and a falcon roosts in a tree that sprang from ashes.
17. In "At Gilda's," a woman teaches yoga at a cancer center, and learns lessons about living with disease.
18. In "Ghosthouse," a woman returns to the neighborhood where she grew up, only to find her old house has gone missing!
19. In "Pickles," the deliberate, joyful labor of a dying woman comes to fruition when two sisters find their mother's pickles while cleaning out her refrigerator.
20. In "Memorial Day," a woman teeters between her marriage and an affair before finding purpose and a reason for "wide-eyed, deliberate living."
21. In "Goodbye Upstairs," a man decides to clean house--before it's too late.
22. In "Dummy Dora," a little girl has trouble saying goodbye to her pacifier.
23. In "Lotus, Falling," a mother's final days are akin to "a lotus blossom falling gently to the ground."
24. "Turning in My Keys" is the last act as a teacher retires after 37 years in the classroom.
25. In "Saying Goodbye to a Faithful Companion," a writer laments the departure of his favorite writing outfit--and old jogging suit that his wife decides is a little too old.
26. In "Puppy Love," a woman's time with her new puppy passes too quickly.
27. In "The Guest in My Mother's Home," a daughter adapts to her new role as a "guest" when she returns home.
28. In "The Pink Thing," you'll be delighted when the author finds the lost "pink thing"--and when you find out what the "pink thing" is!
29. In "A Bloody Good Party," you can't help but admire the moxie of a man who helps plan his own funeral!
30. In "The Mumo Letters," a young woman keeps her late grandmother up-to-date on family developments via a series of letters.
31. In "Au Revoir Jane," a young woman learns from an older woman about how to live in style.

About the Author

Saying Goodbye is an anthology of true stories by 31 authors from the United States, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere. The publisher was worried that no one would want to share such personal stories, or that the end result could end up being too depressing to read. But authors from around the world shared beautiful stories about saying goodbye to family members, relationships, jobs, pets, old homes, couches, jogging suits (yes, even jogging suits!), the past, and more. The result is a wonderful mix of stories that blend sorrow and humor.

Contributors:
"Bridget" Stephen Parrish
"The Evolution of Your Goodbyes" Ruth Schiffmann
"Daddy's Request" Molly Lemmons
"Intersections" Kate Dernocoeur
"The Sea Monster" Iwona Tokc-Wilde
"Benediction: Mom's Last Scrabble Game" Betty Jo Goddard
"Love Letters" Mary E. McIntyre
"The Skid Row Float" Annmarie B. Tait
"Dawn" Diana M. Amadeo
"Holding Him Softly" Denise Emanuel Clemen
"Dreaming as the Summers Die" Terri Elders
"The Lilac Bush" Kathe Kokolias
"We Are Gathered" Dianna Calareso
"Finding the Words" Maria Duffy
"The Santa Sack" Glynis Scrivens
"A Tree of Life" Amy Munnell
"At Gilda's" Jennifer Lang
"Ghosthouse" Roberta Beach Jacobson
"Pickles" Gail Kirkpatrick
"Memorial Day" Deanna Hershiser
"Goodbye Upstairs" Mary Ellington
"Dummy Dora" Eva M. Chapman
"Lotus, Falling" Katrin Horowitz
"Turning in My Keys" Ann Ingalls
"Saying Goodbye to a Faithful Companion" Robert B. Robeson
"Puppy Love" Susan Weich
"The Guest in My Mother's Home" Maryann McCullough
"The Pink Thing" Ann Reisfeld Boutté
"A Bloody Good Party" Alison Cameron
"The Mumo Letters" Dara Hodge-LaRue
"Au Revoir May" Jane Shortall

About this edition

• Publisher: Dream of Things
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0982579446
• ISBN 13: 9780982579442
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 230
• Editor: Julie Rember