Thursday, December 8, 2011

Abnormalities

Jackie Gingrich Cushman:
This week, I'm writing a letter to my 16-year-old self. The letter is inspired by the book, "Dear Me: A Letter to My Sixteen-Year-Old Self," edited by Joseph Galliano (Atria Books, 2011).

Be assured that 16 is a shaky time for everybody. Nothing seems to fit, nothing seems easy, and life's future is unknown. On the bright side, life seems to hold much promise and possibility. As you grow older, hang on to the idea that life is full of promise and possibility.

No, you are not normal, but neither is anyone else. Everyone has something that makes them "not normal." Your something might be more visible (yes, your dad did run for Congress and lose twice before you were 10; he won when you were 11; two years later, your parents divorced). But everyone has a family member who is crazy, in jail, estranged, sick or any combination of those and other abnormalities. NO ONE is normal.
This guy will make a great president, right?

UPDATE FOR THE NERVOUS TEEN:


You're just sixteen so be assured
Your family contains a turd.
It might be mom or pop, it's true
But they might think that turd is you.

10 comments:

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Dear Self: put everything into Microsoft when you're ten years older.
~

Smut Clyde said...

But everyone has a family member who is crazy, in jail, estranged, sick or any combination of those and other abnormalities.

I feel deprived now.
Of course it may just be that we are all too smart to have been caught.

Hamish Mack said...

As you grow older, hang on to the idea that life is full of promise and possibility.
'Cause everything is turning to shit around you so you have to think it will get better.

Dr.KennethNoisewater said...

So her message to young women is to be dependent on a fairy tale creature and a man ...and this wil see you through life? That seems like a GREAT idea.

tigris said...

That's just the kind of condescending, preachy, obvious pap 16-year-olds love! Let the enlightenment begin!

Substance McGravitas said...

You're just sixteen so be assured
Your family contains a turd
It might be mom or pop, it's true
But they might think that turd is you.

wiley said...

Dear self: when leaving your domicile to go shopping or for any other purpose, don't forget to put your pants on.

Hamish Mack said...

I don't think that that can be stressed, enough, Wiley

mikey said...

It's like they told us. Fucked up is what fucked up does.

Y'know?

But everyone has a family member who is crazy, in jail, estranged, sick or any combination of those and other abnormalities.

Yeah. Easier when you only see them now and then, and can pretend you give a shit. Harder when that's YOU. And nobody actually gives a shit, or actually even worse, the best human connection you can get is on the intert00bz.

It's hard to be the crazy one. You KNOW you're that, and they see you that way, and yet you still have to break shit and cry inappropriately.

But the question finally has to be confronted: Who is seeing, and who is blind?

Substance McGravitas said...

Everybody?