Norm, I believe it was Macys, not Sears.. but you may have been fuzzy from the Ativan 🤷🏽♀️🤣🤣
Our family is colorful. And dysfunctional. And possibly criminal, lol.
It was also filled with love. Those two pill popping divas would have rained fire down upon anyone who hurt someone they loved.
You were so loved Stormin’ Norman❤️
Such a beautiful, golden, precocious, sweet and sour little blonde nugget of cuteness! You were adored. We all were!
And now one of us cousins is gone.. and I can’t breath either!
When I found out Sarah passed it took my breath away. I have grieved every day and will continue to grieve.
I have peace in thinking about her whole again with the crazy family that inspires much of your work❤️
All I can see is her sweet 7 year old face.. dancing and running around in summer dresses.. her laughter, which you described so vividly, floating on the breeze.. I’m choosing to remember the good.
I love you Norm. I love our crazy family. And I will miss your sister every day for the rest of my life.
You win! Your family is more f##ed up than mine. Or my family of origin. Bi polar father. Film director/producer. Alcoholic traded for Percodan, Valium , tuinols elephantine proportions . I , too young to understand. He screamed at all of his 6 daughters. All of whom have pretended ( exception moi) our Bev Hills home was Little House on the Prairie. Enter. Denial. Alcoholism. Pill addiction. Depression. Panic disorder. Narcissist disorder. The works. I’ve lost friends to suicide. One nephew tried 3 times. Last one flatlined but voila. Alive due to the miracle of UCLA or if there’s a higher being. Am I sorry for your sister ? Worse for you, your mom and her friends. Hanging is a brutal but brave act. Demons are wicked. I grinned with Kardashians . As your friend said and I’m paraphrasing with my words. Your stories , if I had balls , would laugh them off my body. .
I've gotten a lot of messages in the vein of this comment. There are more crooked family trees than we'd like to believe. Thanks for reading. Also, with your permssion, I'd love to add that last line to my About page when I revamp it...? ;)
You’re more than welcomed to use “ balls poetry “ as your very own as long as you don’t reference Patrick Mahomes .He is poetry in motion. A bird in flight.
"Your stories, if I had balls , would laugh them off my body." I've got one reader who had balls and said he laughed them off. I'd love to pair that with a reader who doesn't have balls but knows they would be laughed off. :)
To give this a “Like” is infuriatingly too little - tapping a heart icon to add +1 to the pile - but also perhaps the right amount of response, for I do, in fact, like this and appreciate the weight and splendor you endured to make this kind of work. Well done, my friend. I’m so sorry for this loss.
Every truly funny person I've ever known carried great pain. I see the connection, but i don't understand it. I worry about my youngest, who is one of those people.
I had to finally read this--if you can write it, I sure can read it. It's everything I want and expect from you--and more. This will get me through today and further.
Your eloquent and honest sharing of her story is beautiful and tragic...and made me both cry and smile. Grief is a tricky bitch, especially when she weaves such a complicated relationship between people. Sending you and your family much love and support.
Hi Norman, My condolences to you and your family on your sister's transition. People are complicated and you found a way to love your sister and set necessary boundaries. Maybe it will all make sense after we die. Hugs
Beautifully written, and it resonates with me on so many unspoken levels of my own experiences in life, love, laughter and grief. I am very truly appreciative of your talent and brain that compels you to write and weave this into a beautiful package.
Ha! I love this response. One friend sent me a screengrab of a comment that she didn't actually post, and it read, "Not your funniest. But it's okay." That's a friend who gets me. ;)
Wow, Norm- I am so touched by your story. I lost 2 of my younger brothers to suicide- the second one just this past November. My grandfather also took his own life when he was in his mid 40s. It saddens me ever time I think of them all- the crushing despair they all must have felt . All of them struggled with trauma of various types of- my brothers and I were bullied and physically and emotionally abused by our stepfather for many years. I have been I therapy since I was 20- I’m now 72.
You are so brave to share your story and you add laughter with gentleness and love. I’m sure you loved your sister and I’m so sorry for your loss and for the suffering you have endured. It appears your therapy is your writing and for that, I, along with all your readers, feel gratitude. Peace be with you.😔❤️
Linda. Generous you are to reach out to Norm . Your losses leave me speechless and that’s rare. The word “survivor “ I’ve felt overused. You have ! I’ll follow you.
That's rough, Linda. Sometimes the noise is too much. And, yeah, the writing is therapy, but the therapy is also therapy. ;) And so is friendship, laughter, basketball, Tom Petty, my wife, my kids... I'll take peace any way I can get it. Thank you for the kind words.
To shamelessly quote myself, “The best writing gives the reader a reason to feel something.” This post does that. Thanks, Norm. My condolences for your loss.
Norman, you're one of my people. I want you to know you're in my tribe even though we may be separated by hundreds/thousands of miles at any given time. We are few, yet we are Legion. I raise my glass to our mutual continued survival. Our stories are the best, even if they are horrified by our experiences. We get it. And that's all that matters. 😆 🤣 😂
The truest part ‘she’s in there, wrestling with the demons of her life, alive in that last moment, fighting to find the punchline’
Thanks, Rachel. ❤️
Norm, I believe it was Macys, not Sears.. but you may have been fuzzy from the Ativan 🤷🏽♀️🤣🤣
Our family is colorful. And dysfunctional. And possibly criminal, lol.
It was also filled with love. Those two pill popping divas would have rained fire down upon anyone who hurt someone they loved.
You were so loved Stormin’ Norman❤️
Such a beautiful, golden, precocious, sweet and sour little blonde nugget of cuteness! You were adored. We all were!
And now one of us cousins is gone.. and I can’t breath either!
When I found out Sarah passed it took my breath away. I have grieved every day and will continue to grieve.
I have peace in thinking about her whole again with the crazy family that inspires much of your work❤️
All I can see is her sweet 7 year old face.. dancing and running around in summer dresses.. her laughter, which you described so vividly, floating on the breeze.. I’m choosing to remember the good.
I love you Norm. I love our crazy family. And I will miss your sister every day for the rest of my life.
Thanks, Leddie. Love you, too.
You win! Your family is more f##ed up than mine. Or my family of origin. Bi polar father. Film director/producer. Alcoholic traded for Percodan, Valium , tuinols elephantine proportions . I , too young to understand. He screamed at all of his 6 daughters. All of whom have pretended ( exception moi) our Bev Hills home was Little House on the Prairie. Enter. Denial. Alcoholism. Pill addiction. Depression. Panic disorder. Narcissist disorder. The works. I’ve lost friends to suicide. One nephew tried 3 times. Last one flatlined but voila. Alive due to the miracle of UCLA or if there’s a higher being. Am I sorry for your sister ? Worse for you, your mom and her friends. Hanging is a brutal but brave act. Demons are wicked. I grinned with Kardashians . As your friend said and I’m paraphrasing with my words. Your stories , if I had balls , would laugh them off my body. .
I've gotten a lot of messages in the vein of this comment. There are more crooked family trees than we'd like to believe. Thanks for reading. Also, with your permssion, I'd love to add that last line to my About page when I revamp it...? ;)
To whom are you speaking. What last line ?!
Yes. You certainly
May borrow my “balls “ poetry 🥳
Balls Poetry -- there's a title.
You’re more than welcomed to use “ balls poetry “ as your very own as long as you don’t reference Patrick Mahomes .He is poetry in motion. A bird in flight.
Beautiful and relatable. Thank you.
"Your stories, if I had balls , would laugh them off my body." I've got one reader who had balls and said he laughed them off. I'd love to pair that with a reader who doesn't have balls but knows they would be laughed off. :)
To give this a “Like” is infuriatingly too little - tapping a heart icon to add +1 to the pile - but also perhaps the right amount of response, for I do, in fact, like this and appreciate the weight and splendor you endured to make this kind of work. Well done, my friend. I’m so sorry for this loss.
Thanks, Alec. You're a real one. Always have been.
Every truly funny person I've ever known carried great pain. I see the connection, but i don't understand it. I worry about my youngest, who is one of those people.
Well, I wish you many laughs with your youngest. Hell, I wish you many laughs with everyone. It's the best way to be.
I had to finally read this--if you can write it, I sure can read it. It's everything I want and expect from you--and more. This will get me through today and further.
Are you sure we're not related? :D
Common experiences can definitely feel like family. ;) Thanks for the kind note. The encouragement goes a long way for me.
Your eloquent and honest sharing of her story is beautiful and tragic...and made me both cry and smile. Grief is a tricky bitch, especially when she weaves such a complicated relationship between people. Sending you and your family much love and support.
Thanks, Jen. Tricky for sure.
Hi Norman, My condolences to you and your family on your sister's transition. People are complicated and you found a way to love your sister and set necessary boundaries. Maybe it will all make sense after we die. Hugs
Thank you. I appreciate the kind words. ❤️
She was her own harshest critic.. she took herself out of the mix of all she felt lesser than
Well said.
Beautifully written, and it resonates with me on so many unspoken levels of my own experiences in life, love, laughter and grief. I am very truly appreciative of your talent and brain that compels you to write and weave this into a beautiful package.
Thank you, Dana. ❤️
So sorry for your loss. Way too young.
Sometimes I think they only way to truly get through life is as you said: find the humor in everything.
Thanks. And, yeah, I agree. Laughter is the thing.
Wow. Wonderful piece. Sorry not sorry for your loss? Given your upbringing you can run for VP. 😉
Ha! I love this response. One friend sent me a screengrab of a comment that she didn't actually post, and it read, "Not your funniest. But it's okay." That's a friend who gets me. ;)
Wow, Norm- I am so touched by your story. I lost 2 of my younger brothers to suicide- the second one just this past November. My grandfather also took his own life when he was in his mid 40s. It saddens me ever time I think of them all- the crushing despair they all must have felt . All of them struggled with trauma of various types of- my brothers and I were bullied and physically and emotionally abused by our stepfather for many years. I have been I therapy since I was 20- I’m now 72.
You are so brave to share your story and you add laughter with gentleness and love. I’m sure you loved your sister and I’m so sorry for your loss and for the suffering you have endured. It appears your therapy is your writing and for that, I, along with all your readers, feel gratitude. Peace be with you.😔❤️
Linda. Generous you are to reach out to Norm . Your losses leave me speechless and that’s rare. The word “survivor “ I’ve felt overused. You have ! I’ll follow you.
That's rough, Linda. Sometimes the noise is too much. And, yeah, the writing is therapy, but the therapy is also therapy. ;) And so is friendship, laughter, basketball, Tom Petty, my wife, my kids... I'll take peace any way I can get it. Thank you for the kind words.
Pathos…a beautiful tribute. So sorry for the loss of your sister and sympathy to your entire family…especially mom.
Thanks. I appreciate you.
To shamelessly quote myself, “The best writing gives the reader a reason to feel something.” This post does that. Thanks, Norm. My condolences for your loss.
Thanks. I'll be quoting you, too, with gratitude.
Norman, you're one of my people. I want you to know you're in my tribe even though we may be separated by hundreds/thousands of miles at any given time. We are few, yet we are Legion. I raise my glass to our mutual continued survival. Our stories are the best, even if they are horrified by our experiences. We get it. And that's all that matters. 😆 🤣 😂
This is as solid a mission statement as I've ever read. If you're ever in California. first round's on me.