Things I have lost
April 6th 2008 00:02
‘From announcements in the paper and on bulletin boards
I find out about things that have gotten lost.
That’s how I know what people owned
And what they love.’
I find out about things that have gotten lost.
That’s how I know what people owned
And what they love.’
Yehudah Amichai, ‘Lost Objects’
We’ve all felt at a loss at times - for direction, words, hope or courage. Teeth as well as pregnancies get lost. So do nerves, love and tempers and sometimes, the desire to carry on.
In my new book Things Without A Name, my protagonist Faith has lost a butterfly pendant her childhood friend Josh made for her. Josh died of cystic fibrosis when he was seventeen so it has huge sentimental value to Faith. And besides, Faith never loses things. She’s also just lost a client – which is inevitable when you’re a counselor at a women’s crisis centre. In writing, the theme of loss creates emotional vacuums that slurp the reader in, setting up a tension that is crucial to keep readers turning pages.
When thinking about topics to write about, loss is always a good one – a loss implies tragedy, misfortune, failure, change – any of the big emotional hooks. It also indicates a lack of attention, accidents, regret, failure of one kind or another.
Recently I lost my ATM bank card. I cancelled the card and a day later I got a call from a woman who had found it. We arranged to meet, and when I presented her with a bunch of flowers to thank her, she burst into tears and gave me a hug. I could barely disentangle myself from her. Stories of loss give us stories of finding what we’ve lost. Sometimes what we find is even more interesting than what we’ve lost.
What are some of the things you’ve lost?
www.joannefedler.com
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Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
Alaska Chronicle
Sleezer's World
Raven
Comment by Jayne Kearney
Writers In Writing (and other writing)
Your story of your ATM card made me think of my loss on Friday which I can only term cyber-loss.
I was paying bills on-line, one of which was a $20.54 amount for using the Sydney motorways on a recent trip.
Friday afternoon is probably not a good time to pay bills on-line - suffice to say that, after a minor lapse in concentration, I paid an amount of $2054 to Roam Tolling!! Damn that decimal point!
The money flew staright out of my account but when I rang Roam Tolling they said it may not reach them 'til next week. It seems my money is somewhere in B-Pay-ville.
So, until the money appears in Roam Tolling's account (at which time they assured me that they will reverse the payment), I have officially lost $2054!!
Jayne
Comment by Joanne Fedler
Secret Writers Business
Oh Jayne... I am sorry about the decimal point that slipped through your fingers. Such a little loss of concentration and such a large bloody sum of money to have swimming around in cyberspace. I really hope they refund you - otherwise, you need to ride that goddamned toll road up and down til your tires wear down...
Jo
Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
Alaska Chronicle
Sleezer's World
Raven
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Today I lost my self esteem. Or maybe it was stolen, I'm not sure. I hope to recover it by 8pm though.
Michaelie
Comment by Joanne Fedler
Secret Writers Business
Oh no, Michaelie. Hope you get it back soon.
Jo
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Does memory count?
Comment by Johnny Come Lately
Jack's Back