As the magnificent Molly Ivins’ wrote, You Got to Dance With Them What Brung You. Someone brought you to the dance of who and where you are now, and good manners instruct us that you can’t abandon them for someone you see across the room whom you are sure would make you shiver with new life forever, plus have more money and cable stations.
I just saw the Molly Ives documentary on Netflix. It was wonderful, and I loved seeing you in it.
Who brung me? I hate to break it to you, Anne Lamott, but it was you. And Mary Karr and Natalie Goldberg and Pam Houston and David Sedaris. And hundreds more. You showed me that humor has a place in first-person essay and memoir, that a writer's unique voice cannot be duplicated anywhere, and we best embrace those voices however flawed or imperfect, because they're ours and ours alone. There's something holy about this thing called writing. Thanks for being one of the many who brung me. I am grateful for your work.
One person who brung me was my wife June who left earth almost 2 years ago. She was an amazing woman even drunk! But in 1993 she almost died and then we got sober within 24 hours of each other
Before we got sober, she was establishing herself as a Jane Austen expert — but afterwards she became active in both politics and in alcoholics anonymous, and a high point of our marriage was taking a meeting into a state Prison
And yes she too loved Molly Ivns. It’s due to her that I got to know about Molly myself.
I have just proofread a 2000 word memorial that I am buying space in a newspaper to publish a week from tomorrow. July 25 is her 33rd sobriety anniversary.
I still owe her a huge amount of gratitude, but we will have eternity together for me to tell her about it
Oh I love this, and I didn't take long to figure out who brung me! My father, the man whose B-24 went down in 1945 when he as 24 and I was a baby. He brung me, and he gave his life for me and for everyone he loved, so we would never have to live under the lies and tyranny of Hitler and men like him! So hard to watch this evil attempting to take over again! Here in my country. I have to believe that my father's life and the million of others that were lost was not in vain.
I did have someone save me once when my 30 yr marriage ended. He walked out and found someone else in a little over a year and married her. All those years of effort into caring for this person who ultimately took me out with the garbage. He never contacted me again. All because I had outlived my sexual usefulness and wound up with a chronic illness he didn't want to have to deal with. I think I forgot how to breathe when he drove away and left me with the house and all the bills (I had been a homemaker most of my life & had no career to fall back on). My best friend from years back pulled me out of despair and repaired my life. She never gave up and it took years. She has since passed but there is not a day that goes by that I don't thank her for my life back. Will love her, my sister, forever.
Congratulations! I was grateful, still am, for 26 years in April; I'm 75 so I was a slow learn, but many women were patient with me. I love grace over drama - perfect Higher Power for me. I, too, love Molly Ivins and that other great Texan, Ann Richards! Keep the faith, whomever he, she, or they are at any time in your life.
My sainted, daughter-of-a-Baptist-preacher, grandma brung me to the dance. And though she didn't believe in dancing, she always clapped as I danced a jig to my own Jesus melody. And boy did I do a lot of dancing! First it was a box step with Catholic Jesus, then it was gentle swaying with one hand in the air with Billy Graham's Jesus and then finally, it was ecstatic modern dancing and leaping with the historical Jesus. Grandma's gone now, but I like to think that her Jesus and mine met in the middle of the dance floor where the hungry were always fed and clothed, everyone was forgiven and all were loved, loved, loved, loved, loved just as they were. God, I miss her...
I love this, Linda because for me dancing is a sacred way to connect with Divine love. Isn’t it ironical that some religions forbid dancing? I’m glad you found a way.
I just watched a documentary on Molly. How I wish I had known her. How lucky that you did. Here's to 40 years. My sister just celebrated the same. What a privilege it has been to be a part of her wonderful, inspiring, complicated world. My sister brung me. What is your favorite Molly book?
My dad brought me into the Alanon program in 1987 where the love finally appeared in my newly chosen family in their honest and vulnerable words. Miracles occur on the good days. There’s a presence that’s got me when I step3 myself up close. I feel urgency at 76 to grow and spread my heart wings to even more service and vastness.
You sparkle your tinker bell dust all over the place and it helps! Gratitude for your spirit and words!
your words distill my feelings and fill me with hope that we are all part of a community that is experiencing the same emotions and will continue to stand up for our country. Unseen but there all the same when we're all feeling so helpless. Thank you and I too think Molly would be proud :)
I just saw the Molly Ives documentary on Netflix. It was wonderful, and I loved seeing you in it.
Who brung me? I hate to break it to you, Anne Lamott, but it was you. And Mary Karr and Natalie Goldberg and Pam Houston and David Sedaris. And hundreds more. You showed me that humor has a place in first-person essay and memoir, that a writer's unique voice cannot be duplicated anywhere, and we best embrace those voices however flawed or imperfect, because they're ours and ours alone. There's something holy about this thing called writing. Thanks for being one of the many who brung me. I am grateful for your work.
"Something holy about writing"--yes! In my experience there are countless holy books. I've been saved by many writers.
One person who brung me was my wife June who left earth almost 2 years ago. She was an amazing woman even drunk! But in 1993 she almost died and then we got sober within 24 hours of each other
Before we got sober, she was establishing herself as a Jane Austen expert — but afterwards she became active in both politics and in alcoholics anonymous, and a high point of our marriage was taking a meeting into a state Prison
And yes she too loved Molly Ivns. It’s due to her that I got to know about Molly myself.
I have just proofread a 2000 word memorial that I am buying space in a newspaper to publish a week from tomorrow. July 25 is her 33rd sobriety anniversary.
I still owe her a huge amount of gratitude, but we will have eternity together for me to tell her about it
Oh I love this, and I didn't take long to figure out who brung me! My father, the man whose B-24 went down in 1945 when he as 24 and I was a baby. He brung me, and he gave his life for me and for everyone he loved, so we would never have to live under the lies and tyranny of Hitler and men like him! So hard to watch this evil attempting to take over again! Here in my country. I have to believe that my father's life and the million of others that were lost was not in vain.
Thanks Dad, I'll never forget.
Thank you, Janice for this beautiful memorial
I did have someone save me once when my 30 yr marriage ended. He walked out and found someone else in a little over a year and married her. All those years of effort into caring for this person who ultimately took me out with the garbage. He never contacted me again. All because I had outlived my sexual usefulness and wound up with a chronic illness he didn't want to have to deal with. I think I forgot how to breathe when he drove away and left me with the house and all the bills (I had been a homemaker most of my life & had no career to fall back on). My best friend from years back pulled me out of despair and repaired my life. She never gave up and it took years. She has since passed but there is not a day that goes by that I don't thank her for my life back. Will love her, my sister, forever.
Dearest best friends! How lucky you are to have known her.
Congratulations! I was grateful, still am, for 26 years in April; I'm 75 so I was a slow learn, but many women were patient with me. I love grace over drama - perfect Higher Power for me. I, too, love Molly Ivins and that other great Texan, Ann Richards! Keep the faith, whomever he, she, or they are at any time in your life.
Just watched the documentary about Molly. You done good, Ann. You’d make Molly proud.
My sainted, daughter-of-a-Baptist-preacher, grandma brung me to the dance. And though she didn't believe in dancing, she always clapped as I danced a jig to my own Jesus melody. And boy did I do a lot of dancing! First it was a box step with Catholic Jesus, then it was gentle swaying with one hand in the air with Billy Graham's Jesus and then finally, it was ecstatic modern dancing and leaping with the historical Jesus. Grandma's gone now, but I like to think that her Jesus and mine met in the middle of the dance floor where the hungry were always fed and clothed, everyone was forgiven and all were loved, loved, loved, loved, loved just as they were. God, I miss her...
Your words reminded me of the song Gramma’s Hands by Bill Withers. I can already see you sashaying to the rhythm
Thank you, Lee Anne! Gramma's Hands is now in my permanent rotation. :-)
I love this, Linda because for me dancing is a sacred way to connect with Divine love. Isn’t it ironical that some religions forbid dancing? I’m glad you found a way.
Thank you, Christine! Dancing is sacred in so many traditions. I like to think of my grandma daning up there with Jesus now that she's set free!
I just watched a documentary on Molly. How I wish I had known her. How lucky that you did. Here's to 40 years. My sister just celebrated the same. What a privilege it has been to be a part of her wonderful, inspiring, complicated world. My sister brung me. What is your favorite Molly book?
My dad brought me into the Alanon program in 1987 where the love finally appeared in my newly chosen family in their honest and vulnerable words. Miracles occur on the good days. There’s a presence that’s got me when I step3 myself up close. I feel urgency at 76 to grow and spread my heart wings to even more service and vastness.
You sparkle your tinker bell dust all over the place and it helps! Gratitude for your spirit and words!
I haven’t figured out my own “ who brung me” list yet, but you will definitely be on it, Anne.
I got a call from you once. My little broken boy was hospitalized for the umpteenth time, I was sitting there with him, and you. called. me.
I do not remember the perimeters exactly, but I will always remember your kindness on that call. Always.
your words distill my feelings and fill me with hope that we are all part of a community that is experiencing the same emotions and will continue to stand up for our country. Unseen but there all the same when we're all feeling so helpless. Thank you and I too think Molly would be proud :)
I printed this off and shared it with my wife. (Am I becoming my parents?) Much needed and so timely - thank you!
Molly Ivins was quoting Darrell Royals, University of Texas's football coach (1957-1976) and he was probably quoting someone older than him.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for these posts. You bring light to me!
Oh my. The parallels. I can’t unsee them! Brilliant piece and yes Molly would be wide-grinning proud of you.
Happy 40th anniversary, Anne!