Lisa’s prompt this fortnight for the Bite Size Memoir I found the most difficult of all her prompts to date. I’m simply not crazy. I may at times appear that way to others but to myself I’m logical, rational and have fun in ways that don’t normally endanger health or hurt other people. I’m adventurous in well thought out ways. I don’t jump off cliffs hanging on to a piece of rope or climb mountains with sheer drops if the foot doesn’t quite stay on that crack in the face of the rock. To me that is crazy. As I sat and pondered what have I done that was crazy I could come up with some things but on reflection I was just plain stupid. So following is my bite – I’m probably crazy to submit it.
I’m not a crazy person by nature. I did all the normal things that a child does that adults consider crazy, such as tie my brother to a derelict chimney which threatened to rain bricks down upon him. Taking my hairbrush when I ran away was crazy as it was used to mete out the punishment I received for the chimney episode. Houdini was responsible for that and for the ice baths my brother and I started to subject ourselves to. Again my mother told us we were crazy. I probably was crazy when I took to my brother in a fit of rage with an axe. We were thought crazy when we went to Vanuatu but to me that was an adventure. I was crazy when I married my first husband but that’s a longer story.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Craziness is often defined by how you look at the world. I liked your examples. It’s nice to think you no longer wield the axe to your brother!!
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He lives too far away Barbara otherwise you never know.
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Love the punchline. [grin]
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Glad you did M-R. 🙂
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Sounds like you’ve outgrown your crazy but those are some crazy funny childhood stories! Your last line is great! Good writing, Irene. 🙂
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Thanks Charli. Right now I’m feeling on top of the world – my book was completed ten minutes ago. Now for the hard work which you know all about but for the minute Yeah…… XD
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Oh yay!! That will inspire me to find my last 10,000 words 😀
Congratulations Irene and well done – said with feeling 🎉 Lisa xx
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Thanks Lisa. You know what it is like and I’m feeling good – probably until I start the first edit but I’m enjoying it for now. XD
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Hey, good about the book but yes it drives you nuts. I must say I emphasize with the axe. If only I could have sourced an axe at anytime between say 6 and 15 he was fish food. I’m both reconciled with and to him now, 40 years on but some might say that is even more crazy. Love the writing Irene
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Thanks Geoff. Writng a first draft was probably the easy bit. Now I have to get it to a publishable standard but for tonight I’m celebrating.
I’ll never look at fish food in quite the same way and I look at it several times a day.
Glad you enjoyed it Geoff.
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Some lovely examples in here and I too laughed out loud at that punch line. A different kind of crazy to the mega stressed state that editing may yet reveal to you!?
Thanks for playing again and Cheers! Here’s to the next stage of your book ! 🍸
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Thanks Lisa. I always enjoy playing even when I find it difficult. With only 10,000 odd words to go you too are near the end of your project. You’ll get there sooner than you know it. Then we can compare our difficulties as we go through the hard stages.
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I feel the underlying tension within this piece.
Congrats on finishing your book!
Peace to you.
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You are right about the tension Morgan. Thanks re book. It is a good feeling.
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Love it, haha, and ditto on the last line. Boy, can I relate to that, ha
There’s an awful lot of reading between the lines with the craziness you write about here Irene…wonderful the way you wrote it, very telling about the hairbrush…and as for the axe incident, well, that would make for one heck of a story in its entirety 😮 This is a superb read in 150 words, fast paced, packed full of adventure and thoroughly gripping.
Also reading in the comments your wonderful news that you have finished your book Irene…that’s fantastic, congratulations, yay indeed! You continue to inspire me as I follow in your footsteps…and Lisa’s!! Then, as you all agree, the hard part. Enjoy the high for as long as it lasts…and let’s get going on that walk right now and celebrate afterwards 😀 >3 🙂
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Yes I can relax into a walk right now with no feelings of guilt. I’ve been antisocial for too long and I’ll probably be so a bit longer as I have to now work on the editing and writing my reflection. 🙂
I knew you too would have the very same last line. But if we weren’t crazy to do it would we be where we are today and as I love where I am today I can’t regret it at all. 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed the 150 words as I really struggled with this one.
Off on our walk. 🙂 ❤
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Writing your reflection is more important right now…I’ll be thinking of you Irene 🙂
This is true, we need the crazy but it’s great to know you are so happy now. And I really did enjoy your bite, it really grabbed me 🙂
Great…on my way… 😛 ❤
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