{ Writing Is How I Synthesize }
My first published work was a poem titled The Stars which happened accidentally when I was six years old. I have no idea how it got submitted, but I can only guess that it was my teacher who had sent it in to for selection into The Children’s Anthology of Poems. My mom bought three copies of the book, and my frugal mom is NOT one to buy three of anything unless necessary. I’ve always loved writing stories, and my imagination is much faster than I myself can handle. For me, writing is a synthesis of both my inner world and that around me— imagination and reality. I’d like to share with you a few things of the blurred lines between coping and believing.
Grandmother
As Hyun Jin tried to fall asleep he could hear his brother and sister-in-law arguing. His sister-in-law was hitting her drunken husband, cursing at him,“How could you? What did you think that I would not find out? You worthless son-of-a-bitch. Have you no pride for how you watch for your family? Instead, all you do is drink away what little your family has. What is there for us now? When the war ends, how are we going to find a house? You have sucked almost all the last of our valuables. We have nothing left. And what’s more, how can I feed our children? With what? You make it impossible for me to respect you.”
“Calm down wife. Your voice is getting too loud. You will wake up Mother.”
“Good riddance if I wake up mother. In fact, I hope she does wake up and beats you. You wretched son-of-a”
“What is this noise?” enters Mother. “How dare you wake up the entire group for your petty marital quarrels. Have you no sense of self-respect? Ji-hyun, how can a lady be yelling at her husband at this hour of night?”
RISE + FUCKING SHINE
This was a writing prompt to write in the voice of the “Inner Tupac.”)
Brother, I’ve seen you in your highs and your rock bottom lows. But you’ve been in some serious trouble, and I wanna know why. Aren’t you tired of this shit?
You’ve been talking about how you want to change, yet you’ve been sitting there talking shit about everyone and everything around you. You been saying that it’s not fair that he got that or she’s gotta a better ass. But it’s not about that shit. Stop blaming everyone around you. Stop shaming everyone around you. The money isn’t your problem. It’s that voice inside your head that’s saying all those lies. Take a good look at yourself and look at what is truly fucking incredible in your life right now.
10 of September: The Day He Taught Her to Swim
The day before Ziad texted, “You should definitely come to Sour. We’re making space cakes.”
Genevieve did not need a space cake to convince her to go, though. If Nabil and Ziad were going to be there, she was in. Within two weeks she had already grown to love these characters. Nabil was the best of Sami and Marc combined, and Ziad— well we’ll let the 10 of September speak for itself.
As Genevieve bounced down the stairs to Armenia Street to meet the boys, Ziad and another driver were in middle of some good-old Beirut road bickering. But after a few sarcastic jabs at the other driver, Ziad turned to Genevieve with a smile and hello, then turned to his iPod and hit play. Grins wide, they were off to the beach.
Receiving: An Act of Giving
This was my first year at Burning Man, and I knew it would require quite a bit of prep work beforehand. I called a dear friend and seasoned Burner for advice, including what bike I should get and various gear to pack. Fast forward, the day I land in Reno, I receive a care package filled with love, a note and a bike decorated with LED lights. My friend had prepared all these things for me. When I asked her how much the bike and lights were, she said, “It’s my gift to you.” I had not even arrived to Black Rock City, and I was already experiencing the magical mystery of gifting.