I am no longer young. But the memory of all that lingers. In every life you leave your loved ones behind, through death, by omission and sometimes because the chasm between them and you is too great. You leave your town by choice or by the inevitable unspooling of life. But at some point you realize that you loved some parts of it. Even when it is flawed. You can even love a failing chicken restaurant and a speedway you never went to. You were young. When those days come to mind, you will want to call your people, even the ones who are no longer there or anywhere. You will want to declare: I have loved you through time and space. It is hard to be us. It is hard to be anyone. You will want to tell them, I forgive, I forgive you everything. | |
— Stephanie Powell Watts | |
From her article: “Race Day“ | |
Appearing in: Time Magazine; dtd: 6 August / 13 August 2018 | |
Online, the article is titled: “Memories From the South: Fried Chicken on Race Day“ | |
And is at: https://time.com/5349504/stephanie-powell-watts-race-day/ | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | Sort Of |
2021 | Life Finds A Way |
In The Palm Of My Hand | |
2020 | I’m Not Worried |
2019 | Forgiving The Chasm |
2018 | A Sure Sign Of Age |
Before The Fall – Cheat | |
2017 | Distant Goal |
2016 | More Lives |
2015 | Go Shopping More |
2014 | Say What? |
2013 | Accepting Beauty |
2012 | Transitional Choice To Ride The Wave |
2011 | Freedom Isn’t Always Perfect |
Just That Simple | |
Forgiving The Chasm
June 27, 2019 by kmabarrett
Beautiful quote!
Hi Sis,
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it. 🙂
Kevin
The chicken restaurant part is so random, yet it fits perfectly. This is a good one!
Hi Clever Girl,
Actually, the “chicken restaurant” is only random in the context of my quote / extract. If you read the article, Watts is describing her youth job working at a fast-food chicken stand on a road to a race track at the edge of her small town. Both are gone now and they are part of the memories she is trying to “forgive”. The article is one of several about folks who grew up in the South and how Watts is learning to accept a “changing” South and forgive family and neighbors from her youth.
Because many of my posts are quotes which catch my eye (most times I agree with the quote, but certainly not always), sometimes I have to balance including / excluding words. In this case, I thought the reference might be “unusual” (I didn’t guess it would appear “random”, but – on re-reading – you are quite correct), but I left them (the words) in because I felt they added context to / from the article’s title and text, and might prompt a reader to go to the original source.
Anyway, thanks for the visit(s), and for leaving a comment!
Kevin
Oh, okay. For me, it ended up making the quote meaningful in its contrast. I got that she was reminiscing, but thanks for clarifying. Where may I find her article?
The link to the article is at the bottom of the post. Just above the “On this day” section. I’m not sure if time.com has a pay wall or not. Otherwise, I’d have to suggest the library. (You are saying you have time on your hands – apricot girl…) LoL
I love this so much.
Me too! Chicken restaurant, speedway… who knew?
Right?!
Fascinating! (LoL)
Next month will mark the 10th anniversary of my blog and your (ksbeth & Clever Girl) exchange, is the first occasion of two followers engaging in a conversation over one of my posts! This “tingle” must be what it feels like to have something go viral… (just kidding) 🙂
Kevin
Ha!so cool and funny!
Fascinating! (LoL)
Next month will mark the 10th anniversary of my blog and your (Clever Girl & ksbeth) exchange, is the first occasion of two followers engaging in a conversation over one of my posts! This “tingle” must be what it feels like to have something go viral… (just kidding) 🙂
Kevin
Congrats on your first blog tingle!
Hi ksbeth,
I’m glad you’re enjoying my posts! I’m enjoying your blog, too.
Kevin