Thu, Jun. 18th, 2009, 08:16 am
Letter

I just got a letter from a friend who is going through a painful time, and I wish I could do something about the pain, but I have to tell you people -- it's the best damn letter I've ever read, and one of the best stories.  It reads like JD Salinger -- it has a voice of its own.  And though I know his pain is real, and that empathy should be my first and most dominant response (and it is, in person) -- my dominant response to his letter is a combination of excitement/hero worship/envy for the incredible writing.  Ok -- jealousy, even.  ( ...does that make me a monster?)


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Thu, Jun. 18th, 2009 03:44 pm (UTC)
[info]vrax

No dear, it makes you someone who has really cool friends.
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Thu, Jun. 18th, 2009 05:13 pm (UTC)
[info]mystic_savage

They really *are*.
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Fri, Jun. 19th, 2009 04:11 pm (UTC)
[info]osmie

It's unlikely that, no matter how terrible his pain right now, he wrote a brilliant letter by accident. I expect the act of writing brilliantly is actually one of the ways he's chosen to deal with the pain. But brilliant writing still needs someone to read it, and to your honour he's asked you for the service.

So no, failing to appreciate the writing would be throwing up a huge emotional roadblock, refusing to engage him on the terms he's asked for. Appreciating it on every level you know how? I think the technical term for what that makes you is "a reader."
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Fri, Jun. 19th, 2009 05:08 pm (UTC)
[info]mystic_savage

Thanks Osmie.
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