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Words

Words.

We say them without thinking, throwing them out from the bottom of our hearts as if they were gum wrappers wadded up for the garbage can.  We clean out our bodies and minds minute by minute, the debris emerging as letter after letter, forming sentences; soliloquies.

We write them, setting them adrift in the great Internet ocean, tiny wobbling boats that we hope will reach a friendly shore.  We have no idea where they go once we release them.  All we know is that we once owned them and now they are out of sight, affecting the people who swim past them.  All we can do is wait to hear back from a tiny voice in the distance telling us that they heard us.  They understand.

I spent my morning telling a person how her words changed my life.

I can’t think of a better way to spend my writing time.

 

21 comments

1 Battynurse { 09.13.11 at 12:57 pm }

Wow. Great post. So very true.

2 Mina { 09.13.11 at 1:31 pm }

And you have such a way with them words, you pick them just right and put them together and it’s like you’re singing our minds with them. You are one fine soul, Melissa Ford. I am so glad to have met you here in this great internet ocean.

3 Keiko { 09.13.11 at 2:07 pm }

Beautiful, simple, brilliant. Thanks for this post 🙂

4 Searching for Serenity { 09.13.11 at 2:13 pm }

Perfectly said.

I hope you’re referring to the widow from the Portraits of Grief series. It would be amazing if the wonderful world of the internet brought you to her.

5 {sue} { 09.13.11 at 2:29 pm }

What Mina said. Your words have such precision. I’m sure you put it together exactly as it needs to be.

6 Tigger { 09.13.11 at 3:21 pm }

Like Searching, I am really hoping that you found the widow you were looking for!

You have a fantastic way with words, Mel. I know that some of the things you’ve written have really stuck with me and been my lifeline at times, and I’m sure I’m not the only one!

7 jjiraffe { 09.13.11 at 3:51 pm }

This post is almost like a haiku in its simplicity but profundity.

I knew you would find the words.

8 Lori Lavender Luz { 09.13.11 at 4:23 pm }

JJiraffe said what I wanted to say. Only better.

Wow, Mel. You are a word master. May your words be well-received.

9 Kate { 09.13.11 at 4:48 pm }

I agree with Searching for Serenity! I hope you found the woman in the profile. Can’t wait to hear how it went.

10 a { 09.13.11 at 5:37 pm }

That was beautiful! I hope you know you’re an inspiration to many…

11 mic @ IF Crossroads { 09.13.11 at 6:31 pm }

Beautifully put, and very haunting.

12 loribeth { 09.13.11 at 7:25 pm }

You have changed so many lives, Mel, for the better. I hope you found her! : )

13 Michaela { 09.13.11 at 8:48 pm }

Amen!!

14 Barb { 09.13.11 at 10:46 pm }

Lovely

15 mash { 09.14.11 at 8:05 am }

Woohoo, you found her??? That’s awesome!

16 slowmamma { 09.14.11 at 9:17 am }

Words are powerful. This is a wonderful post.

17 Heather { 09.14.11 at 10:30 am }

This is one of those sacred posts on which I feel ill prepared to comment.

But, your words have made me a better person—or changed me to be the person who is not as afraid to use her words to speak of the things buried in her heart.

18 Vikki { 09.14.11 at 10:52 am }

Beautiful.

19 Carolyn { 09.14.11 at 10:59 am }

Well said. Words are very powerful things.

20 iamvulnerable { 09.14.11 at 2:52 pm }

Mel, beyond your gift with words, I love you for your commitment to using them to create goodness, healing, and love in the world. Thank you for that – you inspire me.

21 Bea { 09.17.11 at 10:14 am }

I’m so glad you were able to track down that widow and write that note to her. It sounds like a good time in the span of things… now here we go trying to timeline someone else’s grief… but I suppose without knowing her personally we have to assume some sort of “average”, so I’ll leave it… anyway, this moment seems like a good time to tell her how she and her late husband inadvertently touched your life. It’s quite amazing how we’re all connected.

Have you read The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)? It is sitting on my shelf waiting for me to start it. From what I know of it so far (the back cover, a friend’s review), you would like it. The 9/11 Widow’s story reminds me of it.

Bea

(c) 2006 Melissa S. Ford
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