Wrestling with Genetics

Great story...can so relate.

Thanks, A! For all you are to me.

Yup--another home run, sportsman.*

Thanks, Joani! I adore you...happy halloween!

Truth. Truth.

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You really know how to pack it in, Robert! Loved this and says so much about their relationship in one paragraph! Damn, you're amazing! ******

@ Matthew: thanks a ton for seeing the truth in this one.

@ Meg: You are the most supportive writing friend in the world. I love you even more now that I met you. Can't wait to read your next gem.

'Water-logged leaves' - that's perfect. The images and implications from this are wonderful. It's a short, rich piece, with arresting images and a poignant ending. Fave

Wonderful, until you slam me with the final image, and then it became even more wonderful. *

So much about the relationship between fathers and sons and between males and between close relatives in less than 150 words.

Frickin' unreal, dude. You have been blessed.

Well done, Robert. I particularly love the music in these lines; very sharp!

@ Beate: Thanks so much, sweetheart!

@ Chris: I am so glad you liked (?) this one.

@ David: Musicality is my specialty- or something like that.

Geez, this is fabulous Robert! I felt Cheever in the piece, the father and son thing from that story where the father meets the son at Grand Central, you really did a beautiful job with this.

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So skillfully done. Love the little touches, the word choice. The "quarrelsome" train. *

@ Susan: Cheever? I am blown away by yur comparison. So lovely. Thank you.

@ Jack: you are so kind. I appreciate the support.

What would make you think I didn't (?) like this, Robert? It's incredible. One for the ages. You are truly one in a million.

Great voice & compression, Robert. Well-written. A marvel of a job here. Big like.

@ Chris: I am so grateful for your generous comments. As far as my doubting Thomas, that is for the therapist! LOL

@ Sam: Thanks so much for the big like. I am really glad you are into this one.

Perfect flash, Robert. *

Kathy, magical words to my ears! Thanks a ton.

So much said in so few words!
Fine, fine work. *

Agree with Kathy. This is tight, right, and perfect.

fave squared

Great. Every bit.
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Ghosts are the best wrestlers. *

@ MaryAnne: Thanks for your encouraging comments, and you know how I feel about yours!

@ James: your 'fave squared' comment made my day!

@ Bill: Wonderful to have your back, and appreciate the read.

@ Christopher: Could not agree with you more, ghosts are, indeed. Your insights are spot on, as usual. Thanks!

"I can see his ailing pickled heart sitting in a laboratory glass jar on a top shelf too high to reach."

dense with surprising details like the above--an entire lifetime expertly alluded to through an adept use of language *

@ Bobbi: Your generous comments are so wonderful to find this morning. I am grateful, indeed.

This is gorgeous and heart-breaking. *

Harley, you've used the words I'd use to describe you. As well as generous, and talented. Thanks!

Superb, Robert!

You are so generous, Christian! Thanks for your sweet comments.

Hard-driving images, clear, real. Great little piece, Robert! *

Thanks, Foster. I appreciate your thoughtful comments.

Wanted to come back with something a little more insightful than my first remark:

The imagery here beautifully fills in the gaps between two generations. If someone described this story to me, then told me it was only 149 words long, I'd be blown away. I am blown away.

this is just beautiful, robert. both inside and out. the passion speaks for itself.

@ Matthew- thanks for coming back to explain more of your reaction. Your comments blow me away, in such a wonderful manner. I so appreciate you taking the time to let me know.

@ Marcus: Gratitude and respect for all you are and do, my friend.

oh that hopefully many sons would love their fathers as he did.

Estelle: I hold that same hope in my heart as well. Thanks for reading and your sharing your lovely thoughts.

Beautifully done, Robert! The image with the train makes me shiver.

Bonnie, you are so generous with your comments and support! I really appreciate this.

Much to love here, Robert. "He returns to me now as a scent. Water-logged leaves." Great title too.

Thank you, Kari, for making my world so bright!

Packs a nice punch especially at the end. Wonderuful prose. FAve

Thanks so much, David!

No word wasted. Fantastic.

Thanks so much, Teresa!

That ending was written brilliantly.

The whole thing was excellent. I wanted more.

Jason, thanks so much!

Awesome ending -- what an impact. Dense with words, none of them wasted. Well done.

Thanks a ton, Jonathan! I appreciate the support!

big subject, worthy treatment, and I think that's saying a lot

Joe, thanks for reading and your comments here. This piece is especially important to me, and your support is comforting.

Nice work, Robert!

Thanks so much, Sara! Very kind of you to read and comment!

Ah, the tactics required to constantly save the life of an alcoholic parent. This is down so well with a light touch about such a "sobering" subject. Great word choices "quarrelsome train." Who ever wrote that before? Excellent. Fave*

Gloria, you are so kind to read into this tome so deeply and comment with such generosity. I am grateful and it means the world to me!