Essays on Childhood

Your World in a Bathtub: 2012

/ Elizabeth Gaucher / Leave a comment

I like to do a little recap at the end of the calendar year. This year, I am paring it down to two stats: The day with most views and the post new in that the year authored by me with most views. This year they are 2 different posts.

I want to thank Essays on Childhood writer Jeremy Paden for the busiest day of the year, June 13th. The most popular post that day was This World Is Not My Home by Jeremy Paden (part 4). If you love good writing and powerful stories, you owe it to yourself to read Jeremy’s essay from the beginning.

Turning Point Images: The Girl in the Bathtub was my own 2012 post with the most views. I didn’t expect that, and yet I am moved to know it. That was an important piece for me.

Thank you for reading Esse Diem! I wish you a very happy New Year.

Elizabeth

How Esse Diem Purples: Announcing the Next Essays on Childhood Theme

/ Elizabeth Gaucher / 6 Comments

September 21 is Alzheimer’s Action Day, and I am very happy to announce that Alzheimer’s disease awareness will guide the development of the 2013 Essays on Childhood project.

Though I am in the very early stages of designing this, I wanted to use today as a launch for the idea and to encourage readers to share your own thoughts about how these essays may unfold. Potential concepts so far:

  • Early onset patients: Are you diagnosed, or do you know someone who is? How might writing an essay about your childhood ease some of your stress, as well as leave an important legacy for your family?
  • Loved ones and family: Do you have specific memories from your own childhood about a parent, grandparent, or neighbor with Alzheimer’s disease? What experiences do you recall about that person? How did your interaction with him or her affect you?
  • Children and grandchildren: Would you consider interviewing an elderly parent or grandparent, and helping them record their story by writing it with/for them?
  • Anyone: Do you ever think “someday” you will write down memories and stories about your early life? Maybe that someday can be today. We rarely can know how long we will be able to recall details about our childhoods, and my annual experience with this project convinces me that everyone has an important story to tell.

Thank you for your consideration. I will post more about the project in the spring. Please share this post on September 21, and GO PURPLE!

Image via Literary Man