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Six-word memoir winner, and a story!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We have a clear winner in our Six-Word Memoir Contest: Drumroll please…
My teenage self would be pleased.
The sentiment clearly touched a chord among readers of this blog. I emailed Libby Ware, the woman who wrote the memoir, and told her she had won. Since some people like to post here and remain anonymous, I told her she did not have to disclose her name publicly, but that she was welcome to. I also asked if she wanted to elucidate on those six brief but meaningful words, not knowing how, or even if, she would respond. I got this great email in return from Libby.
I was moved when I realized people were voting for my entry. Here’s how it came about: I was a depressed teenager, suffering from unrequited love and internalized homophobia, and dealing with other issues, including two new stepparents. (My parents each got re-married the same year.) Now that I’m in a healthy same sex relationship, at times I’ve thought if only my 17-year-old self knew what the future held, she would have had hope and been able to accept her sexuality more easily.
Recently, I was awarded a Fellowship from the Hambidge Center for the Arts to work on my novel. One Saturday at the Hambidge Center, I was walking down the path, having finished a difficult chapter that I had been struggling with. The chapter came together well and I was quite pleased with the work I’d done that day. And I thought “If my teen-aged self could see me now, she’d be so pleased.”
I’m 53 years old, working by day as a Paralegal, finishing my first novel, and in my spare time I have an antiquarian book business, Toadlily Books.
I had no idea that was the backstory when I selected Libby’s memoir for the Top 10, nor did anyone know when they voted. Now that I read that email, I couldn’t be happier with the selection. Thanks to everyone who participated.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: Contests
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By ron
October 23, 2007 8:29 AM | Link to this
Libby,congratulations,I see by the lone comment so far that you have arrived,check Susan Estrich’s article on Fox.A well job,Libby,good done.
By Maria
October 23, 2007 9:09 AM | Link to this
Congrats, Libby! What inspiring background to your memoir. Best of luck with your novel… how wonderful that you’ve got grant money to help you finish it. Hope to see it on bookstore shelves someday soon.
By Kate
October 23, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
Congratulations, Libby! You’re teenage self oughta be proud. You have a great story that I wish all teenagers could hear. For that matter, many adults should listen to it. Sometimes it’s impossible to imagine that life is actually going to get better. Well done.
By Carbon Footprint
October 23, 2007 6:47 PM | Link to this
My adult self is f’n jealous.
By Larry L
October 24, 2007 11:09 PM | Link to this
Did you want us to go back and read the entries, or what? I had to in order to see how she got it down to six words. This came to me in a Google alert and I was interested. Congratulations to Libby. Hope her novel works out.
By Phil Kloer
October 25, 2007 7:30 AM | Link to this
Larry: You can, of course, go back and read the original entries. But Libby’s winning entry is in the main post announcing her as the winner. In boldface type, no less. I’m not sure where your Google Alert took you, but Libby’s winner is right here.