Blog post #5

Responding to a Personal Memoir

Sharon Solwitz, "Abracadabra"

Summary of Memoir:
This was about the author losing one of her sons to cancer, it showed her struggle and times when she remembered how he was feeling and thinking. It also talked about him and his twin brother and how they acted towards each other. It was also as if through the memoir she was giving herself advice as to how to continue on with her life and maybe even with the story because it was so hard for her. Though she had good memories of him, she also had to deal with the ones of when he was very sick but still had a positive attitude about his life.

"My mind is sludge; undifferentiated. No feelings, thoughts. No images even, of friends, family. I'm sorry, Seth, my other son. Remaining son. Twin, untwinned. Now his face comes, fleshy (he fattened up while Jesse shrank). It means nothing to me." pg. 673
-This part in the memoir was really touching to me because it seemed like she was figuring out how she was supposed to feel but wasnt sure, and she was sorry for her son that lost his brother. Shes confused and just all mixed up, thats how hard it has hit her and she just doesnt know how to take it.

"He and Seth walking together slong the sidewalk, bumping into each other, not as a dominance game but as an unconscious joining, a return to their junction in utero. In a room they'd gravitate toward each other till they were leaning on one another, a proximity that most other pairs would have found irksome. As if, for nourishment, the bodies needed physical contact." pg. 674
-This is the author remembering how close her 2 sons were, as if they were joined at the hip and would always be close. I get that it would probably be that way if he didnt pass and she is thinking of that too.
she is showing how hard it is on her other son too because of how close they were. They were unlike any other pair of twins who probably wouldnt like to always be so close all the time like they were.

"It's not Jesse lost, it's me, lost without him. I was one of four, the one female in the family photo, my hand on a boy's shouder, beside Barry behind boy number two. Four seats filled at the restaurant four-top. A carful: two in front, two in back. Four playing Cranium, hearts. We never got to bridge.
Three is stable, but barely." pg. 676
-The author is remembering when it was 4 people and not 3, she is lost without her son not the other way around and its hurting her most of all. this is very touching because shes remembering how it use to be, with all four of them together and happy. By her saying that three is stable, but barely, she is refering to how tough it will be to be "normal" again without her son.

Even though her memoir is sad, it shows her true self, it shows her vulnerability and i like how she put herself out like that. it shows she isnt scared to take risks even with something so very personal and heartbreaking.