Thursday, February 28, 2008

The six word story of life

I read in the local paper how the online magazine Smith asked readers to write the story of their own lives in a single sentence. The result is Not Quite What I Was Planning, a collection of six-word memoirs by famous and not-so-famous writers, artists and musicians.

Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words:"For sale: baby shoes, never worn.". Here are some other gems:

I came. I saw. I blundered
- Scott Ferrard

After Harvard, had baby with crackhead.
- Robin Templeton

Longed for him. Got him. Shit.
- Margaret Atwood

We kissed. She melted. Mop please!
- James Patrick Kelly

Don’t marry her. Buy a house.

- Stephen R. Donaldson

Thought I was right. I wasn't.

- Graeme Gibson

And here are others from the local area

- "Quarter century. This can't be it."

-- "Progress slow with foot in mouth."

-- "Never thought I'd love this much."

-- "I make a living questioning authority."

-- "Oops! I forgot to have children."

-- "Oops! I had children. I forgot."

-- "Too much planning, not enough execution."

-- "Aimed for stars, only reached treetops."

-- "The last of too many children."

-- "I never learned from last time."

-- "Had my fun, then got married."

I think that my six word life story might be:

"Loved, lost, gave up, then found"

In the spirit of brevity, How about sharing yours?

12 comments:

  1. Hey... some one already took half of mine!!!

    Ok so here goes,

    I want to do it over.

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  2. Hell. Blind. Saved by others. Bliss.

    Sounds a bit melodramatic, but for me suffering IS hell. nothing short of it. a 'hell realm' as the buddhists call it.
    weird. 6 words is as much as you need really..

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  3. Leaped off cliff. God caught me.

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  4. I just came across your blog and I am looking forward to reading it. I have been going to Al-Anon too for 3 1/2 years.

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  5. Haha...that was great.
    I'm going to have to think about it.

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  6. i'm hoping to break the cycle...

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  7. Found new design for living--Alanon!

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  8. Right path by process of elimination.

    ReplyDelete

Let me know what you think. I like reading what you have to say.