Mackenzie Dawson, me and sexy-time wigs

(Photo by Caitlin Thorne)

Ever since I started using Google AdSense, whenever I post some goopy personal entry the customized ads always turn into, like, Dianetics commercials or something. That’s kind of awesome.

So am happy to report the success of finishing my book proposal. And there’s been a lot that I feel good about with it (especially the secret to force myself into faking a million different mini-deadlines: hint, set a time limit per item you have to write and then set an actual kitchen timer! dude! seriously! you’re all, GOTTA BEAT THE TIMER, really, gotta beat it!! it’s almost as good as having an editor who you dually fear and want validation from frenetically pacing beside you). But, yes what I feel best about at this particular moment is this email from one of the people who has given me notes thus far.

And I share an excerpt of it with you now in the spirit of celebrating accomplishment.

It’s nice to celebrate milestones in life, I think.

Have an amazing week, Internet world.

As the chapters unfolded, as your story grew, I was mesmerized by how you articulated my own life echoing your experiences. Most of us have been through soaring love affairs, terrible breakups/divorces, everything you describe. But few of us have the panache*, the skill, to set it down, as you did here. Suddenly what happened was as hilarious and insightful as apparently our experience was, too.

I read a lot, and I naturally compare your writing with how engaging and important the other shit I’m reading is. You get it, and you’re fucking funny. These days there aren’t a lot of people in American culture like that. Those cats are the closest we get to priests. Esses. You obviously know how to write. What kept pages turning for me was the freshness and uniqueness of your voice.

Like you, and most everyone who reads your work, I had a terrible breakup, including being divorced so she could marry her lover, losing everything and starting over (Ani DiFranco’s “you’ve left me with nothing; but I’ve worked with less”). And now I live a king’s life, waking up to a household full of perfect women (three daughters and the one I’m growing old with), with no complaints that hold water. Ten years ago it was horrible. Thank God it happened. Look, you’ve managed to set it all down for me, reveal insights, through what happened to you, in this book.

You chronicled the details of how we feel, and felt, and may feel again. You’re offering many kinds of hope. Obviously this is service, which as you know is the only thing that matters.

J.

1. “Yet there is something still that will always be mine, and when I
go to God’s presence, there I’ll doff it and sweep the heavenly pavement with a gesture – something I’ll take unstained out of this world – my panache.” – Cyrano de Bergerac