At BlogHer this year I plan to enter my name in the drawing for the open mike session, Listen To Your Mother. I have never “performed” a blog post as a spoken word piece, so I’ve been reviewing my material and I have chosen a few candidates, but I’m wondering: what is YOUR favorite post that you have read here? I have written posts for sites all over the internet, but the material I publish here is my favorite because it’s mine. And you, my faithful 50-or-so readers, are the experts because you show your love (or the opposite) with your clicks and comments.
I’d love to get some suggestions from you if you can remember any posts that stood out for you over the (almost) 8 years I’ve been doing this.
Updated: since it has come to my attention that almost 8 years of blog posts is a lot to ask for you to remember, I have put together my list of faves. I suspect that my favorites are not exactly reader favorites, so I added a few posts that got a lot of comments* and/or visitation traffic. It’s been a long time, so I am limiting the scope to the last two years**, as well.
In the comments, if you would, can you indicate which is your favorite of the following?
But it was all okay because my mother was there to take care of me. I wonder if she sighed a heavy sigh when I got too sick to go to school, thinking of how my presence was disrupting her plans for the day, knowing that she would have to rearrange her schedule. That’s the first thing I do when one of my children starts to sniffle or cough. ”You’re fine,” I say, mind racing through my to-do list, hoping a dose of medicine will quell the symptoms long enough to get him through the school day.
And so, music. The sound and feel and smell of it pounded into me as I got closer and closer through the mobs of people at Woodstock ’94. It was loud and it was hot and it was wet. And the skin of people was so close to me. One day I parked myself directly opposite center stage with nothing in my backpack but a bottle of Southern Comfort and a sleeve of Saltines.
From one commenter: I found this a disturbing read.
The Ghost of Christmas Cards Past
I hold onto things that should be tossed in the de-cluttering and look at them over and over again. It is as if looking at them enough times gives the memories an anchor in my heart, ensuring that I will remember them forever. Perhaps it’s a sign that the anchor is set when I finally decide to throw the possessions away.
A Traffic Jam, the Bad Economy, and Crappy Cell Phone Reception: an L.A. Story
Yes, internet. I managed to pants myself at the gym where I am already so insecure that I do not make eye contact with Other People.
The Night I Almost Disappeared
Thank you for allowing my story to continue with me for so many years, and continue in all the people I’ve met and touched since that day, and continue in my family and my children and here, on my blog. Thank you for not ending it that night in tragedy, and continuing instead a story of loss and sorrow and horror, an update on the evening news, a warning to other young women at that high school, extra security precautions for the surviving students, a ghost story for future generations.
Moms Have a Harder Job Than Dads
How can he just SIT there while I am doing all this work? Doesn’t he see how I am not resting for one second while he leisurely sits there drinking his tea, enjoying his hot beverage, and I literally only get one hot sip of my coffee per day?
*A lot of comments means more than zero.
**Two years…or so.
Can you maybe suggest your top 5 faves to jog our memories or give us a chance to go back and read?
Okay, what’s with the outfit?
This would take some time as I would have to read from the beginning. What trip that would be!
Top 5 Poll coming soon. I should have thought of that!
@Kim – it was 2001. That is all I can say by way of explanation.
The Night I Almost Disappeared.
Without a doubt.
But because you’re you, all the posts are excellenty.
My vote is The Ghosts of Christmas Cards Past.
I hope you get to read! I heart LTYM and you.
Also. The nineties pictures in some of these posts are slaying me. oh, those were the days.
Re-read your list and I decided I would vote for The Ghosts of Christmas Cards Past… Best of luck! I love your writing!
My vote is for: “The Night I almost Disappeared”. Having a small daughter makes me terrified of these kinds of things. Terrified.
Of course I had to read the one that a commenter found “disturbing”. I find it disturbing that she went to the effort to write that comment. I find it even more disturbing when people have no sense of humor. WTF?!
I vote for the Traffic Jam/Yoga pants one. Because I have a sense of humor!
I’m picking two because I couldn’t cut any further: “Woodstock ’94” and “The Night I Almost Disappeared.” If you go with the Woodstock one, you’ll need a PowerPoint for the pictures, though.
The Night I Almost Disappeared. It is a great post and it will be a good contrast to the lighter fare. I would practice a few times though, because I don’t know if I could read it aloud without crying.
You are such a great writer its hard to pick just one, Woodstock ’94 grabs me the most 🙂
As always Kim you are a woman of beautiful words. As someone who is sentimental I would go with The Ghost of Christmas Cards past, especially b/c this year Lisa isn’t here w/you, but then again why go there? So, then I gravitate toward Woodstock ’94, and then I realize dear friend whatever you choose will be brilliant. There you have it, I am completely unhelpful.
Lighter – Yoga
Heavier – ghosts
Christmas cards, unquestionably.
The Ghosts of Christmas Cards Past… Everything you have written about losing your friend Lisa is so raw and so beautiful
I forced myself not to read the comments in an effort to remain unbiased. I choose the Yoga post for the submission, but for the record I love all of the ones you posted. I chose this because it will be a great out-loud read. 🙂
I vote for Moms Work Harder Than Dads. Go for it, Lady!!
If you can pull it off, The Night I Almost Disappeared. But it depends on the vibe, I think. Yoga is really, really funny.
I have to say I am a fan of when your pants failed. You are such a great humorous writer!My assumption is that most readers at this event are all gonna go for heavy serious posts. You may just be the breath of fresh air women need. ; )
Kate
http://www.kimtracyprince.com/2009/07/night-i-almost-disappeared/ and the one the reader found disturbing
I love your writing so if I were running the show, I’d let you read two!
Echoing the others, Yoga for the humor (open mike sometimes works better with humor — rock the house) or Cards for its deep beauty and terrific writing. Hope you get it!!!
These are all so good, but The Ghost of Christmas Cards Past is something special. It will be hard to read, but it’s moving and concise, and you can bring the card to hold up and share. And it’s another way to honor her memory. And another step in your grieving. That’s the one. That’s my vote.
I would have to vote for the one where the guy grabbed you. I like the way you tell it. Would be even more powerful with you reading it.
I choose Woodstock ’94, because when your leg went into that hole, I leaned towards my computer to help you up out of it. Long live a loving community bound by rock’n’roll! (But sport bras?! Not so much.)
Yoga. Do yoga.