..and now I have read it...
August 24th 2007 01:13
...and now I have read it, his story...but it isn't a story...it is a series of descriptions, or snap shots maybe, of his ex-girlfriend's life in Java, which starts to get interesting, but then it stops, there is no story as such...then passages are repeated...numerous times....so I am in a quandry...
What do I say to him?
How do I tell my dying friend that his "story" doesn't exist? Did he merely think it...did he imagine he had finished it...how long has it been in that manila folder, awaiting the day someone would turn it into a theatrical work?
What am I going to do?
I am now in the invidious position of playing along, telling him I am writing 'his story', while I creatively flesh out the bones of what little he has produced.
But what happens when he asks me to show him some of it, and what if 'his story' is completed in his mind and still accessible to him and what I produce is completely different....?
I have asked for help from our mutual friend, but he has neither phoned me back nor has he emailed me....another ostrich reaction....this happens a lot when someone is dying...tip toeing, avoidance, platitudes and lies....
damn it..
The trouble is....he has difficulty talking and staying 'with it' due to the amount of morphia they are pumping into him, so it will be unlikely that I will get enough of his story from him...if it was ever there, that is, finished either in thought or on paper somewhere....
I need advice on how to handle this. Does anyone have any ideas? I do not want to hurt him, and I do not want to pretend I am writing his story, I do want to write for him....but...
fog
What do I say to him?
How do I tell my dying friend that his "story" doesn't exist? Did he merely think it...did he imagine he had finished it...how long has it been in that manila folder, awaiting the day someone would turn it into a theatrical work?
What am I going to do?
I am now in the invidious position of playing along, telling him I am writing 'his story', while I creatively flesh out the bones of what little he has produced.
But what happens when he asks me to show him some of it, and what if 'his story' is completed in his mind and still accessible to him and what I produce is completely different....?
I have asked for help from our mutual friend, but he has neither phoned me back nor has he emailed me....another ostrich reaction....this happens a lot when someone is dying...tip toeing, avoidance, platitudes and lies....
damn it..
The trouble is....he has difficulty talking and staying 'with it' due to the amount of morphia they are pumping into him, so it will be unlikely that I will get enough of his story from him...if it was ever there, that is, finished either in thought or on paper somewhere....
I need advice on how to handle this. Does anyone have any ideas? I do not want to hurt him, and I do not want to pretend I am writing his story, I do want to write for him....but...
fog
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Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Very very tough.
What about his ex-girlfriend? Can she fill in the blanks for you? Do you have license to embellish?
You could say that the story...his story...hasn't ended.
Oh fog...this is tough...
Dusk
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
yeah I know...however, finally our mutual friend rang, at first he was equally non-plussed, however, as he is in the city, he is going to check out our pal's writing and see if there is other stuff related...but, our dear Dimitri is near death basically, ok, it could last a few weeks, but usually when they put you on a high dose of morphia, it is not too long. Why I mention this is, not to sound mercenary, or callous, or indifferent, quite the opposite, I say this because it, in a way, gives me a possible solution to the dilemma.
For realistically, any theatrical production would take the minimum of months to get together, and then there is the problem of finding a venue...and funding comes before all that. So, our pal will not see his show...which is awful, but it is the plain truth.
However, another possibility arises from all this nightmare, that I get to write what I wanted to write about, and that is Dimitri himself, for he was a colourful character, full of life and always putting broken winged lost souls under his own sturdy wing.
So, I am feeling a bit better, my other pal is going to help me with the history, the jokes, mayhem and whatnot, so I will have something to build a story with...
cheers and maybe we will have some chuckles in the future....I'll probably post something absurd now, seems to be my way sometimes, one extreme to the other..
fog
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
cheers
fog
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
...glad to hear your mutual friend in on board now.
One extreme to the other sounds pretty balanced to me fog!
Look forward to reading what you say next.
Dusk
Comment by Louie
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
If he is taking that much Morphene he is probably on his last legs so i would probably just humour him and say that you are writing his story. You never know, you may get enough material to glean a story out of what you have, even if its a work of Fiction it is still a story in his honour. and that is a huge way to be remembered.
Other than that the only thing i can think of is if you interview everyone who knew him and get their stories about him ; you might be able to write a story about him....that is also a very big thing and a beautiful way to be remembered.
Good luck
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
yes I have covered some ground on this today, having spoken to our mutual friend, and he agrees me, writing about Dimitri is the better way, unless he finds extra material, which I asked him to look for when he goes to see him tonight.
Anyhoo...emotionally exhausting for sure...but no where near as bad as dying I must remind myself!
cheers
fog
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
If he can tell you all the stories, fragmented or not, I think he'll rest more easily knowing that a couple of good writers who knew him well will bring him immortality, sooner or later.
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
thanks for your advice, I agree too, that it is a matter of him knowing I am going to create a tribute, it eases the soul that they know they are continuing on in the mortal realm.
cheers and thanks for your kindly advice.
fog
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Whatever you write will serve the purpose enough - by even trying Im sure youve given him everything he needs.
Be with him until the end, and wait for his ghost to become a muse and the words will come thick and fast. It wont be his, it wont be yours, it will be something greater than you both.....And I cant wait to read it.
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
I really appreciate your kind words, they are especially important for me right at this moment, as I just opened an email telling me my friend Dimitri passed away at 7-30pm last night, luckily he was with friends and went peacefully...
"He who hesitates is lost" is an adage that has crept into my mind at the moment..I promised him I was going to see him last weekend...then thought I'd go down Monday...then during this week...
anyway...now I have the task of creating something for him...
thanks again
fog
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
you are not alone, I am fabulous at giving advice to others that I do not apply to myself!
But it matters not, for what we give from the heart we receive in some way in return, there really is a natural balance, even when all the powers in the world are against you, there is still, at least, a spiritual balance that one day, in this existence or the next, will be achieved.
cheers
fog
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
All my best wishes.