Comments for Nell Boeschenstein

Comment on I Congo On by Gaya

Gaya — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:52:37 +0000

Congo On… is now official jargon… One of the best I ve read!

Comment on I Congo On by Patrick Ryan

Patrick Ryan — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:09:56 +0000

Thank you, Cheryl. So much. You just made me a little teary. I hope you enjoyed the Monticello piece and that your next visit is not too far away. I find Monticello is just fascinating, fascinating, fascinating.

Comment on I Congo On by Cheryl B (@Tejanarusa)

Cheryl B (@Tejanarusa) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:54:53 +0000

Also just read your piece about not reading – reached via Poetry Found on twitter. It resonated because I identify as a reader, a “book person.” And yet there are times when I can’t read.
After a miscarriage I couldn’t read. I sat in my bathrobe and watched the Cartoon Channel and Nickelodeon and TCM for two weeks before I got back into my real self. When I had double pneumonia and nearly died, I couldn’t read for a couple months afterward…recovery was slow, and reading was hard. It literally required too much energy; my body needed all my energy to heal.
I think this is what is happening to you. I wouldn’t assume you will never want to read again. Likely you will. One can’t be sure, but after a major insult to your body such as you have experienced, energy must go to healing the body. The brain just isn’t getting as much as it usually does.

By the way, I’m heading over to your piece on visiting Monticello ‘again and again.” I identify with that, too; until I was nearly 7, my family lived in Staunton, and made repeated visits to Monticello with visiting friends. One parent would go with the friends and the other would wait outside with me, to save money. We were there so often, the 3 of us, that Monticello gave my family a year’s free passes so we could all go through. Ten years ago I got to introduce my Texan husband to Monticello. I look forward to my next visit.

Give yourself some slack; this too shall pass, and you can move back to Brooklyn, or not. You do not need to decide now. Just heal.
And thank you for a lovely piece of writing.

Comment on I Congo On by Patrick Ryan

Patrick Ryan — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:22:51 +0000

I’m glad the piece struck a chord with you, Nichola. I am not sure whether I agree with your sentiment that not reading means I’m now living, but I do think that we each need to find a way to live most fully and that that is an entirely individual process and set of decisions.

Comment on I Congo On by Patrick Ryan

Patrick Ryan — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:20:36 +0000

Thank you, Josh!

Comment on I Congo On by Josh

Josh — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 04:36:48 +0000

Loved your piece on The Morning News. Felt very close to it. I share much of what you express. Please keep writing.

Thanks too for sharing the Eudora Welty letter. Wonderful!

Comment on I Congo On by Patrick Ryan

Patrick Ryan — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:25:24 +0000

Thank you for reading and for taking the time to write. I do love “Mad Men” and I will certainly give “Brothers and Sisters” a go on your suggestion. And my own best wishes for your continued health!

Comment on I Congo On by Nichola Lenehan

Nichola Lenehan — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:42:21 +0000

I empathize deeply on not reading. I was a ‘real reader’ all my life until it just kinda stopped. People just wouldn’t believe me when I told them that I wasn’t reading anymore; it didn’t compute for them. I found out that I preferred listening to some podcasts and became a fan of online TV series (I’m an expert now). It took a few years for me to stop feeling insecure about not reading and refusing to take books people insisted on lending to me. I felt like I had to remind people I wasn’t stupid. I saw that reading had kept me from really experiencing life–I used to read about other people experiencing life. It reminded me of a wedding I went to where it seemed that it was all about posing for photos. (I used to take a lot of photos too, that fell by the wayside before the reading.) I have been on facebook for years now and am constantly puzzled by others’ apparent guilt at how much time they spend on it. I find it an effective way to stay in touch with friends. I’ve developed friendships on facebook. I subscribe to people and publications which interest me–hence reading your article. Reading can be a way to anesthetize and isolate you from life. When life forces you to feel and really live in your body, reading seems a pale reflection of life. You’re really living now; this is being alive.

Comment on I Congo On by np

np — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:23:06 +0000

I just found you from your essay on The Morning News (via the browser). It is a wonderful piece of writing. As a cancer survivor (different kind) anxiety has become my constant companion. After reading your essay I understood why I have a hard time getting into long form reading (yours excluded )

As for TV watching… I watched “Brothers and Sisters” (netflix streaming) when I was recuperating. Now (no longer in recuperation) I am into “Mad men” (watch one episode every evening). I would also recommend “Flame trees of Thika” (netflix dvd, original BBC) to be taken to an entirely different time and place. “Six feet under” is good too.

Best wishes for your recovery.

Comment on I Congo On by Patrick Ryan

Patrick Ryan — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 03:44:19 +0000

I’m trying, Mike. I will.