I wrote Family Myths after my father died. It’s the true story of one of the worst conversations in my life. Almost fifty years passed and neither of us ever mentioned that conversation again.
The University of Colorado Boulder’s Program for Writing and Rhetoric did me the incredible honor of accepting Family Myths for publication in Hindsight Journal, their annual publication.
Hindsight Journal has just come out. Click on this link to read the magazine on line for free. Hindsight Journal 4
For any readers out there who have words etched in your brains, this story is for you.
NOTES: ©2024 Jadi Campbell. For photos from our trips and Uwe’s photography, go to viewpics.de.
My books are Broken In: A Novel in Stories, Tsunami Cowboys, Grounded and The Trail Back Out.
Click here for my author page to learn more about me and purchase my books.
Wow Jadi, that was brutal. And beautiful. So much heartache here, and so much joy and beauty. Just like life eh. Those childhood camping trips sound idyllic. And then there’s the reality of our broken humanness. Beautifully told. I published a similar piece about my mother years ago. It’s good to write these stories I think, and to put them out into the world so they have wings.
Alison
Alison, can you give me a link to your story? I’d love to read it. I’ve been surprised and gratified by the positive resonance Family Myths has received. Painfully honest stories are always recognized for their truth.
I agree – painfully honest stories are always recognized; it’s something we can all relate to. My piece was published on Sreejit Poole’s blog The Seeker’s Dungeon, which sadly no longer exists, so it remains in my files. I just re-read it for the first time in many years and would like to publish it, but not without first running it by my sisters.
Alison
You have a gift for story-telling; I encourage you to get it published so I and others can read it.
Hi Jadi,
Congratulations on getting Family Myths published. I just read it. Thanks for sharing.
It took me a while to decide to try to get this story published. Thanks for reading it.
Congratulations on the publication of your beautifully written story of a horrible memory. It’s a tribute to you, to your upbringing, and perhaps even to your father that you moved past that horrific conversation to construct a human relationship from the ashes of the mythic one. I guess it’s hard to stay a hero to those with whom you’re sharing a bathroom—especially one you have to dig yourself.
Barb Taub, bless you for finding some humor! And thank you for taking the time to comment –
A story full of heartbreak, insight and promise. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for taking the time to respond, Peggy. This piece is one of the most personal I’ve ever written.