LJI Week 4: An Elephant Never Forgets

[alycewilson]

This is my entry for Week 4 of LJ Idol (therealljidol, Three Strikes season. This week's topic is "The axe forgets; the tree remembers."I was serving hash browns when a cheerful voice boomed, "Alice? Is it you?" I glanced up and couldn't place the nondescript person in front of me

Comments

[drippedonpaper]

Aww...hugs! I've never understood how/why bullies live with themselves, tearing others apart. I could list right now some things people said when I was younger that..well, I try to forget.

And like you, now looking back (I'm 43) I actually wasn't much overweight then.

I am so glad you are breaking the cycle.

You are beautiful, strong and accomplished.

Thanks for sharing from such a vulnerable part of your past. Hugs!

[alycewilson]

Thank you! I often find that the people I'm friends with now dealt with bullying as children. Sorry you had to deal with that, as well. You also should be proud of the person you've become.

I'm proud to report that my son's school district does an excellent job of helping kids to find their inner strength and to learn about conflict resolution. Although he's a smart boy who's smaller than average and wears glasses, he hasn't dealt with the sort of bullying I experienced. Of course, it probably helps that he's also very funny.

[beautyofgrey]

Isn't it so weird, how they never remember how they treated you? It always makes me realize how little I meant to them, and conversely, how much (too much) value I placed on their words.

At least you were able to move quickly on and past his awkward recognition, rebanishing him to history, so to speak.

[bleodswean]

This was hard to read. And that photo! You were delightful, Alyce! That's a strange part of getting older or maybe becoming a mother - young people just look beautiful and it's boggling to try to remember that it's so different when you're in that place/time/body.

I WANT to believe that he had undergone a transformation! I'm going to hold fast to that.

[engarian]

I have to hope that he grew out of his tendencies to belittle others. You, on the other hand, grew strong and rightfully proud.

- Erulisse (one L)

[roina_arwen]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope “Duffy” really did grow up and become a better person.