A sad, sad story

[fpb]

Many years ago, about 1980, I created my main superhero character, the Silver Angel. From the beginning I had a very clear idea of what I wanted her to look like: small and gentle, but with very marked features, strong cheekbones, huge blue eyes and a thoughtful expression

Comments

[rfachir]

unfulfilled and unachieved
She looks happy in these pictures. Sometimes unexpected challanges force us to look deeper inside for the power we need. Victory, fullfillment and achievement are sweet gifts we can only recognize for ourselves. But for the really big battles, that's enough - only comic heroines need capes, too.

[fpb]

I hope so. On the other hand, bear in mind that she is, one, a former stripper, and, two, a highly talented actress. To a stripper, smiling is automatic, a part of her job; and the talented actress in her would make sure that it was convincing. I also know that these photos were taken before the final bad news was published, at a time when she was telling reporters: "I will not die of this" and trying to build up her courage. What I find dreadful is that these are the pictures of a dreadfully ill woman, whose cancer, according to medical reports, has spread to her whole trunk. Could you tell? And does it not make it even more heart-breaking?

[fpb]

Going back to this article after three years, I find that you had it exactly right and I was wrong to be in doubt. But then, you belong to the same tribe, and clearly found it easy to recognize a fellow spirit.

[ex_lonicera600]

That is truly heartbreaking. Some people seem to have lifes where one tragic events hunts another. One can only hope - and it is what I believe - that there *is* some sense in the lifes of all those who die too young, tragically unfulfilled and through brutal means. It is the thought that the soul choses their own incarnation(s) in search of experiences to help them on their way to completeness and that some brave souls chose a very rough path sometimes.

[fpb]

Being Catholic, I cannot agree with the view of the soul that you describe, although I admit it is a heroic and attractive one. I think rather of those words to be expected or feared, as the light of this world dies and that of another dawns: either - Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord - or else Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Now if you ask me whether that leaves poor Trine any hope, I would say - much more hope than a lot of people who lived apparently harmless lives without loving anything or doing anything for anyone. God does not judge as we judge, and He knows us better than we know ourselves. If there is any reason to forgive even the worst sin, He will know it better than the best advocate could. But we must love before we can be loved, and give mercy before we can pray for it.

[guttaperk]

A sad and touching story.

I'm marrying a Catholic in fifteen days, and am considering conversion.

[fpb]

That is entirely up to you, but if it can help, I would say that the Catholic Church contains more or less everything one can love in any of the other Christian bodies, from the quiet dignity prized by the Anglicans to the personal emotion that many Evangelicals value, to the intellectual life that is my own particular love. However, it is also true that you can impact against seriously unsympathetic areas or people, if you are unlucky. Good luck, and may God guide and help you. And congratulations on your marriage.

[guttaperk]

I agree, and thank you.

[fpb]

Well, thank you, but really, the story imposes its own style on the writer. It is my belief that once you have learned to write at all, when you find a story that touches you, you will find a way to make others feel it.