tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post5949776171956301613..comments2024-03-19T09:07:21.386-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: WRITING PASSAGES--LIBBY FISCHER HELLMANJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-83151248988616503612020-11-27T11:49:07.884-05:002020-11-27T11:49:07.884-05:00Such an insightful post, Libby. Loved reading abou...Such an insightful post, Libby. Loved reading about your joy at finding the inspiration for your latest book. I'm looking forward to reading it. As for Passages, it's sent me counting backwards in the meanderings of my life to find the 7-year pattern. Fascinating how it comes close to matching. In cleaning out my mother's apartment earlier this year, I found the book on her bookshelf. I'll be looking for the box I stored it in soon.Gay Yellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03563945979041377280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-77648150233296468952020-11-26T09:54:56.464-05:002020-11-26T09:54:56.464-05:00Libby, thank you. I did not know that. I thought...Libby, thank you. I did not know that. I thought the babies were orphaned as a result of the war.<br /><br />DianaBibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764234701385787238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-47277659435267959682020-11-26T06:11:28.098-05:002020-11-26T06:11:28.098-05:00I hope so. But then it's "Mother of a tee...I hope so. But then it's "Mother of a teenager... college student... young adult... and then they leave and we're empty nesters wondering how it all happened so quickly!Libby Hellmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14357982182362948869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29738421927265753342020-11-25T15:23:23.823-05:002020-11-25T15:23:23.823-05:00Thanks, Kaye. Great to hear from you!Thanks, Kaye. Great to hear from you!Libby Hellmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14357982182362948869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-19212884272013644252020-11-25T15:22:52.033-05:002020-11-25T15:22:52.033-05:00You and I have traveled through similar passages, ...You and I have traveled through similar passages, Roberta. I remember long car trips talking about them! Libby Hellmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14357982182362948869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-15726972165475078872020-11-25T15:21:37.189-05:002020-11-25T15:21:37.189-05:00Thanks for the kind words, Kathy. The Central High...Thanks for the kind words, Kathy. The Central Highlands of Vietnam are absolutely beautiful. Almost fairy tale-ish in the early morning with mist curling around the mountains, and fresh water lakes.Libby Hellmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14357982182362948869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-91642055559007367882020-11-25T15:19:48.499-05:002020-11-25T15:19:48.499-05:00Thanks, Hank!
Thanks, Hank! <br />Libby Hellmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14357982182362948869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16668133588136227172020-11-25T15:18:46.550-05:002020-11-25T15:18:46.550-05:00As I recall, Operation Baby was controversial. All...As I recall, Operation Baby was controversial. Allegedly, the Vietnamese women didn't know they were giving up their children. They got money (from whom I dont remember) but then the children were taken and all hell broke loose. Libby Hellmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14357982182362948869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-69897413749472416392020-11-25T15:16:48.360-05:002020-11-25T15:16:48.360-05:00Thanks, Hallie. Scary as all get out, but it seems...Thanks, Hallie. Scary as all get out, but it seems to have been the right decision at the time. Libby Hellmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14357982182362948869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-11523155949919268652020-11-25T15:15:53.778-05:002020-11-25T15:15:53.778-05:00Thanks, Debs. I didn't read New Passages, but ...Thanks, Debs. I didn't read New Passages, but I wouldn't be surprised. I too think we get more interesting as we age, because we're y finallnot afraid to be who we are. And yes, it is a gift. It's only happened to me once before.Libby Hellmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14357982182362948869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-56088942957063428932020-11-25T15:13:34.994-05:002020-11-25T15:13:34.994-05:00So, that reminds me of a personal anecdote. I was ...So, that reminds me of a personal anecdote. I was um... on the liberal side, being an anti-war protestor during the war. I was home from college in my jeans and t-shirt when the the doorbell rang. A young man in full dress uniform (army) stood there. I gaped, not really getting it. He introduced himself to me and I realized he and I had gone to elementary school together.vHe told me that he always wanted to see me when we were "grown up" to show me what he'd done with his life. He'd enlisted and was now a staff sergeant. I think I was speechless (probably for the 1st time in my life) I mean, what do you say to that? That I thought the war should never have been thought and that anyone who enlisted was... well... I didnt say anything like that. Somehwere, somehow, I found the grace and maturity to congratulate him on his accomplishments.Libby Hellmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14357982182362948869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21557648525625941212020-11-25T15:07:31.448-05:002020-11-25T15:07:31.448-05:00Lucky Lady, Susan. Right on schedule.Lucky Lady, Susan. Right on schedule.Libby Hellmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14357982182362948869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-1731922351137540032020-11-25T15:05:33.856-05:002020-11-25T15:05:33.856-05:00Exacytly. It's mostly in retrospect that I rea...Exacytly. It's mostly in retrospect that I realized I was going through them. And that I wasn't the only one. Kind of a blow to one's self-image as a unique personality, huh...Libby Hellmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14357982182362948869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-8636442414298487892020-11-25T14:25:42.207-05:002020-11-25T14:25:42.207-05:00 Yes yes yes. LOVE the passages idea. Brilliant! ... Yes yes yes. LOVE the passages idea. Brilliant! And oh, nothing better than to have an inspiration. Congratulations!Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07630366214207785339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-60358963843409335352020-11-25T14:19:41.968-05:002020-11-25T14:19:41.968-05:00Libby, welcome to JRW and Happy Thanksgiving. I lo...Libby, welcome to JRW and Happy Thanksgiving. I love the painting that inspired your latest book and look forward to reading it.Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16128026892155650398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84032101270366482762020-11-25T13:14:20.068-05:002020-11-25T13:14:20.068-05:00Great post, Libby. I think I have to pick up Sheeh...Great post, Libby. I think I have to pick up Sheehy's book and see what passage I'm in because I'm sure "exhausted mother" should have ended by now!Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-366081423948007962020-11-25T12:15:53.011-05:002020-11-25T12:15:53.011-05:00Libby, hi. I loved reading this, Thank you. I fe...Libby, hi. I loved reading this, Thank you. I fell quite deeply into Gail Sheehy's book when it first came out; now I feel like it might be time to revisit it. I'm excited about your new book and look forward to reading it. (Love the painting!!!)Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Museshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07486129009717476920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75326657204550867012020-11-25T11:43:05.783-05:002020-11-25T11:43:05.783-05:00I do see my life in stages. I don't always se...I do see my life in stages. I don't always see them clearly until I've made the transition into a new one, but I definitely do see life that way.Mark Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567392254011373198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-41438801209918049602020-11-25T11:10:59.697-05:002020-11-25T11:10:59.697-05:00Libby, love this essay! I will have to consider wh...Libby, love this essay! I will have to consider what my passages have been--not as well defined as yours. the book sounds wonderful!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90893564066102588512020-11-25T10:15:01.257-05:002020-11-25T10:15:01.257-05:00Jungle Reds, I finally have Internet connection fo...Jungle Reds, I finally have Internet connection for now. It has been spotty for a week!<br /><br />Libby, congratulations on your new novel. I remember flying out of my local airport several years ago when they had an exhibit about Operation Baby. It seems that there was a US military operation to rescue babies and young children from Vietnam and take them to America to be adopted by American families. Regarding PASSAGES, though I never read the book by Gail Sheehy, I recall that she adopted a daughter from China ? And I wonder why she stopped at age 59? Perhaps it is because she was 59 years old when the book was published?<br /><br />DianaBibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764234701385787238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-47816171989325054522020-11-25T09:45:43.925-05:002020-11-25T09:45:43.925-05:00Libby, Congratulations on what sounds like a wonde...Libby, Congratulations on what sounds like a wonderful book, and on being open to the next phase of your authorial life. That was a huge leap you took.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-83189677655242217142020-11-25T09:42:33.416-05:002020-11-25T09:42:33.416-05:00Libby, now I'm curious about Passages, althoug...Libby, now I'm curious about Passages, although I gave my copy away decades ago. Did Sheehy's New Passages continue after 59, I wonder? I do think we get more interesting as we age.<br /><br />This was such an inspiring essay. I love that Vietnam, and that lovely painting, spoke to you so strongly. That is such a gift for a writer.Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84421546374807242812020-11-25T09:11:41.419-05:002020-11-25T09:11:41.419-05:00Congratulations on finding a new voice and a new p...Congratulations on finding a new voice and a new phase in your writing career. Here's hoping your book meets with a lot of success. I'm so glad you bought the painting.<br /><br />If I read Passages it was so long ago I've forgotten it, but my life has definitely gone through distinct stages. Actually, MY life has seen a lot of on-stage, back-stage, and up on the grid phases but that's because I work in live entertainment. All puns aside, I can see distinct phases of evolution in my personal and professional lives. I think it's lovely that we, as a generation, are charting new paths through that big blank space after the age of 59. Here be dragons!Gigi Norwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00495357787099352860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-68706609856078326052020-11-25T08:45:02.190-05:002020-11-25T08:45:02.190-05:00Congratulations on your new release! I remember re...Congratulations on your new release! I remember reading Tim O'Brien and Philip Caputo, but it's time for a novel about the country and inhabitants rather than American soldiers.<br /><br />I recall Passages; my life has bumped along, all over the country. And now I have the time to write about it.Margaret S. Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07810307017440257313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87317465404648632332020-11-25T08:28:18.203-05:002020-11-25T08:28:18.203-05:00Looking back I think I can see that there are diff...Looking back I think I can see that there are different stages of the life I have led. But nothing has been as I had expected in the years before.<br /><br />I'm eager to read your book, Libby. I've been fascinated with Vietnam ever since reading Up Country by Nelson DeMille. When I was in high school one of the career paths I was thinking about was nursing. The Army was offering a pretty sweet deal but a boyfriend at the time talked me out of that. Ever since then I have wondered if maybe I would have been sent to that country. Part of me regrets that didn't happen. Judihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06777683026890358953noreply@blogger.com