tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post6288448953059123489..comments2023-11-06T12:28:13.575-05:00Comments on A Million Monkeys: The Hard Thing, by Erica OrloffJon VanZilehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026643422328853037noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-43789137570713383152009-08-12T10:36:41.770-04:002009-08-12T10:36:41.770-04:00Thanks, Joe. He loves his wife very much. And, not...Thanks, Joe. He loves his wife very much. And, not sure if it was noticed, but the fact that he believes he will JOIN her very soon shows the tremendous faith he has that their love is ETERNAL. Bigger than the love story of their life on earth--it will continue somewhere else, without ceasing.<br /><br />EErica Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16415925758466527671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-29239865976936121422009-08-12T10:15:54.285-04:002009-08-12T10:15:54.285-04:00To me, it is not a matter of whether you agree wit...To me, it is not a matter of whether you agree with the act or not. It's a matter of who the character is and how he sees love. I found that to be one of the most powerful parts of what, for me, was a moving story.Joe Baronehttp://joebaronesblog.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-38273983326274927662009-08-12T09:36:25.689-04:002009-08-12T09:36:25.689-04:00Jude:
No. Not everyone would agree in the context ...Jude:<br />No. Not everyone would agree in the context of this loving act.Erica Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16415925758466527671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-27484766025510296862009-08-12T08:24:36.121-04:002009-08-12T08:24:36.121-04:00Erica:
Well, the best fiction makes us think, and...Erica:<br /><br />Well, the best fiction makes us think, and you really did present an ethical dilemma whether you meant to or not. And, I'm pretty sure most people would agree that feeding someone sleeping pills and then putting a plastic bag over their head is murder.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-47834456474731016522009-08-12T08:00:47.898-04:002009-08-12T08:00:47.898-04:00Jude:
It's a work of fiction, not my political...Jude:<br />It's a work of fiction, not my political agenda. I have a vast set of living will instructions, have thought this out extensively, and seen it in my life played out. But it's a work of fiction . . . not my political and medical treatise. If you as reader want to take away that the father committed murder, that is out of my hands and writer and is what happens when people read fiction. The way I handle fiction is my work stands on its own, take what you wish.<br /><br />EErica Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16415925758466527671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-19724368030579203822009-08-12T07:19:47.299-04:002009-08-12T07:19:47.299-04:00Excellent story.
Really very well done.Excellent story. <br /><br />Really very well done.Spiced Apple Eyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05421630823448644286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-32728424910066221742009-08-12T05:01:17.397-04:002009-08-12T05:01:17.397-04:00Erica:
I 1000% AGREE that there are cases where d...Erica:<br /><br />I 1000% AGREE that there are cases where death would be preferable to what technically passes for life. No argument there at all. But with something like Alzheimer's, it's really tricky. The patients I've seen still have moments of what seems to be joy, and there's no way to tell what's really going on inside their minds.<br /><br />I know you meant for this to be an act of love, and I can see that this character thought it was, but at what point would one make such a decision? It's not quite cut and dried, like it might be if someone was on a vent with flat EEG waves.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-58322442083991495592009-08-12T00:12:50.714-04:002009-08-12T00:12:50.714-04:00Thanks, E. I am a mama bear through and through. :...Thanks, E. I am a mama bear through and through. :-)Erica Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16415925758466527671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-8305275939150976202009-08-12T00:12:13.164-04:002009-08-12T00:12:13.164-04:00Jude:
I 1000% disagree with you. But it's one ...Jude:<br />I 1000% disagree with you. But it's one of those very divisive arguments that will not often find a middle ground so I don't see any sense in debating it. My will is pretty clear on pulling the plug, denial of food and water (euthanasia) and so on. When someone can't swallow, that represents some divide of no return. Your "we can't" is a judgment . . . we CAN if that was the spoken desire of the people at the center of this story or of any real-life story. I have no sense that this was murder, but again . . . it's a highly emotional argument. So . . . one of those agree to disagree things. I wrote this as a very clear love story. Not a murder story.<br />EErica Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16415925758466527671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-72045462786302140262009-08-11T17:27:44.927-04:002009-08-11T17:27:44.927-04:00Sorry this comment is coming kind of late in the d...Sorry this comment is coming kind of late in the day .... I was at work with no computer access. <br /><br />What I wanted to say is that my job is in the field of swallowing, and I was just talking to a coworker about how the failure to swallow is often the signal to families that the end is near. That showed insight on your part.<br /><br />I also like the idea that love hesitates but does the hard thing, because it shows the ferocity of love. At work I tell mothers of sick kids they need to find their inner mama bear .... Sometimes love needs to be bad-ass. Your story captured that kind of love!E. Flanigannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-15214718559500587252009-08-11T17:17:42.311-04:002009-08-11T17:17:42.311-04:00There's a very real ethical question here, and...There's a very real ethical question here, and I have to think what the dad character did here <i>was</i> murder. We can't go around killing people just because they have Alzheimer's.Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-72644871425269059332009-08-11T13:44:22.723-04:002009-08-11T13:44:22.723-04:00PM:
Point well taken. I definitely wondered about ...PM:<br />Point well taken. I definitely wondered about that. There is a difference between Alzheimer's a moments of confusion/senility/dementia. So I wondered if everyone knew the progression. If I could assume that.<br /><br />Good point, though. Especially in a short-short.<br /><br />EErica Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16415925758466527671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-38975689369806667662009-08-11T13:32:59.938-04:002009-08-11T13:32:59.938-04:00I loved it. I loved the unexpectedness of the call...I loved it. I loved the unexpectedness of the call and the sadness of losing someone before your eyes. My one quibble (and it's small) is that, perhaps, you could've done with one or two fewer examples of her deterioration—they're all powerful and speak for themselves. PMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-90158451364714264892009-08-11T13:26:30.390-04:002009-08-11T13:26:30.390-04:00Lurker:
I think if I had pancreatic cancer, it mig...Lurker:<br />I think if I had pancreatic cancer, it might make it easier. Life on death's edge has more clarity.<br />EErica Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16415925758466527671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-34288233941632456452009-08-11T13:16:03.046-04:002009-08-11T13:16:03.046-04:00That was an excellent short-short. Just so you kno...That was an excellent short-short. Just so you know. You don't have to respond to this comment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-65035494221827661602009-08-11T12:58:25.549-04:002009-08-11T12:58:25.549-04:00Nice! There are some very sad moments in here. You...Nice! There are some very sad moments in here. You know, this is a decision I hope I never have to make, but I like to think that, if the time came, I could make it (especially if I had pancreatic cancer). And I'd want my wife to do the same for me ...Jon VanZilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14026643422328853037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-4872302926816930642009-08-11T12:52:39.326-04:002009-08-11T12:52:39.326-04:00Hi Sarah:
I don't think I can. But there is so...Hi Sarah:<br />I don't think I can. But there is someone in my life with Alzheimer's right now and it casts a huge pall over . . . our whole world here in my house.<br />EErica Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16415925758466527671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-73195048530143316912009-08-11T12:48:34.446-04:002009-08-11T12:48:34.446-04:00It is the hard choice and one my wife is hoping I ...It is the hard choice and one my wife is hoping I will make when the time is right. Not looking forward to it - at all. I can't even squash a cockroach.<br /><br />Very well done. Thank you!Sarah Laurensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09252565450452195395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-85357870188364732522009-08-11T11:57:11.831-04:002009-08-11T11:57:11.831-04:00Hi Natasha:
I didn't find it as sad as some pe...Hi Natasha:<br />I didn't find it as sad as some people who have already emailed me privately. I felt a sense of heroism. Definitely SAD, yes . . . but . . . maybe there was GRACE in the decision.<br /><br />I don;t think I am that strong either. My father used to make me "swear" I'd kill him with an OD if he got Alzheimer's. I can swear all I want. I'm not going to.<br /><br />EErica Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16415925758466527671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-15612436575471599382009-08-11T11:20:17.184-04:002009-08-11T11:20:17.184-04:00Aww, that's so sad. My best friend is that kin...Aww, that's so sad. My best friend is that kind of strong. I'm not, no matter how much I love, LOL.<br /><br />I loved the way you set up our expectations and then surprised us several times.Spy Scribblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299551957327543491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-45298078560948503142009-08-11T10:55:11.969-04:002009-08-11T10:55:11.969-04:00Thanks, Heather. There was one year when we had . ...Thanks, Heather. There was one year when we had . . . I'm thinking three arrests, but maybe not. However, the arrests seemed very clumped. The last one was my dad. LOVE those calls at midnight. Love 'em. LOL! Yes. I earned my gray hair. ;-)<br /><br />EErica Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16415925758466527671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-31190998973949345132009-08-11T10:45:36.852-04:002009-08-11T10:45:36.852-04:00Erica-- what a vivid picture you paint. I sat wit...Erica-- what a vivid picture you paint. I sat with my grandfather as he died of Alzheimer's. It is good when others Know. <br /><br />And, growing up, my family had a Bonehead of the Year Award for all the boneheaded things that everyone did. Nobody ever went to jail, our stuff was on a smaller scale, but your story reminded me of that, as well.<br /><br />Impressive writing.Heather Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06699360166269376285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-78843779996782900792009-08-11T09:19:40.145-04:002009-08-11T09:19:40.145-04:00Thanks, Melanie! And yes, eventually people can fo...Thanks, Melanie! And yes, eventually people can forget how to swallow. So you know.<br /><br />It's heartbreaking.<br /><br />EErica Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16415925758466527671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-5530860043195251632009-08-11T08:52:59.818-04:002009-08-11T08:52:59.818-04:00Wow. Just wow.
My grandfather died of Alzheimer&...Wow. Just wow. <br /><br />My grandfather died of Alzheimer's and the last time I saw him alive he was spitting his mushy food back out of his mouth, exactly as you described it. <br /><br />My mouth dropped open when the call about her father came. I love how you set it up so at first we're thinking "oh, this is where the kids all get it from" but then you realize he was driven by love. Wonderful.Melanie Hooyengahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08781235493983907234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7125214612971306615.post-74382077308767095252009-08-11T08:25:37.192-04:002009-08-11T08:25:37.192-04:00Hi Jude:
Thanks.
Again, because these are short-s...Hi Jude:<br />Thanks.<br /><br />Again, because these are short-shorts, it's interesting what you end up picking to go with in your words. AND . . . since mine is following E. Flanigan's . . . . it's interesting to see we had a similar element. If totally different. But . . .<br /><br />EErica Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16415925758466527671noreply@blogger.com