tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012109.post5940158921065299653..comments2023-10-14T08:05:51.183-07:00Comments on see how we almost fly: Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03662927122733057638noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012109.post-36753677860166975102008-10-22T21:11:00.000-07:002008-10-22T21:11:00.000-07:00alison - you are a good 'mother' - no matter that ...alison - you are a good 'mother' - no matter that you never pushed a baby out of your body. feel GOOD about yourself and all that you have given to this world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012109.post-73802203553163921302008-10-22T18:52:00.000-07:002008-10-22T18:52:00.000-07:00A dear friend once said to me that the most beauti...A dear friend once said to me that the most beautiful relationship is an aunt with her nieces and nephews. No strings attached, completely able to give of yourself, no need to try to be the "perfect" parent, just the ability to be the person you are. The kids love you for it and will always be there for you. From what I read you are the perfect aunt. Who knows if parenting could have been as rewarding.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012109.post-20749195311751498132008-10-22T17:06:00.000-07:002008-10-22T17:06:00.000-07:00Might I suggest changing the frame? Perhaps the ch...Might I suggest changing the frame? Perhaps the choice was not to not have children, but the knowledge that the circumstances were not right.<BR/><BR/>For most of my life, I thought I would be a mother. When I was ready physically, I didn't have the right partner or financial circumstances for it to be feasible. It would've been wrong—not to mention selfish and irresponsible with long-reaching, irrevocable consequences—for me to have had a child, for both me and the child.<BR/><BR/>So many people say there is never a "right" time, or that you're never truly ready or prepared to have a child. That may be true, but it's also true that there are definite "wrong" times. Choosing not to have a child at the wrong time is not at all the same as choosing to never have a child.<BR/><BR/>Don't regret not having a child when you knew it wasn't the right time or situation. Your life just happened to take a different direction, as has mine. But I still don't think of it as having chosen not to have had children. There just wasn't a time when it would've been possible to consider.<BR/><BR/>You have so much love to give and such a big heart. You have given so much to so many, and you continue to give—with your writing and your teaching and your friending and your aunting and your loving.<BR/><BR/>Happy, happy 50th, Alison! Many happy, healthy, loving, joyful returns of the day! The next 50 years are going to be incredible!<BR/><BR/>(Though I thought your b'day was in early December, and you were Sagittarius...)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18029572377894297361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012109.post-83239062875388753062008-10-21T19:37:00.000-07:002008-10-21T19:37:00.000-07:00When people say there must be a reason what they u...When people say there must be a reason what they usually mean is there must be some mysterious, supernatural reason that something is the way it is. But the fact is there's no mysterious or supernatural reason why you have not had children. You know the reasons, you've listed them here, and they make perfect sense. No need to second guess yourself. Just keep on living, and enjoy the life you have.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012109.post-57594209718632767662008-10-20T22:13:00.000-07:002008-10-20T22:13:00.000-07:00I'd be so happy to have you as my gigantic red-hai...I'd be so happy to have you as my gigantic red-haired foul-mouthed baby! I can handle everything except pureed bananas. I love you tons, thank you for your big far-reaching vision and huge spirit.<BR/><BR/>xoxoxoxoxo,<BR/>AliAlisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03662927122733057638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35012109.post-73838773624011039872008-10-20T17:51:00.000-07:002008-10-20T17:51:00.000-07:00There's always your inner child - plus I understan...There's always your inner child - plus I understand you're going to learn how to lift me - and ultimately there may be diapers so I'll be your gigantic, foul-mouthed baby.<BR/><BR/>You've given birth to many great poems, nursed a lot of rich grief and spread a lot of love in 50 years so that has got to count for something, baby.Carla Zilbersmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18170926133449647900noreply@blogger.com