This is How it's Done
A Moving Essay By Cathy Gigante-Brown
In fifth grade, I wrote my first short story. Fan fiction actually, based on the popular animated science fiction series Star Blazers. I wrote it in class, when I should have doing something else. My teacher, Sister Candace, took it and never returned it.
Needless to say, that made me want to write even more.
I mention this today because that very humble beginning is the time and place where I - more or less - date the start of my professional life. In other words, I’ve been doing this writing thing for a long time. I know my way around a paragraph (occasional editing bloopers aside) and consider myself to have led a fortunate and lucky author life.
That said…
Every so often it’s critical to be reminded what honest, moving writing looks like.
May I present for your reading consumption today, an essay written by Catherine Gigante-Brown, a New York writer and friend. Though we’ve only met in person twice - once when I was in New York City for an event, and once when her and her husband came up to New England on vacation - I consider her a close friend and ally, and a digital auntie to Uma.
She is one of the most authentic humans I’ve ever met. Her essay, about her ‘final’ tattoo, is richly and deeply personal - a masterclass in expressing vulnerability in the personal essay format. Her work makes you feel. Her writing is beautiful.
That’s it. That’s all I’ll say. Take a few minutes to give Cathy’s work some attention. Her essay begins about half way down. This is how it’s done. I still have a lot to learn.
Thanks for being in my life Cathy. Keep fighting.
You can visit Cathy’s website here: Catherine Gigante-Brown Author Website. The on line journal in which the essay appears is called Oldster Magazine and is also worthy of your time and eyes. Check it out here: Oldster Magazine.
Wow, Dan, this humbles me on so many levels. First, because I feel the same way about your writing. Your ability to capture a tiny moment and make it large is uncanny and always fills me with wonder (and a touch of envy). And you know that reading The Nepal Chronicles inspired me to turn my 30 years abandoned travelogue into my novel "Paul and Carol Go to Guatemala." My great respect for your writing and for you as a human prompted me to name the kindly librarian in "Immigrant Hearts" for you.
Thank you for writing such great stuff about my essay. And for featuring it in your Substack. Much of the credit goes to Oldster's founder and editor Sari Botton, for giving this old gal a voice and her gentle, skillful editing.
I love reading your stuff , too , Dan !! I’m excited to get the daily Day by Day story !!