I forgot about this thing lately, but be sure I haven't forgotten about it forever, and that I'm still living (be pretty sure) and breathing (") and thinking thoughts and learning not nearly as much as we'd hope and feeling a beautiful rainbow of diverse feelings. Lately though, instead of writing, I either read/see/feel it and share it: via Shared Items/allow me to g-everything you; or keep it: you have (you've always had) my permission to read my mind.
Shalom Auslander is one of my absolute favorite things I associate with TAL. (See: Shouting Across the Divide, Act 2). There's something so hilarious about his unique brand of self-degradation, shame, anxiety. Old gimmicks become new. But while I was reading Foreskin's Lament a couple weeks ago, I'll admit, I was a little unsure of his long-form ability. The book is a memoir of his former life as an Orthodox Jew, leaving the fold, and all the ways it is right and wrong. It read extremely quickly; it's seemingly too transparent at parts. I was worried it was pop lit from a man who is so so obviously better than that.
Come the last page, though, all the smart, biting things he said about the nature of self, shame, family, and religion finally sunk in. And it's good / real good. But then again, "deep conflicts of shame relating to mothers and God" pretty much describes any man I've ever had real feelings for, so maybe I am biased. I know I am biased. This book was like felt like a long-form apology from every wretched skeleton in the closet.
I believe in God. It's been a real problem for me. (C'mon! That's funny! / Welcome to my relationship.)
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