A friend submits the following challenge:
Foglia, dans sa dernière chronique, a proposé un jeu :
“ON JOUE ? – Pour finir, une idée piquée dans un journal en Alabama, je ne sais plus lequel, anyway c’est un jeu. On a demandé un jour à Hemingway d’écrire une nouvelle en six mots ; pas n’importe quoi, une vraie nouvelle qui raconte vraiment une histoire. Hemingway a écrit ceci : À vendre : souliers de bébé jamais utilisés (en anglais ça fait six mots).
Sur ce modèle, le journal – peut-être The Atlanta Journal – a demandé à ses lecteurs de raconter leur vie en six mots. Le journal a reçu plus de 15 000 réponses. Deux exemples au hasard : Found true love, married someone else. Moins intense : Wasn’t born a redhead ; fixed that.
J’ai essayé évidemment. J’ai visé de ne pas être trop sérieux, mais quand même, d’être le plus près possible d’un vrai résumé de ma vie. Ça donne ceci : Euh, quelqu’un aurait-il un tournevis ?
Vous, votre vie en six mots (pas sept), ça donnerait quoi ?”
Moi, ça donne ceci : Né handicapé, pour limiter les dégâts.
Et vous ?
Luc
Ok, my six-word life summary is: “Well, at least I didn’t breed.” (I had some others, but they were too self-deprecating to publish.)
And yours? It’s harder than it seems. Give it a try!
*** *** ***
Addendum March 23: If you submit something for the Six Words challenge I’ll bake you a cake next time I see you! If you submit something not self-deprecating, I’ll bake you a cake as a reward and encouragement. It’s a harder thing to come up with and you deserve the recognition. (If it is self-deprecating, then I guess you need cheering up.)
Tes six mots sont quand même un peu auto-dépréciatifs. Les miens aussi d’ailleurs. C’est peut-être la rançon de la lucidité.
Dommage que les gens n’aient pas laissé de commentaires.
Merci d’avoir participer, Alison.
XX
Comment by Luc — Sunday, March 16th, 2008 @ 13:05
Imaginative, yet can’t find the words…
Taught to serve anyone, but myself…
Eduqué à servir tous, sauf moi.
Do not worry, be very happy.
I do not eat cake anymore.
JFA
Comment by JFA — Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 @ 18:48
This is the story of my life: Love will be stronger then hate.
Many sweet Dutch kisses,
greetings, Barbara
Comment by Barbara Everts — Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 @ 19:00
Californian learns mindfulness through Montreal ice.
Comment by Katharine — Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 @ 19:11
Ahhh, I’ll have to think on this. But Barbara’s is interesting. Perhaps she means “stronger than hate”, but “Love will be stronger THEN hate” is a totally fascinating life story… a good trailer that would hook me. How is hate stronger, why? What happened to bring that about?….
Comment by Leanne — Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 @ 21:17
I sewed, read, wrote and left.
Sad huh? I *can* summarize my life in six words.
Comment by Kathleen — Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 @ 22:20
“I will survive” – wait – I did.
Comment by Sophie — Monday, March 24th, 2008 @ 08:19
I’ve got 2:
Lucky that some dreams came true
and
Will do anything for Alison’s cake.
Comment by ina — Monday, March 24th, 2008 @ 08:28
“At least I had good intentions”
Comment by su — Monday, March 24th, 2008 @ 08:45
Hey Alison,
have been writing “six words” for some time now. Not always life summaries.
Here’s my autobiography: premature, had baby late, revising memoir.
Here’s one about my cat: old cat chases squirrel: regains youth
etc
xo
Katinka
Comment by Katinka Neuhof — Monday, March 24th, 2008 @ 13:30
I came up with a sequel:
Travel. Motherhood. Meaningful work. Thank you.
Do I get 2 cakes???
Comment by ina — Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 @ 15:34
Ooh, these are good. Thanks!
Luc,
Le gâteau est un incitatif important ! T’en as le droit aussi : quel saveur ?
Mark,
I don’t think it’s cheating to hyphenate forty-four. (And to everyone else: that was a SAD COMMENTARY, not boasting. In case you were wondering.)
JFA,
I think that last one is the most novel-like in Hemingway terms. I like it.
Barbara and Leanne,
I missed the typo.
Barbara,
I know you meant ‘than,’ but I’m not correcting it because I like Leanne’s musings so much. I’m not sure I’ll be in a position to make you a cake myself next time I’m in Holland. Will a purchased pastry be acceptable? Or will you come visit me here, and I can share something homemade?
Katharine,
Shall we make a date to mindfully enjoy a zen cake then, to go with the ice?
Kathleen,
Those are five extremely respectable action words. My rejected life summaries included action words like “aimless consuming.” I don’t think you have anything to be sad about. I will definitely not be in a position to make a cake while camping in New Mexico. Possibly Boston brown bread steamed over a campfire? I’m sure we can work something out, as with Barbara.
Sophie,
Yes, isn’t that amazing? Do you wake up every morning and just marvel at it? I know I do, and I pretty much came with a silver spoon. I will contact you privately about the cake.
Ina,
Luck always has something to do with it, but in this case I know that Ina has a lot to do with it. I’m trying to get my passport renewed. When I do, there will be cake. (Two even, you just have to ask!)
Su,
And good outcomes too, I think. Tassajara has some recipes for vegan cake. I will be studying them. (If you have secret sources for truly free-range eggs though, I will be very grateful.)
Katinka,
The memoir sounds intriguing. May we all be blessed with squirrels to chase. (See Ina RE: passport cake.)
Future posters:
This offer ends with my death. Until then, post for cake!
Comment by alison — Thursday, March 27th, 2008 @ 07:13
ok – I do have a couple – I was working on the novel, not the life story.
The life story:
They grew up. I live alone
The novels:
Takeoff. Seat mate. Soul mate. Landing
Picnic on beach. Boat sails away
Comment by vc — Sunday, April 6th, 2008 @ 15:51
i thought souliers bebe non utilises summed up that he had never had babies, that he meant to but maybe they died, etc….
just a bit like your story maybe
Comment by Zaz — Thursday, October 9th, 2008 @ 19:39
my life? nothing changes no matter you do.
Comment by Zaz — Thursday, October 9th, 2008 @ 19:40