Archive for the ‘SMILE’ Category
Tell Me about the Voices “Tell me about the voices,” Robert says. He looks like Elvis, during the fat stage, with slicked back hair all greasy and black. He’s my new counselor since I told everyone how much Lori sucks. That she doesn’t take me seriously, chastises me like a mother. “Are they internal voices, […]
Filed under: crazy, Depression, Memoir, Minneapolis, Psych Ward, SMILE | 18 Comments
Tags: Bipolar, Crazy, Depression, Love, Minneapolis, Psychiatric Ward, SMILE, Suicide Attempt, therapy
Tell Me About the Affair “Tell me about the affair,” Lori the counselor says. She’s middle-aged with boring, round glasses, a slightly grown out perm with gray roots, a loose, cotton dress with tiny, tasteful flowers dotting the hem. It’s Monday morning, and the routine is to meet with your counselor at 9:00, then group […]
Filed under: Addiction, crazy, Depression, Memoir, SMILE | 11 Comments
Tags: addiction, affair, Bipolar, Crazy, Depression, Memoir, Minneapolis, SMILE, Suicide Attempt, therapy
Name: Sundance, Jennifer Lennon DOB: 06/30/75 Admit Date: 12/31/2000 IDENTIFICATION: The patient is a 25 year old female who is admitted to the inpatient psychiatric until for a 72-hour hold. HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: Patients states she has been increasingly depressed and under stress, having increased mood swings as well as decreased need for sleep […]
Filed under: Addiction, crazy, Depression, Memoir, Minneapolis, Psych Ward, SMILE | 10 Comments
Tags: addiction, Bipolar, Crazy, Depression, Memoir, Minneapolis, Publishing, SMILE, Suicide Attempt
SMILE Mizz Arrogant – The nurse says I have to get out of bed. She coaxes me to the recreation room, a large area with tables and chairs and stacks of cheap books and chess sets and puzzles with missing pieces. One wall is entirely windows and I can see the river dragging bits of […]
Filed under: Bi-Polar, Depression, Memoir, Minneapolis, Psych Ward, Publishing, SMILE | 8 Comments
Tags: Bipolar, Crazy, Depression, Memoir, Minneapolis, Psychiatric Ward, SMILE, Suicide Attempt
This shout-out is too damn funny. Since I’m an attention whore, I can’t help but repost it. But also, this gal is quick-witted and sharp – a wonderful contrast to my serious SMILE piece. Check it out! www.http://metamemoir.com/2013/01/09/on-being-the-voice-of-my-generation/
Filed under: Bi-Polar, crazy, Memoir, Publishing, SMILE, Writing | 4 Comments
Tags: Bipolar, Crazy, Depression, Memoir, Publishing, SMILE, Writing
SMILE (Part 2) Vinegar and Paper Sam the nurse wheels me through the tunnels underneath the Fairview hospital complex. They are slender and dimly lit and he speaks soft and nice, like I’m a child with a high fever. “Don’t worry. Is this your first visit? It’s not a scary as it seems,” he says. […]
Filed under: Bi-Polar, crazy, Depression, Memoir, Publishing, SMILE, Writing | 9 Comments
Tags: Bipolar, Crazy, Depression, Memoir, Minneapolis, Psychiatric Ward, Publishing, SMILE, Suicide Attempt, Writing
SMILE Why? “Why would you do a thing like that? What is wrong with you?” The officer asks me. I’m lying on the burgundy, brocade fainting couch I bought through a catalog last summer. My heart is so slow, like molasses, like mud, slow and sick and I’m afraid that I’m going to feel myself […]
Filed under: Addiction, Bi-Polar, crazy, Depression, Memoir, Minneapolis, Psych Ward, Publishing, SMILE, Writing | 40 Comments
Tags: Bipolar, Crazy, Divorce, Memoir, Mental Health, Minneapolis, Publishing, Suicide Attempt
Postcard Follower Frenzy, Too.
This is a postcard of a Double-crested Cormorant. They have staggered hatching schedules, whatever that means. I’ve been dragging this postcard around for ten years from the 1900’s house in the ghetto, the 1920’s gingerbread bungalow (now foreclosed. More on that later) to my dusty, sunny apartment in South Minneapolis. So far, I’ve had only […]
Filed under: Bi-Polar, crazy, Memoir, Minneapolis, Psych Ward, Publishing, SMILE, Writing | Leave a Comment
Tags: Bipolar, Memoir, Postcards, Publishing, SMILE, Writing
Welcome to the Nuthouse
This is Fairview-University’s inpatient psych building. Located on the lovely banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, it gives us nutty, lock-ups a stellar view of the winding river as a teaser. Some of us want to jump in (but can’t because of insanely strong windows) and others simply wish to get the hell out. […]
Filed under: Addiction, Bi-Polar, crazy, Depression, Memoir, Minneapolis, SMILE, Writing | 4 Comments
Tags: addiction, Bipolar, Crazy, Depression, Memoir, Minneapolis, Psychiatric Ward, Publishing, SMILE, Suicide
Postcard Follower Frenzy
I rarely get mail that isn’t a collection-bill-circular-rejection letter. The only letter / Christmas card I got this year was from an upper Michigan maximum security facility. But hey, it was pretty flashy and homemade. Over the years, I have collected stacks of postcards. Some were given. Some found. Others stolen (though that was during […]
Filed under: Bi-Polar, Memoir, Minneapolis, SMILE, Writing | 4 Comments
Tags: Minneapolis, Postcards, Psychiatric Ward, SMILE, Writing
What's Broken 