Whether we live in a loving family environment, or lead a solitary existance is all down to circumstance. In my own case these days I exist hidden away from society and the world, behind securely locked front and back doors. Why? Because like countless others across the planet, life has dealt me more than one cruel blow during my lifetime.
When I was nineteen I was deliriously happy, married for a brief eighteen months to a beautiful Montagnard girl named Mai, who I met in a bar in Saigon. When we wed in a magical Buddhist ceremony, Mai was seventeen and I was eighteen. We later had a sweet baby boy – John. Without going into gruesome details, suffice it to say that because of a cruel act of war, both Mai and John were killed by friendly fire, while I was on patrol up country. John was just four months old at the time.
From that terrible day until this, I simply could never allow myself to grow emotionally attached to another human being. Call it pathetically stupid, or self-protection if you like. Whatever you want to call it, I have lived the solitary life of a recluse ever since. Some people find someone else and are happy. I’ve never been able to do so again.
The next blow came in 2005 when I was physically beaten up in broad daylight outside my local corner shop in full view of people on the street and in the shop by a bunch of young thugs from the Council Estate close to where I live. Being an older man with a distinctive limp, who at the time exhibited all the signs of someone who was still suffering from a complete mental breakdown, from which I gradually emerged six months earlier, by that I mean I could never look someone in the eye, let alone hold a conversation! If anyone called out to me, either I froze, or I began shaking uncontrollably. Given all of the aforementioned, I made an easy target for them. What really galled me is that at no time did any of the onlookers come to my aid.
These days I am resigned to my solitary, almost monk like existance. I had two friends in this my home town, the Boswell brothers, Jamie and Duncan. I don’t easily trust people as I once did, but they were the exception to my set of rules, designed to keep me safe. Both brothers are fine genuine human beings I am proud to call my friends. Sadly they had to move.
I still wear my wedding ring in memory of what might have been had Mai and John lived. Meanwhile I keep the world at large at arm’s length for the sake of my sanity. Add to all I’ve said a body peppered with outbreaks of skin cancer. Tendonitis in the feet (very painful), worsening eyesight, and apart from that I’m fine…
Reblogged this on Jo Robinson.
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Thanks for the reblog Jo 🙂 x
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You bring up a tough story, I wish to send you healing to go on with your life. Both Mai and John would have wished you too, I feel.
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Thank you Irene.There isn’t a day goes by that I’m reminded of some small fragment of our short happy time together.
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Que c’est triste monsieur, que la vie est cruelle
Je vous souhaite de trouver un être qui vous aime, et que vous soyez heureux
I pray God for you
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Thank you. For those who don’t speak French, here is a translation – “How sad sir, life is cruel. I hope you find a person who loves you, and you to be happy.” 🙂
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That is very moving Jack and it must be hard for you to share with us all. You have two friends thankfully in your immediate world, Jamie and Duncan.I hope that you know that despite your seclusion you also have friends in the virtual world who enjoy your thoughts, company and wisdom..
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Thank you. These days the internet is my world. 🙂
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As a faraway fellow recluse, I thank you for sharing your loss and loneliness. Please accept my condolences.
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Thank you Christine, your kind words mean a lot.
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You’re a courageous man to share that with the world Jack.
I hope that when others read it, they will realise that despite your sorrows you have made a significant contribution to humanity through your books and stories.
As someone else has already said, you also have online friends.
🙂
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I don’t know about courageous Chris. Its taken me years to come to terms with both incidents, not to mention the period between 2003 and 2005 when my mental state was fragile in the extreme. Thank God for writing and blogging. It’s what keeps me sane these days…
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Long may your sanity reign Jack 🙂
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Here’s hoping…
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Congratulations on these new steps, and the inclusion of two friends close by into your world. Whatever your path, and however long it may be, may you find peace and restored health. I am so sorry for your losses.
~SE
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Thank you.
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I am saddened to here that Jack.
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It’s life Rick…
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Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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Thanks for the reblog 🙂
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Reblogged this on Chimaeral.
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Thank you for sharing this – it reminds me that as awful as life can be we can come through at the other end and still see beauty.
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Thank you. None of us really know what may occur during our lifetimes. Some are fortunate, others…
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Jack, you always amaze me. Although I have known you for 35 years, but until recently I had lost contact with you, I have always considered you to be a close friend, and then you disclose all these secret corners of your life, and it makes me realise once again, that everyone has secrets that they do not disclose. When they do come out, it is like a body blow. The things you have disclosed through your writings and blogs, really shake me. Keep up the good work Jack, you have many friends, some you will never meet, but they are all there for you, wherever they may be, even if, like me, are at the other end of the earth. Take care.
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Thanks Pete. It’s taken me years to even come to terms with both scenarios, let alone reveal them to the world at large.
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Reblogged this on Have We Had Help? and commented:
I’m getting old…
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