Baby, Baby...

Kathy, I remember these at FRiGG and love them just as much here. So glad you posted them for the FN world to love. Wild Life just arrived yesterday, so I am really excited to dive into your world today.

Fave.

thanks Robert, it's been ages since I've posted here, so I appreciate the kind words...hope you enjoy Wild LIfe

Great tone and voice, Kathy:

"Each working day at dusk, Ling runs into the house and kicks off her sneakers. She reaches up into her skirt and rolls down the band of her panty hose and takes the baby from her husband's lap. She lies on her back, holding the baby overhead and flies the baby back and forth in her upstretched arms."

Wonderful control in this piece. I remember it from FRiGG. *

This was a kind thing to wake up to this morning. A gentle story runs through the collage of related shorts. I like all of it, but I especially love the part about the types of music baby hears in the two cars. *

Thanks, Sam. I'm glad the tone and voice of the piece worked for you.

Hi Ann, thanks for reading this. I appreciate the kind words.

Wow. I really admire how the pieces are laced into a whole with such a light touch. Love her running home when she forgets to pack a bottle. Love it all.*

"sticks a bottle in its mouth"

the use of "its" says so much for me--

great read *

Great form to this, with your usual excellent writing. You've captured the feel of parental newborn life in this collage of works. *

John, thanks so much!

Hi Bobbi, really appreciate the read and kind words for this. Thanks!

Good to "see" you Christian. And thanks for the kind words. That's exactly what I was going for: the feel of parents with a newborn, without sentimentalizing it.

Ah the screaming, the singing, the laughing, the drooling... You got this right, Kathy.

aw, thanks David, it's very familiar territory for me : )

I read this on the train on the way home this evening. And I'm still hurting for Ling. *

Thanks, Christopher. I'm so glad the character moved you. That's actually the highest compliment I can think of, for a story. So thanks!

Kathy, the first couple months is sort of like being tossed into a Cuisinart to puree. Poor Ling. I loved this. *

*nodding

you've got that right, MaryAnne...

thanks so much for reading this, I'm glad you loved it

Something sad here. And also triumphant. I have a 3 month old, so lots of this is very familiar. Wonderfully weaved, Kathy. *

Hi Foster! Yeah, this is pretty autobiographical of the first months with my first child. Thanks for reading it. How are you doing?

Always think "Well-here's a definite read" when I see a piece of yours here, Kathy. It never disappoints. *

What a nice thing to say! Thanks for reading this, Joani.

Beautiful way of making me feel, a lot, without making me feel afraid of becoming sentimental. *

Thanks, kindly, Beate.

I'm afraid of becoming sentimental, too. And, baby, this comes close, very close.

aw, thanks very much, John

Love these microfictions *!

"She looks angry and fat, but festive."

Kathy, I am the husband in this piece. Thank you for writing me.

Fave.

Thanks for reading, Marcelle!

Roberto, this comment made me laugh. Thanks! And thanks for reading this.

Yikes! What a twisty tale! Love both contents and form. A masterpiece. A+ & *.

Hi Jack, thanks so much for reading this. I appreciate it!

This is so good, Kathy. Enjoyed, and admiring. *

Oh, thanks so much, Mark!

Oh, Kathy. Much of this is my world right now. You need to write more of these – continue through the years a bit? Would love that, a longer something of all of this… *

So glad you can relate to this, Kari! I know you, and Foster, are in the thick of it right now. I'd love to continue this. I was kind of a mess of anxiety and joy with my first child (who will be 25 yrs old next month!) and it does continue to be a mix... Hmm, you have me thinking now. Thanks so much.

What an amazing story! Kathy, you have this way of bringing the reader right into the space in the most personal manner. Wonderful, gorgeous story!
*

What a lovely comment, Susan, thanks so much.

I'm sorry for drooling on you!!!

Great piece! My favorite line is still "angry and fat, but festive."

Haha, hi sweet daughter! Thanks, for the fodder : )

like the form, love the flash. last two sentences my favorites, with the droop drop drool climax.

Thank you, Marcus!

I love this structure, tight and cinematic.

Thank you, Isabell! Always love to hear the word "cinematic" in connection with my writing.

so nice, Kathy. Listening to moonlight sonata in the escort.

First line says it all. Lovely.

Thanks kindly, Shelagh.

Wonderful vignettes.
*

Thanks so much, Bill. I'm very proud when you like something of mine.

Love this.

Thanks, John!

Sooo good Kathy. I've been slacking on reading lately but glad I picked up on yours. This captures some despair, sweetness and light that I can only imagine comes with having a baby. Big fave.

Thanks so much, Jules!

yes

*

Thanks much for the star, Gary P.!

Kathy, I already spent most of the afternoon with you, reading, and studying and admiring and commenting on your stories in A Peculiar Feeling of Restlessness. I am in a terrific flash workshop and we were asked to talk about some of our favorite flash, so I turned to you. "Florida" --wow! "Delivery" -yes! And "Prodigy" immediately had me writing till I had my own piece of flash.
This is so wonderful, too. You're the top, You're the Coliseum! *****

Andrew, nicest compliment ever! Thanks so much. I'm so glad you like the stories in A Peculiar Feeling of Restlessness and also, that you like this story. I really appreciate the kind words.

This is fabulous. Favorite!

Thanks so much, Savannah!

Brilliant! Form works well -- rapier lines in just the 'right places'...

Thanks so much, Joan!

What are the codes? What are the procedures? What can anything weigh after baby baby?

Jim, hi, thank you for reading this one!

Excellence.

Hey, thanks Richard!

the title and the first sentence make me think of that song Out of Time.

...and thanks for leaving a comment here, too, Samuel.