Comments on: On the Way Down by Gabriel L. Nathan http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/ Backhand Stories is a creative writing blog that supports new writing and the writing community by publishing new short story fiction, creative writing, short non-fiction stories and essays by new and unpublished writers Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:53:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/ By: Alex http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-829 Alex Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:23:51 +0000 http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-829 Gabe, I forgot how much I enjoy reading your writings. This is a great piece. I am going to share it with Jason who, as you know, is in this type of field. We had the conversation yesterday after leaving the Vet's office about death (a couple was distraught they were putting their dog down) and how when he is working anaesthesia and has to run to a random hospital room to code a person and they don't make it, he doesn't feel what he just felt about the dog and his owners. I reminded him that when he worked in the pediatric ICU and got to understand and learn about his patients, build a relationship, he did feel those things. I hope you come downtown sometime soon! -Alex Gabe,

I forgot how much I enjoy reading your writings. This is a great piece. I am going to share it with Jason who, as you know, is in this type of field. We had the conversation yesterday after leaving the Vet’s office about death (a couple was distraught they were putting their dog down) and how when he is working anaesthesia and has to run to a random hospital room to code a person and they don’t make it, he doesn’t feel what he just felt about the dog and his owners. I reminded him that when he worked in the pediatric ICU and got to understand and learn about his patients, build a relationship, he did feel those things.

I hope you come downtown sometime soon!

-Alex

]]> By: Josh S. http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-799 Josh S. Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:31:31 +0000 http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-799 As a soon-to-be-dad with a history of dementia in my family (and having made the decision to name the kid after my recently deceased grandmother), this essay caught me at a time when I've been thinking through many of these issues. Nathan captured perfectly the mix of dread and amusement that I felt interacting with my grandmother, and his willingness to put himself out there "warts and all" is refreshing. What a thoughtful and honest work. As a soon-to-be-dad with a history of dementia in my family (and having made the decision to name the kid after my recently deceased grandmother), this essay caught me at a time when I’ve been thinking through many of these issues. Nathan captured perfectly the mix of dread and amusement that I felt interacting with my grandmother, and his willingness to put himself out there “warts and all” is refreshing. What a thoughtful and honest work.

]]> By: Liz Chang http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-788 Liz Chang Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:28:42 +0000 http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-788 Ranging from surprisingly wry to self-deprecating to hauntingly observational, Gabriel L. Nathan's voice contains, at its core, an intense compassion for the human aspect of every situation. He writes deliberately, taking his characters by the hand and revealing them as they would want to be seen, allowing them to show the reader their truest selves. Ranging from surprisingly wry to self-deprecating to hauntingly observational, Gabriel L. Nathan’s voice contains, at its core, an intense compassion for the human aspect of every situation. He writes deliberately, taking his characters by the hand and revealing them as they would want to be seen, allowing them to show the reader their truest selves.

]]> By: Tim http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-777 Tim Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:44:09 +0000 http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-777 As an EMT I can relate to the narrative in so many aspects of my day to day work. The writer has a God given talent in putting into words what so many of us feel.. but do not quite know how to express. As an EMT I can relate to the narrative in so many aspects of my day to day work. The writer has a God given talent in putting into words what so many of us feel.. but do not quite know how to express.

]]> By: Florrie http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-774 Florrie Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:42:27 +0000 http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-774 What a wonderful, thought-provoking piece. Thank you for sharing it. What a wonderful, thought-provoking piece. Thank you for sharing it.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-772 Rebecca Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:18:23 +0000 http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-772 What a fine, well-written, touching narrative. I enjoyed it very much. What a fine, well-written, touching narrative. I enjoyed it very much.

]]> By: Joel T. http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-763 Joel T. Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:03:23 +0000 http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-763 A poignant mix of narrative and introspection, fatalism and levity. A poignant mix of narrative and introspection, fatalism and levity.

]]> By: Adam K. http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-761 Adam K. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:35:45 +0000 http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-761 I'm about to marry a Latina, who was given the birth name of her grandmother, a custom of Spanish speaking countries. We just finalized our wedding invitations and were forced by her parents to write out her full name on the invitations despite the fact that she has never been called her official name, not even for one day in her life. It really is true how the name we are given is not always the name that describes us, defines us, or even that we find any association with at all. I'm glad that 'Sally' found something she associated with and still associates with and something dementia still has not been able to take away from her. Your story was powerful, sure footed, witty, and almost beautifully hopeless, with a perfect amount of humor injected into it. I was intrigued and continue to be a day after my first read of this story. I’m about to marry a Latina, who was given the birth name of her grandmother, a custom of Spanish speaking countries. We just finalized our wedding invitations and were forced by her parents to write out her full name on the invitations despite the fact that she has never been called her official name, not even for one day in her life. It really is true how the name we are given is not always the name that describes us, defines us, or even that we find any association with at all. I’m glad that ‘Sally’ found something she associated with and still associates with and something dementia still has not been able to take away from her.

Your story was powerful, sure footed, witty, and almost beautifully hopeless, with a perfect amount of humor injected into it. I was intrigued and continue to be a day after my first read of this story.

]]> By: Allison http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-760 Allison Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:36:19 +0000 http://www.backhandstories.com/non-fiction/on-the-way-down-by-gabriel-l-nathan/#comment-760 I love this! It's beautiful, moving, and even humorus in the right places. It addresses a fear everyone has in such perfect words. Well done! I love this! It’s beautiful, moving, and even humorus in the right places. It addresses a fear everyone has in such perfect words. Well done!

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