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Cynthia Ruchti | A Collector of Scenes
June 13, 2014
Most novelists walk through life collecting stories and scenes and
breath-stealing words like black knit pants collect cat hair. We can’t walk
through a room or a day without something landing and sticking. When I sat down to write ALL
MY BELONGINGS, I drew heavily on those stick-forever moments. The main character in ALL MY
BELONGINGS, Becca, is a selfless caregiver. Even when rebuffed, shamed, and
unappreciated, she kept caring. As I wrote scenes of Becca’s patience and
kindness toward a woman who couldn’t remember her cherished son and flitted
seamlessly from reality to a non-existent ballet class, I realized I was writing
Becca as the caregiver I wish I’d always been for my kids, my husband, my
grandkids, my mother… Some of Becca’s actions seemed so familiar. Where did they originate? Long ago, I visited an elderly relative in a nursing home. When she motioned for
the nurse to take her to the bathroom, I stepped into the hall, but couldn’t
help overhearing the nurse talking low and sweetly to the woman. “Bernice, why
don’t I get you a dry pair of panties? You’ll feel so much better.” Tenderness
laced every word that came from the caregiver’s mouth. At ten years old, my daughter broke her leg her first time skiing the bunny
hill. It was the era of heavy plaster casts and awkward crutches. The school bus
driver descended the bus steps every morning to lift her into the bus. God bless
him. As my mother entered hospice care, I watched gifted caregivers make her feel
like a family member rather than a patient. I listened as they did everything
they could to respect her opinions and requests. Sometimes they had every right
to be frustrated or irritated. But they served my mother with a gentleness that
brings tears to my eyes these four years later. The short-tempered nurses and impatient wheelchair pushers and those who respond
to dementia with anger—though in the minority—helped form the opposite traits in
Becca. As I’ve walked through life, snippets of scenes and memories of
conversations, odors, facial expressions, and bone-weariness collected in my
subconscious. I couldn’t have known then that they would inform Becca’s
character and her story. Today at a store I observed a young teen hold a door open for an elderly couple
moving at a snail’s pace. I expected to see him sigh when his act of kindness
took far longer than he might have imagined. Instead, I watched as the teen
rushed ahead to the next set of doors to hold those open, too. With a genuine
smile on his face. I wonder in what future novel that scene will find a home.
Comments
10 comments posted.
Re: Cynthia Ruchti | A Collector of Scenes
I loved your stories about the kindness of people to the old and ill. This confirms my feelings that there are many good people in the world and they are all around us. Your incorporating scenes and memories of this type into ALL MY BELONGINGS make me want to read about Becca.
(Anna Speed 5:29pm June 9, 2014)
there is good around we need to add to the good and spread kindness, i will
read this book!
(Debbi Shaw 6:57pm June 9, 2014)
Oh, I loved the scenes you related...even better that they really happened. So heartwarming.
(Debbie Kelly 3:22pm June 13, 2014)
Thank you so much everyone! Your comments mean the world to me!
(Cynthia Ruchti 3:46pm June 13, 2014)
You know, if I'm able to 'catch the good' when someone does something unexpectedly nice for someone else, I will stop and say - 'that was so kind! thank you for doing holding the door open/carrying that bag/helping that person'.
(Beth Fuller 11:30pm June 13, 2014)
Great thought, Beth.
(Cynthia Ruchti 12:06pm June 14, 2014)
This world would be a much better place if everyone took the
time to do just one small act of kindness for another
person. It could be something as small as holding the door
for another person, or treating someone to a cup of coffee
that they aren't expecting ( picking up their tab ). If you
teach your children how to be kind to others, they will
remember this as adults. Look around you, and the need is
great!! You're doing your part by putting snippets in your
books to plant the seed.
(Peggy Roberson 8:15am June 14, 2014)
Thank you, Peggy. There's always someone around us who needs a little
encouragement, someone who hasn't had a kind thing done for them in a long
time. At a recent writer's conference with a cafeteria-style dining hall, five
separate times, someone approached me as I tried to pull my wheeled laptop
bag and balance my tray to take it to the return window. They each offered to
carry my tray for me. That's never happened before. And to have it happen five
times in a few days was extra exceptional. Each time, my heart swelled with
gratitude for that simple kindness. I thanked them. But I'm not sure they know
what an impact they had.
(Cynthia Ruchti 12:35pm June 14, 2014)
It is so inspiring to hear good stories of people being treated
well, being treated with love. There is so much 'bad news' out
there every day that it is easy to feel afraid and depressed in our
world. It is so nice to hear the 'good news'. It is comforting to
know that there are loving people doing nice things for others,
being kind and compassionate, demonstrating love, really making a
positive difference!
(Lana Allen 9:37pm June 14, 2014)
And celebrating their kindness just makes it all the sweeter!
(Cynthia Ruchti 9:54pm June 14, 2014)
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