Monica LeMoine, the founder of Exhale, tasked some of our regular contributing writers to write on the theme of Levity. As Angie M. Yingst in her essay “On Levity” suggests, far fewer people than we would expect outside our unique community are comfortable with the ever-changing emotions that come with loss and infertility. Moments of giddiness or giggling are often viewed as being morose or inappropriate instead of moments of lightness. (Or, perhaps attempts to fend off the darkness, bitterness, or apathy.)
From Sue Lick’s witty “Survival Guide for the Childless Woman” to the subtle sense of spiritual buoyancy in Sara Clement’s “Footprints Filled With Tears”, this issue showcases the many meanings of levity as defined by our writers.
Enjoy!
Melissa Szumlinski
Director of Exhale
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Childless Woman’s Survival Guide by Sue Lick
“Here, gleaned from more than 30 years of adult unmotherhood, are seven suggestions for making it through life sans offspring.” read full article here
On Levity by Angie M. Yingst
“Everything meant to bring levity just sounds pathetic and bitter. I am that woman laughing at her own feeble existence, while others pityingly clench their teeth in an almost smile, as if thinking, ‘If we laugh, we will just encourage her.’” read full article here
The Package by Cara Tyrrell
“…in this long, flat, shiny box with PRIORITY MAIL running the full perimeter. I knew what it was, and yet – I didn’t. I have waited for this for years.” read full article here
Luck, Loss, and Laughter by Robin Silbergleid
“When I heard that this issue of Exhale was being devoted to “levity,” I laughed. Not a little laugh (barely distinguishable from a small puff of air), not a series of giggles, not a chortle, not a chuckle. I laughed: an all-out, that-is-the-most-ridiculous-thing-I-can-imagine laugh that ended with a swipe of my hand across my teary eyes.” read full article here
Silver Linings by Tracy Morris
“I wanted that label to mean something real, because labels are hugely important to me. Just last week, I tried to explain to my son how reading a poem’s title could sometimes wrap up the complex imagery of words that might otherwise seem like just a bunch of obtuse drivel. We do the same thing when trying to fit together life’s pieces into a comprehensible picture; we name our pain.” read full article here
Some Smiles by Melissa S.
“I felt like a teenager buying condoms, loading up my arms with random impulse buys, hoping that the pharmacist wouldn’t say anything or notice. No such luck.” read full article here
Footprints Filled with Tears by Sara Clement
“When you walk on the beach, you can always turn around to see the pattern your feet have made in the sand. You can see where the prints are deep and well-set and the points of wandering into drier areas, light patterns of toes and heels.” read full article here
Holding Pattern by S. Kate Francis
“It’s a really weird feeling knowing that after many years, shots, and tears, we’ve actually managed to coax our genetic material into hooking up. We wanted them to be sluts. We wanted them to do it on the first date and get knocked up.” read full article here
Poem: Issac by Abigail W.
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