Kate V.'s Comments

Page 1 of 3 first | prev | next

Memoir about my birthmother finding me through my mom's obituary by Kate V.

Apr 15, 2009 | comments: 7

Kate V. Apr 15, 2009, 11:05pm EDT

And then I was pregnant when she first came to visit me! A bit of an emotional time - just ask my husband:)

The Forgotten (a poem) by Christine K.

Oct 9, 2008 | comments: 10

Kate V. Oct 12, 2008, 3:25pm EDT

A day to day struggle. With this, you are heard and better yet, we all can begin to understand. Thanks.

"One Day at a Time" from Paul Harris' OD@T Booklet by Jimmie (Hey! Let's Gather!) Harris

Aug 24, 2007 | comments: 39

Kate V. Aug 24, 2007, 10:40pm EDT

What a great outlook on life. Paul was a beautiful soul.

Please allow me to introduce Michael W. From Spruce, Michigan, USA by Kathline Gore

Aug 24, 2007 | comments: 35

Kate V. Aug 24, 2007, 10:39pm EDT

Nice to meet you!
My folks were from the U.P., so Michigan holds a special place in my heart.

Clarification on Courage for a Child by Kate V.

Aug 24, 2007 | comments: 6

Kate V. Aug 24, 2007, 3:38pm EDT

Anne, You have to tell your story. You would provide such wonderful insight.

I think I should probably mention that I've also been working on a memoir about Val contacting me after my mother died. Before I started, I talked with Val to see if it would be okay, and she gave me carte blanche to write it. This is after she's read a novel I've been shopping and after she read my first couple of chapters, so she knows pretty well now how I approach topics as a writer. So I think that's why she was okay about the inaccuracy in the essay I submitted.

Courage for a Child by Kate V.

Aug 19, 2007 | comments: 28

Kate V. Aug 24, 2007, 2:17pm EDT

Confession: one of the lines I wrote for Courage for a Child is not factually accurate, I thought that may be the case, but I had left it in anyway when I wrote it.

After I submitted the article, I contacted my birthmother, gave her the connection to the article, and said my mea culpas.

I will not include all of her response, to maintain some measure of her privacy. The gist, though, is that her mother took one look at me as a newborn and asked if there was some way they could keep me, maybe be even have me adopted out by a best friend of a family. But for many valid reasons, Val felt it was best - and safest - if I was adopted out through Catholic Charities instead. She closed her note to me with this:

"You can keep it that way or change it if you want it to be totally accurate. Again, this is totally beautiful. Totally...."

Courage for a Child by Kate V.

Aug 19, 2007 | comments: 28

Kate V. Aug 20, 2007, 9:50am EDT

As my birthfather did.

And yet I am glad Val waited as long as she did. Because by then, I'd had a child. If I hadn't had a baby before she contacted me, I don't know I would have understood the full import of what she'd done.

Of course, it's different for everyone. What worked for me could have been the worst solution for another.

Game by Linda K.

Aug 19, 2007 | comments: 32

Kate V. Aug 19, 2007, 6:41pm EDT

And St. Paul, Minnesota

Game by Linda K.

Aug 19, 2007 | comments: 32

Kate V. Aug 19, 2007, 6:36pm EDT

Springfield, IL

Game by Linda K.

Aug 19, 2007 | comments: 32

Kate V. Aug 19, 2007, 6:35pm EDT

Though I think I could still name them all (I don't remember learning them all until high school), I'll just name the states I've lived in (though NY and MI have already been covered)

Columbus, Ohio

Courage for a Child/Inspiration to Resurrect a Champ by Kate V.

Aug 19, 2007 | comments: 8

Kate V. Aug 19, 2007, 9:15am EDT

Linda, Absolutely it is an evolving thing. I don't know we would have been able to get to where we are today if my mother were still alive. And I know there are many many other stories out there of other birthmothers (and of adoptees) whose stories do not have as happy an ending. I'm one of the lucky ones.

Book Review: 'Nineteen Minutes' by Jodi Picoult by LA R.

Mar 4, 2007 | comments: 17

Kate V. Apr 10, 2007, 1:36am EDT

I saw this on the shelves - now I know to add it to my list of must reads! Thanks.

VOTE: What Is Bush's Biggest Lie (So Far)? by Napoleon Blownapart [.

Mar 28, 2007 | comments: 49

Kate V. Mar 29, 2007, 12:31am EDT

his biggest lie was that he supports the troops. The photos of Walter Reed, the lack of mental health support systems for returning vets certainly suggest otherwise. Also, the fact that the troops don't have adequate protection on the field with body armor and reinforcements for their Hummers show he doesn't even support them when on the field.

I don't think #4 was a lie. He is doing it to the best of his ability. After all, he had already shown us how competant he was when he ran what, two companies into the ground? Now he's done it to the country.

Continuation of Sego Lillies for Breakfast: Mama in Washington, D.C. by Kathryn E.

Mar 28, 2007 | comments: 156

Kate V. Mar 28, 2007, 11:22pm EDT

Kathryn - I lived in DC in 1985 and I know exactly what you mean about that dichotomy between Georgetown/M street and the inner city DC area. I bet it's even worse now.

Continuation of Sego Lillies for Breakfast: Mama in Washington, D.C. by Kathryn E.

Mar 28, 2007 | comments: 156

Kate V. Mar 28, 2007, 9:23am EDT

Kathryn, I like this. The angst is palpable, the child taking care of the mother.
I need to read the Mary Beth stories before I comment further - though I would say two things: I would cut the"mom's" in the dialogue and just use the "Mama" at teh end - I think it might make it more powerful. (Before I got to the end I was going to tell you to make her refer to Mom instead of Mama in the narrative, but at the end I saw your point, so I think I'd go the other way instead.

Also, I tend to try to keep dialogue to a minimum - you might be able to streamline this a bit more, add more description to it - but that tends to be a personal preference (I know in my writing group I was at one end of the spectrum and another was at the other, so it's a matter of finding the balance that works for you)

I look forward to reading the mary beth chapters and then I'll be back!

Tagged... by Sandra ~ D.

Mar 26, 2007 | comments: 8

Kate V. Mar 26, 2007, 11:52pm EDT

butterflies are amazing. There's this children's book that has pictures of butterfly wings, where the photographer has found patterns - or parts of patterns - that comprise each letter of the alphabet.
(does that make sense?)

So What Happens to Hannah? If you've just GOT to know, here's the scoop on the rest of the Days of May by Kate V.

Mar 17, 2007 | comments: 5

Kate V. Mar 26, 2007, 10:59pm EDT

And I am a woman who is not interested in over the top love stories either. This is not one of them.

Rather, this is about parents and their children. It's about kids not getting the love and direction they need, but figuring out a way to deal with the direction they get.

And no, she doesn't ride off in the sunset with her man. He's dead, so Nancy's got to find a way to live with that, too. That's life.

THAT's my story.

A Photo by Travel Editor

Mar 26, 2007 | comments: 275

Kate V. Mar 26, 2007, 8:11pm EDT

Fabulous. I want to go there.

So What Happens to Hannah? If you've just GOT to know, here's the scoop on the rest of the Days of May by Kate V.

Mar 17, 2007 | comments: 5

Kate V. Mar 25, 2007, 8:03am EDT

Gail - thanks for taking the time to check this out! Please be sure to go to Days of May - Chapter 1 to read the actual first chapter. (This is just a synopsis.) That way, your vote - and comment - will be sure to count;-)

* Game * What did you have for breakfast today? by ☆ ƒåitĥ ☆

Mar 22, 2007 | comments: 74

Kate V. Mar 23, 2007, 10:10am EDT

Oatmeal. Banana Bread Oatmeal and a Diet Coke.
Yum.

Page 1 of 3 first | prev | next

top

Kate V.
Twin Cities (Minnesota)

Gather | Friends | Groups | Share