The Wind Through The Keyhole by Stephen King is one of my favorite books, and the more time that passes, the more I appreciate it. Three stories within one, it may be one of the richest reading experiences I’ve ever had. There are so many inspiring moments that conceal these deep trenches of intensity. If you take a second to look beyond his sentences, you notice how profound they really are. There’s a quote from one of my favorite movies (Stuck In Love) that says, “A writer is the sum of their experiences.” Stephen King is an amazing writer. His writing is rich, deep, intense, and explicit; and I’m sure his life has been as well. It makes me wonder what he’s gone through.
“If the sweetness of our lives did not depart, there would be no sweetness at all.” -Stephen King
One thing I’m learning as I live my life, is that experiences shape you. Not only do they shape you physically as you age, but they shape you, emotionally. Whether you like it or not, every day contributes to who you are tomorrow. As depressing as it may seem, and I’m sure many sociologists would agree, you have less control than you realize.
“It was not fair, it was not fair, it was not fair. So cried his child’s heart, and then his child’s heart died a little. For that is also the way of the world.” -Stephen King
There’s this certain way my grandmother speaks. She’s a very intelligent woman, and I’m sure she’s experienced quite a bit throughout her life. This way she speaks is distinguishably different than that of my father, mother, or almost anyone else I can think of. It’s as if you can hear the experience in her voice. It seems as though her life seeps out of her mouth and intertwines with her every word. It’s as if she has a sort of personal certainty about every topic of discussion.
I think a person that age has experienced most things in life – especially most of the things a person my age has experienced (if not, all). A person that age has most likely lost someone. They’ve probably been in love. They’ve been hurt, and they’ve hurt others, whether it be intentionally or unintentionally. They’ve loved their life at times, and hated it just as much. Given this blanket of somewhat ambiguous experiences, there are mysteries behind a person’s eyes. I’d like to think I can see them in hers, sitting across from her in Steak ‘n Shake. What have they seen? What are they hiding? My grandmother may very well have scars on her wrist from when she was a teenager. Or an adult. She may know what it’s like to want death. She may have tried for it…and as ludicrous as it may sound, what if she’s killed? What if losing her husband so young became too much for her to handle? So she turned to the bottle? Maybe she chose to get in the car one night and drunkenly hit and ran…it fascinates me. What has she experienced in her life that’s fueled her assuring voice?
“Pray for rain all you’d like, but dig a well as you do it.” -Stephen King
I read Stephen King and it’s as if I can hear his own life in his writing. Through his characters and the stories they tell, I begin to paint a picture of his own experiences in my head. As my grandmother speaks with that tone of certainty, I find myself painting a picture of hers as well. With every comment she makes or every dismissive wave of her hand, I can’t help but wonder.