Back from the deep end

I read a novel recently called The Deep End of the Ocean. The title was used from a conversation in the book in which a little 3-year-old was swimming in a pool. His mother invited him to swim with her to the deep end, and the boy said no, that he didn't want to go to the deep end. It would be like going to the deep end of the ocean. The rest of the book is about how the little boy survived being kidnapped and finally ended up back with his family. The symbol was that the boy was destined to go to the deep end of the ocean whether he wanted to or not.

The book was excellent. The emotions described on the family's part when they thought that their son was dead were very accurate. The way that that perception of a lost child worked itself out in the family who lost the child showed exactly the kinds of issues that arise between the family members after a loss. It was an excellent book.

At the end of the book, the relationships in the family had almost completely unraveled. At that point the author put a twist in the ending. Generally, the place for a twist in the plot is not at the end of the book, but this one was appropriate, especially since it realistically represented what life brings to people. The author left the reader to wonder what the outcome of the twist would be. I generally don't like that tactic either. In this case, it would have been better had the author been forthcoming with the outcome of the twist because the twist had too many ramifications to it for the reader to choose from.

I thank the person who gave me this book. I have also been to this place where the child did not want to go and have come back like this child did. In both cases there were certain alterations that took place. I would differ from the book in that from the dark cloud hanging over my experience, the most shimmering of all silver linings emerged - clear and beautiful. It has been 6 years since I was in the deep end, but as the pieces of life have rematerialized in my life, the last 9 months have come together in such a way that it is more beautiful now than it ever was before, has more vitality now than I can remember!