Comments on: Sally Draper: Rage and the World Gone Sideways

By: kassy

kassy — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:06:29 +0000

On the AMC site in the photo galleries they have 2 pics up from ep 5 and one is an absolutely adorable pic of Don and Sally eating together with smiles on their faces. Looking at it you would never know that all is not well in Sally's world. I hope it means that Don will be spending more time with her.

By: Judy S

Judy S — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:16:02 +0000

I sometimes still feel, being a bit younger than the Sally character would be if she were real – and around today, that my mother treats me (and many of her 8 kids upon occasion) like this. Dad died two years ago…and it was just recently, in a moment of something-or-other (weakness? clarity?) she said "I never even thought about the pain of my kids at losing their father".

No, you didn't, but thanks for finally noticing. But, we've had to find our own ways to cope with emotional episodes since..oh, forever.

So to see Sally like that, well, it spoke to me as the adult I now claim to be…very powerful and true.

By: Anne B

Anne B — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:31:32 +0000

A complete personal aside to MTSutton:

Big sister, little fighter, I love you.

By: MTSutton

MTSutton — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:31:39 +0000

Absolutely agree, Jill E – we have the power to keep our painful childhood events in the past. I actively seek to ensure my kids' childhood experiences are different than mine were. I ask them what they think and feel and see – I want to validate their perspective of an event, especially when it's not what I expected. I don't want them to feel invisible.

Frank Bullitt: The Sartre quote is the best quote I've heard in ages – good for a variety of occasions! Thanks for sharing your comments; thanks for your authenticity.

By: Anne B

Anne B — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:40:10 +0000

Can I just say: my big sister (only a year older) was an 80-some-pound badass in the ER that day. There are parts of the day I don't remember, but I do recall this little mad-as-hell blond who wanted to take on any adult who crossed me.

She is still like this today: fiercely protective of those she loves. Just get her a Large Orange Drink and she'll be cool.

Love that quote, Frank. Keep 'em coming …

By: Ms. Darkly

Ms. Darkly — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:07:21 +0000

Thank you every one for sharing.

By: Meagan

Meagan — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:29:24 +0000

Oh MAN can I relate to Sally Draper. I was raised in the 60s-70s by a mother who strongly believed in the philosophy: Children Should be Seen and Not Heard (!!). I was an adopted child (as was my brother) and my parents split up in 1966. Charles went with my beloved Daddy and I was forced to stay with Monster Mommy Dearest. So, my first ever bout with despair as a child was when I was told about the impending divorce and the fact I could only see my father on Thursday evenings. I didn’t even have the vocabulary to describe exactly what it was I felt — But as an adult I can say this feeling proved to be a visceral deep, dark, mysterious (and ever haunting) sorrow.

By: Jill E.

Jill E. — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:23:58 +0000

#48
Thank you so much for your favorite quote. That is going to stick with me for a long time. I am so honored to be able to read everyone's stories here. My story is very much like others. My sister and I used to stay at my grandmothers every summer. We used to rotate grandmothers houses and boy am I grateful that my parents at least had the sense to send us there. I struggled for a long time with why my parents did not want us. We were the children of seen and not heard, but even more so the children who were not really wanted – accidents. My grandpa had his birthday the day after mine and we always celebrated together (our birthdays were in the summer)- what wonderful memories. He died when I was 8 years old and I was not allowed to go to the funeral. I kept asking why and no one would tell me. We all just want to be Seen and Heard. To quote #48's wonderful quote from Sartre "Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you" – I hope I can be an example to my children that you can go on. Cycles can be broken.

By: Frank Bullitt

Frank Bullitt — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:24:07 +0000

MTSutton: Thank you for your kind words. Your sister is a very talented and kind person. You can't fake her insight.

Next time I'm in the emergency room, I'm taking you with me. I know someone will have my back.

To all those with generosity of spirit to share their stories, no matter how painful, I leave you with my favorite quote from Sartre:

Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you.

By: Sir Hillary

Sir Hillary — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:27:21 +0000

I was 9 or 10. My family always did things with another family — think Ricardo and Mertz, only with 5 children in all. When our parents hung out at one family's home at night, the other family's kids would go to sleep in the host family's beds, then get woken and driven home when the parents went home.

I (a "Ricardo") was sleeping at the Mertz's one night, when I awoke around 10 needing to pee. Hearing music at the other end of the house, I ventured down, saw no people, peeked behind a sofa…and found my father ("Ricky") balling "Ethel". Neither noticed me, and I retreated back to bed.

This betrayal was crushing. My dad was my hero in every way, many of them related to morality and trust. This was the first time I ever realized my parents were not perfect. Unlike Sally, my yelling was only on the inside.

This was over 30 years ago, and time healed the wound long ago. Trust me, my parents were/are nothing like the Drapers, but seeing their failings and the struggles in their marriage ended up making me appreciate them even more as I grew older and discovered my own flaws. I have no doubt that I am a better (yet still far from perfect) parent — and person — today because of it.

I guess that's my way of saying that Sally will come through all of this just fine. The journey will be painful at times, but the destination will be worth it.

Holy shit. I have never told anyone this — not even my wife.