Deanna Lynn Sletten > Quotes

“You're still alive. Be thankful for that. You can still walk and talk and think. Yes, you feel like shit most of the time, but it could be worse. So instead of sitting in your room waiting to die, why don't you join in on life until you do die? Dammit! Get off your dead ass and make something of the life you still have left!”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Widow, Virgin, Whore

“Darla shook her head, a small smirk on her lips. “You’re such a mom,” she told Katherine.
Katherine stared at her, puzzled. “You’re a mom, too,” she said softly.
“No, I gave birth. That doesn’t make me a mom. Not like you.”
A look passed between the two women like none they had ever shared before. For a split second, Katherine felt a slight connection. “Well, you rest. I’ll check on you later.” She turned and left the room, a funny, unexplainable feeling inside her.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Widow, Virgin, Whore

“Etta gave Will a small, knowing smile. "Will, sometimes you have to love people for who they are, not who you want them to be.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Outlaw Heroes

“Are you afraid of dying?"

"I was at first, maybe I still am a little bit. But it's not death that scares me so much as not being alive anymore. It's missing all the things that I would have seen if I hadn't gotten AIDS. Things like my daughter's graduation, her wedding, my grandchildren. I'll never see those things, and that makes me sad.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Widow, Virgin, Whore

“They both have AIDS?" "Oh, yes. Actually, he was the one who gave it to her. He wasn't exactly faithful in their marriage. That's why it's so sad. Not only did she get sick first, but she lost her children, too. All because he was so careless.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Widow, Virgin, Whore

“The first few hours of driving, Andi had seen mostly fields of dry grass in the eastern part of Washington, but since driving through the beautiful town of Couer d'Alene, Idaho, the terrain had changed”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Kiss A Cowboy

“You’ve been the little housewife too long to remember what living is really like.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Widow, Virgin, Whore

“the stench that greeted her inside instantly took her mind from the locked door. It was an overpowering odor, like a mixture of human waste and rotting garbage. The building reeked with decay. "Comes from broken plumbing and broken souls," the man told her, noticing her reaction to the smell.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Widow, Virgin, Whore

“I was in a car accident in years ago, before they were careful with blood, and had to have a blood transfusion. The blood was tainted, but I didn't find that out until four years ago when I was diagnosed.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Widow, Virgin, Whore

“Back there is Mr. Nakmo. He’s chief cook and bottle washer.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Mrs. Winchester's Biographer

“but now came over and sat”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Maggie's Turn

“I'm so lucky I've lived this long. I've known some wonderful people and enjoyed every moment. I've been sick for a long time. I'm ready to rest." Allison closed her eyes and dozed off peacefully, but Darla sat holding her hand for a long time thinking about what she'd said. From deep inside her, her admiration for this quiet woman grew.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Widow, Virgin, Whore

“We were all infected in different ways, so that would show the public that AIDS does not discriminate. That's important, because many people still believe that AIDS is a gay disease, or something only prostitutes pass around.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Widow, Virgin, Whore

“The excitement of a new adventure and the allure of spending time with a man who actually wanted her company were invigorating. She felt refreshed and revived for the first time in years, and Maggie absorbed it all, hoping to retain this carefree feeling long after the ride was over.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Maggie's Turn

“You’re a good person, and after I’m done with you, you’ll be the hottest mom on the planet. Your husband won’t be able to keep his hands off you.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Maggie's Turn

“Overtime at work or committee meetings didn’t compare to seeing the smile on his daughter’s face.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Maggie's Turn

“Anna gazed down into her daughter’s sweet little face. At that moment, she knew exactly what true love felt like. She’d never felt so much affection for anything or anyone before. It was as if her heart had opened up, and all the love she’d ever desired had rushed in.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, The Ones We Leave Behind

“pg 215--It's not a very interesting story, In fact, it's probably the most cliched story there is.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Maggie's Turn

“Why would her mother need a break? And how selfish of her, to take off and not tell anyone,”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Maggie's Turn

“Matt had grilled and the asparagus tips, roasted potatoes, and salad she and Cassie had made. After dinner, the kids headed to their rooms to do their homework. The adults sat in the living room and chatted easily, and at one point, Rob said that he’d be leaving the next day for home. “I didn’t know you were leaving so soon,” Maggie”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Maggie's Turn

“Allison broke the silence with her wispy voice. "Do you know what the best part of having AIDS is?" Every eye in the room turned to her. "Knowing all of you.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Widow, Virgin, Whore

“William pondered over his argument with Annie. How did a simple statement turn into a full-scale fight? He didn't understand why it was wrong of him to assume Annie would run a simple errand for him. Sara had done all of it without complaint. All he'd asked Annie to do was pick up a suit from the dry cleaners.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Sara's Promise

“She’d locked herself up in her own prison, afraid to move forward and make another bad relationship decision. It was unbelievable that her mother, the queen of terrible decisions, was the one who realized it.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, The Ones We Leave Behind

“He'd contracted HIV from his former lover, whom he cared for until his death last year. Carl considered his story so typical that no one would really care to read about it. "Everyone blames the gay community for AIDS anyway," he told her bitterly. "They think it's God's revenge for our 'sinful' way of life.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Widow, Virgin, Whore

“Decades come and go, people live and die, buildings rise and fall, but stories, thank goodness, live on forever.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, The Ones We Leave Behind

“Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system and are very common to AIDS patients," Dr. Hanson explained. "What can be done?" Katherine asked as the rest of the group sat silent, struggling with the word cancer.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Widow, Virgin, Whore

“Why on earth didn’t you tell me all this?” she asked the empty car. “Why would you leave me in such a financial mess?” So much had happened in such a short time, and it was all life-changing. She no longer had someone she could lean on and spend her life with. And her financial stability was suddenly pulled out from under her. It was all too much to take.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, The Heart of the Matter: A Novel

“The absolute worst part is watching your friends die," Carl spoke up from the sofa where he sat beside Allison. He glanced over at his frail friend, his eyes reflecting deep concern. "I've already watched my partner die.”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Widow, Virgin, Whore

“expensive, and opening a new business is”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Maggie's Turn

“Why didn’t you let Bear out when you came home?” he asked as he put his briefcase on the back counter. Kaia rolled her eyes. “No one told me I had to,” she said. “Am I supposed to do everything?”
― Deanna Lynn Sletten, Maggie's Turn