Justin Bog

The full painting by my father. I used a detail of this as the basis for my first published collection of dark fiction, Sandcastle and Other Stories. Find all Justin Bog books at Amazon.

Hay cuentos que no nacen de la fantasía, sino del dolor que no se puede decir en voz alta. Hans Christian Andersen escribió La Sirenita después de enamorarse de su amigo Edvard Collin… y no ser correspondido. No fue un amor escandaloso, ni siquiera visible: fue de esos que se quedan en cartas, en silencios incómodos, en la esperanza absurda de que el otro entienda sin que uno tenga que decirlo. Collin no lo amaba. Y Andersen, en lugar de olvidarlo, hizo lo que hacen los escritores: lo convirtió en historia. Pero si uno lee “La Sirenita” sin el filtro de Disney, la historia es brutal. No hay final feliz. La protagonista renuncia a su voz, a su mundo, a su identidad… por alguien que jamás la elegirá. Camina con dolor constante, como si cada paso fuera una herida, y al final no obtiene el amor, sino la desaparición. No es un cuento romántico, es una confesión disfrazada: amar a alguien que no puede —o no quiere— corresponderte, y aún así desear quedarte cerca, aunque eso te destruya poco a poco. Y aquí viene lo incómodo: durante años hemos suavizado esta historia porque nos incomoda su origen. Nos gusta más la versión donde todo termina bien, donde el amor es correspondido, donde nadie pierde. Pero la historia original —y la vida de Andersen— nos recuerdan otra cosa: que el amor, sobre todo el amor prohibido o imposible, no siempre salva… a veces duele, transforma, y te obliga a convertirte en algo que no eres solo para ser visto por alguien que nunca iba a mirarte igual. Tal vez por eso sigue siendo tan poderosa: porque, en el fondo, todos hemos sido un poco la sirenita alguna vez.

@puppitocanyon @ferixzs He was certainly an awakening guy

vocês fariam esse nerd? 🫦

@puppitocanyon Sorry about being hit. That’s awful. I was hit on my bike by a car when in high school and I was launched over a guardrail. It’s not easy to recover from—strong mind. I’d share that frozen Baron with you

@puppitocanyon @ferixzs Nerds are hot

@puppitocanyon @ferixzs Or Indy from Raiders

The Wheel Of Time will continue as an all-new animated series, with possible films and other projects moving forward. —This is great news in the asylum #SaveWOT

@trader_tony_ I agree with your reasoned response, and the kicker

Maturity is realizing that someone being into you romantically/platonically/sexually is because of YOUR assets and appeal and is a compliment to both parties involved. Grow up

Too many days I dream of catching squirrels within the house —Grizzly

@puppitocanyon Happy evening—ride hard

I approach this huge reach —I’m nearer the door right now and could knock Inching closer as these (hopefully-not-too-final) years, weeks colliding, days tick down —seek peace —better health —time with the shepherds —I do not have desire for these four things

Kieran Culkin should’ve stood his ground at the podium when Sean Penn’s name was revealed as the Best Supporting Actor, and said: “We’ll wait . . .” —Kept standing, looked at his watch, leaned into the silence and discomfort in the theater —And then . . .

Horror is always the best choice More of it To mirror the horror of reality

@puppitocanyon @Jabz_CFC And, a co-writer has already been arrested. Very sad, and chilling, up to the credits, as a sound is heard in the background that leaves the ending ambiguous. That’s the kind of story that still resonates. And, The Secret Agent, brilliant, hits the same themes of fighting regimes

Keanu Reeves has never won an Oscar, Golden Globe, or Emmy Award of any kind. In fact, he has never even been nominated for any of those awards.

@puppitocanyon @Jabz_CFC It Was Just An Accident blew me away—the filmmaker, the crew, couldn’t get permission since it’s a totalitarian government and they’re already wanted for spreading propaganda as artists do, and had to shoot scenes on the fly. It’s a great movie, comedic even, about moral revenge

@puppitocanyon @Jabz_CFC Grouch is a term of endearment, huge endearment—not twinned with irascible at all—If I Had Legs I’d Kick You fell into surreal David Lynch-land and it’s a heavy watch (loved that feeling of quiet desperation spiraling into weirdness against the bureaucratic system)

@puppitocanyon Nah

@puppitocanyon The Housewives live in Citizen Kane mansions for us 🥸