Review of Rebecca Fitton's "Wave Rider: A Poetic Journey from Abuse to Wholeness"

By Tangalene Dudt

Wave Rider describes Rebecca Fitton’s healing journey through a combination of poetry and memoir.  She was sexually abused at a very young age and then abandoned emotionally and physically by her mother which led to a difficult personal life as an adult.  She decided to take charge of her life in order to become the person she wanted to be. Her poetry is part of that healing process.

Fitton's poetry felt universal to me.  One poem that had me laughing, because it rang so true, was ‘Electronic Self.’ It's about trying to connect with another person when electronics are getting in the way of that simple human connection. I can relate to this. Even for myself, it's a way to create a barrier and not let anyone get to know the real me. 

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Most of us have experienced self-doubt, emotional pain, hopelessness, etc. in one form or another and I found that Fitton’s poems had a beautiful way of capturing those feelings.  But as Fitton is progressing along in her journey, so does her poetry begin to reflect that joy, hope, and serenity she has found.  I admire Fitton for her courage to expose herself through her poetry, reminding me that I am never truly alone in the world.

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Electronic Self
I find electronics offensive
occasionally convenient
mostly divisive
dividing my hello
from another’s ability to hear.
To connect with another
you must show up, be present and open.
You cannot be open
when you are wired shut.

-Rebecca Fitton, Wave Rider

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About Rebecca Fitton

Rebecca Pott Fitton explored different places and professional work.  She grew up in Delaware then went to upstate New York for college.  After graduating from Keuka College, then a women’s college, she returned to the University of Delaware for her Masters of Arts in International Relations.  Then she headed for Michigan for careers in urban planning and healthcare administration and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Detroit.  She continued her healthcare profession in Ohio and retired as President of CareView Home Health in Middletown.

As others who retire know, retirement is a busy time.  She served on five non-profit boards bringing her business acumen to each.  She and her husband Richard built a new home on his farm, and then he died suddenly. Recovery from his shocking death took time.  Finally she realized that the time had come to remake herself.  As the lyrics of the song go, “I’d built a life wrapped so tight it was strangling me.”  Freedom was a spirit call from Santa Fe, New Mexico.
 
Rebecca arrived in Santa Fe in 2008 and fell in love with the blue skies, clean mountain air, a vibrant community and the arts.  Her first poem was written under a juniper tree.

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Tangalene Dudt served in the Army for eight years and now works as a contractor for the US government. 

She lives in beautiful Arizona with her wonderful husband and loves to read, garden, hike, and run ultra-marathons.

Each year Tange resolves to read 100 books.