I thoroughly enjoy the sound of your voice as you read. It adds layers of color, fall colors, to the story. I say fall colors because while the colors of fall can be vibrant and thrilling, they bring a gentleness from from having lived through the seasons they have traveled through. What has gone before gives them beauty that would not exist without it.
Thank you Peter. My voice seems to be changing as I get older, more hoarse and I can't rely on how it will sound. But it's the voice I have now and I guess I've earned it, just like the wrinkles which I don't really mind. "What has gone before gives them beauty" I love that. Thank you.
Oh, Tina. I’m so very glad you tagged me in this post so I could find it. It’s such a beautiful piece, a Russian doll of origin stories, each one so snuggly inside the previous and so adeptly unveiled. Your words brought tears to my eyes more than once. Thank you for sharing, for showing how life can weave the joy so intimately with the unbearable.
I very much look forward to reading more from Turkey Town. 💌
Thank you so much Holly, for this generous comment, it made my day. What a great phrase – "Russian doll of origin stories" – that's a compliment I will treasure! Thanks for stopping by and reading.
Dear Tina - I love the poem, love your painting, and this latest edition of LFTT. Keep on sharing your beautiful gifts with the world. With Gratitude...CJ #loveisallthereis
Your writing gives me strength, validates so much, gives beautiful insights--and, as always, makes me laugh and cry and look forward to the next Letter. Thank you for sharing your talent, your life stories, your wisdom. Thank you for sharing your joys and your immeasurable sadnesses, too. You are a magnificent family, vibrant and full of creativity and life force.
I remember when Eric quit Henderson and y'all took to the road... but didn't really know the Whys & Wherefores. That was a truly ballsy move!! I dream of doing likewise these days, but not in the USA. After LJ died, my son literally saved my life with a plane ticket to Europe; he gave me the great gift of something to look forward to when I could only look back. Now we try to go every year! Just back from Istanbul, where I saw a million things Larry would've loved to see - the bittersweetness of exotic experiences!
Oh wow Amy, Istanbul, that sounds like the coolest trip! I know exactly what you mean about the bittersweetness of travel, always wanting to say, oh! look at this! and share the experience with the one who should be there. I am happy you have been able to make those trips.
Tina, I went on a 4 month road trip by myself 8 years ago. I still remember the jitters I had in my first leg of the trip, driving from Orlando to New Orleans. The jitters turned into nervousness as I got closer to The Big Easy. I had no idea what I was doing, but that teetering between rabid excitement and heart-wrenching despair defined the first part of my trip. Then I started having religious experiences discovering beautiful places like Sabino Canyon and Sedona in Arizona. A few months into my trip I unzipped my tent in Montana to see a sky full of beaming stars. Hearing wolves howling in the distance made me quickly zip my tent back up. I'll never forget that night as long as I live. Traveling just really does something to you, doesn't it? Thank you for this wonderful piece.
Oh wow Tom, that was really a life-changing trip. I have never heard of Sabino Canyon, I looked it up and now I want to go there! You're right, traveling can be transformative. Thanks so much for sharing this, and for reading.
Thank you for your wonderful writing that captures your life and reflects mine. Maybe we're all dreamers and travelers attempting an escape from suffering and loss, burnout and suburban ideal filled with outward show and empty seats. Your writing evokes so many truths about our human condition. Your photos inspire as well. The two chairs facing the field make me think of the enormous amount of space grief takes up and how solitude and natural spaces allow us to breathe. Our hearts yearn for peace of space.
Cathy, thank you for your beautiful comment. I appreciate having you as a reader and I'm so gratified you were moved by my writing and that we made a connection. Yes it's so true, our hearts yearn for peace.
Your writing allows us to share your pain, and sadly brings back mine as well. But that is life and we go on. Never to be who we were, and hopeful to never have to feel anything like it again. It has been 11 years for me since losing my Sarah, but the memories of her illness and final days are with me like it was yesterday. Be well. Keep writing.
I know that feeling of excitement at the possibility of doing something different - we only travelled for seven months (three and then four with a break) but when we were on the road - even though we were pointed to Minnesota (and we too had talked about Asheville lol) we had the thought "we could stop anywhere" or "we could actually just keep going" - the idea that anywhere could be home or that we already were home. I loved the odd freedom that a tiny container gave us - five shirts, five pants, only the toys that the girls really love - we could only take the things we really loved / needed and at the end of the day it wasn't the things but each other that we needed- when we landed here in Minnesota and our POD showed up I felt like I couldn't breathe for a second as all our "stuff" came into a house but my kiddos wanted roots - my oldest especially - she's almost 10 - it's good but I miss the road - the breathing room - the possibility - The excitement of falling in love with what's around the corner on a Tuesday. I am sending you love. Since I saw the post with the trailer Kiki fixed up I can picture you there in that space and man - it twists and burns as a momma to imagine you having to endure that kind of hurt. Sending you big strong love.
Hi Sarah, it's good to hear from you! I love how you put this: "the odd freedom" of a tiny container. I have those same feelings you describe, "anywhere could be home or that we were already home". I can totally imagine the overwhelm of going from that life to a POD arrival.
We also stopped our traveling phase for the same reason – Kiki needed to have roots at age seven, and friends she wouldn't have to leave. And the rooted phase of our life was really good too, fifteen years in a great little New England town. Sounds like you have found something like that in Minnesota.
PS: Thank you so much for including me in your "When We Get Stuck" post!
I thoroughly enjoy the sound of your voice as you read. It adds layers of color, fall colors, to the story. I say fall colors because while the colors of fall can be vibrant and thrilling, they bring a gentleness from from having lived through the seasons they have traveled through. What has gone before gives them beauty that would not exist without it.
Thank you Peter. My voice seems to be changing as I get older, more hoarse and I can't rely on how it will sound. But it's the voice I have now and I guess I've earned it, just like the wrinkles which I don't really mind. "What has gone before gives them beauty" I love that. Thank you.
Been enjoying all of your stories, all one after the other. I love hearing your voice, as I think of you often. ❤️ Thanks for sharing with all of us.
Oh, Tina. I’m so very glad you tagged me in this post so I could find it. It’s such a beautiful piece, a Russian doll of origin stories, each one so snuggly inside the previous and so adeptly unveiled. Your words brought tears to my eyes more than once. Thank you for sharing, for showing how life can weave the joy so intimately with the unbearable.
I very much look forward to reading more from Turkey Town. 💌
Thank you so much Holly, for this generous comment, it made my day. What a great phrase – "Russian doll of origin stories" – that's a compliment I will treasure! Thanks for stopping by and reading.
Dear Tina - I love the poem, love your painting, and this latest edition of LFTT. Keep on sharing your beautiful gifts with the world. With Gratitude...CJ #loveisallthereis
Hi Christa, thank you so much. I wasn't sure about putting the poem in, so I'm glad you liked it!
Your writing gives me strength, validates so much, gives beautiful insights--and, as always, makes me laugh and cry and look forward to the next Letter. Thank you for sharing your talent, your life stories, your wisdom. Thank you for sharing your joys and your immeasurable sadnesses, too. You are a magnificent family, vibrant and full of creativity and life force.
And where would I be without YOU?
You write so beautifully, I am in awe. In awe not only of that, but of how you tell the truth about life. It's not perfect it's messy.
Thank you Wendy! You are right, life is messy.
I remember when Eric quit Henderson and y'all took to the road... but didn't really know the Whys & Wherefores. That was a truly ballsy move!! I dream of doing likewise these days, but not in the USA. After LJ died, my son literally saved my life with a plane ticket to Europe; he gave me the great gift of something to look forward to when I could only look back. Now we try to go every year! Just back from Istanbul, where I saw a million things Larry would've loved to see - the bittersweetness of exotic experiences!
Oh wow Amy, Istanbul, that sounds like the coolest trip! I know exactly what you mean about the bittersweetness of travel, always wanting to say, oh! look at this! and share the experience with the one who should be there. I am happy you have been able to make those trips.
New follower here. Thank you for sharing all of this. I do love your writing. Did you paint that picture at the top of the story?
Hi Kortney, welcome and thanks for reading! I did paint that picture.
Beautiful. Thank you. Always looking forward to your dispatches. Truly beautiful writing.
Thank you Cristina
A bereaved parent here, thank you for giving voice to my feelings. That is all xxx
I'm so sorry we have this in common. 💔 Thank you for reading.
💙💔
This was beautiful, thank you.
Thank you Charlotte
I just went back and read what happened to your daughter. I am so sorry, I can't even imagine.
Thank you
Tina, I went on a 4 month road trip by myself 8 years ago. I still remember the jitters I had in my first leg of the trip, driving from Orlando to New Orleans. The jitters turned into nervousness as I got closer to The Big Easy. I had no idea what I was doing, but that teetering between rabid excitement and heart-wrenching despair defined the first part of my trip. Then I started having religious experiences discovering beautiful places like Sabino Canyon and Sedona in Arizona. A few months into my trip I unzipped my tent in Montana to see a sky full of beaming stars. Hearing wolves howling in the distance made me quickly zip my tent back up. I'll never forget that night as long as I live. Traveling just really does something to you, doesn't it? Thank you for this wonderful piece.
Oh wow Tom, that was really a life-changing trip. I have never heard of Sabino Canyon, I looked it up and now I want to go there! You're right, traveling can be transformative. Thanks so much for sharing this, and for reading.
Thank you for your wonderful writing that captures your life and reflects mine. Maybe we're all dreamers and travelers attempting an escape from suffering and loss, burnout and suburban ideal filled with outward show and empty seats. Your writing evokes so many truths about our human condition. Your photos inspire as well. The two chairs facing the field make me think of the enormous amount of space grief takes up and how solitude and natural spaces allow us to breathe. Our hearts yearn for peace of space.
Cathy, thank you for your beautiful comment. I appreciate having you as a reader and I'm so gratified you were moved by my writing and that we made a connection. Yes it's so true, our hearts yearn for peace.
Your writing allows us to share your pain, and sadly brings back mine as well. But that is life and we go on. Never to be who we were, and hopeful to never have to feel anything like it again. It has been 11 years for me since losing my Sarah, but the memories of her illness and final days are with me like it was yesterday. Be well. Keep writing.
Good to hear from you Marc. Thanks so much
“Oh, it’s enough to be on your way,
It’s enough just to cover ground,
It’s enough to be moving on…
Home, build it behind your eyes,
Carry it in your heart,
Safe among your own…”
(James Taylor)
❤️💛🧡
I know that feeling of excitement at the possibility of doing something different - we only travelled for seven months (three and then four with a break) but when we were on the road - even though we were pointed to Minnesota (and we too had talked about Asheville lol) we had the thought "we could stop anywhere" or "we could actually just keep going" - the idea that anywhere could be home or that we already were home. I loved the odd freedom that a tiny container gave us - five shirts, five pants, only the toys that the girls really love - we could only take the things we really loved / needed and at the end of the day it wasn't the things but each other that we needed- when we landed here in Minnesota and our POD showed up I felt like I couldn't breathe for a second as all our "stuff" came into a house but my kiddos wanted roots - my oldest especially - she's almost 10 - it's good but I miss the road - the breathing room - the possibility - The excitement of falling in love with what's around the corner on a Tuesday. I am sending you love. Since I saw the post with the trailer Kiki fixed up I can picture you there in that space and man - it twists and burns as a momma to imagine you having to endure that kind of hurt. Sending you big strong love.
Hi Sarah, it's good to hear from you! I love how you put this: "the odd freedom" of a tiny container. I have those same feelings you describe, "anywhere could be home or that we were already home". I can totally imagine the overwhelm of going from that life to a POD arrival.
We also stopped our traveling phase for the same reason – Kiki needed to have roots at age seven, and friends she wouldn't have to leave. And the rooted phase of our life was really good too, fifteen years in a great little New England town. Sounds like you have found something like that in Minnesota.
PS: Thank you so much for including me in your "When We Get Stuck" post!