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Tracy Linardo's avatar

My great uncle & aunt lived in Fredericksburg when I was a child. We lived in the Houston suburbs & would go visit. I don’t remember much other than their house & we always had fun. Which was not always true when we visited the relatives.

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Hi Tracy, thank you for reading and commenting. I'm glad you have good memories of Fredericksburg! 😊

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Anita Storrs's avatar

I've eaten at Bill's! You described it perfectly! And you know what they say..."God Bless Texas"! Will think of you tomorrow. ❤️

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Hi Anita, that's so funny, I didn't imagine that any readers would know of Bills! Thank you for reading, and for your caring thoughts. 💛

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Janice Powers's avatar

Oh yes, those damn dates. As they roll

around year after year and we add a new number to that thought “it’s been …. years now since… for me that day is December 25. So hard now, so hard forever. Hugs and a scrap of healing love to you. I get it

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Thank you for being here, Janice. I appreciate the connection with you, we get each other.💛

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Victoria's avatar

BIG hugs, Tina.

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Thank you Victoria!

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Sarah Bush's avatar

Poignant and beautiful. As always.

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Thank you Sarah!

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Susan Macaulay's avatar

Beautiful piece. Thank you.

I am glad Christmas is over https://amazingsusan.com/2022/12/08/ill-be-glad-when-christmas-is-over/ and I'm looking forward to riding my motorcycle in a couple of months.

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Hi Susan, thanks for the link – your poem holds truth about what the holidays are for a lot of people, and acknowledges the pain. I love how you included the song. I'm glad you will be enjoying riding this spring! We were driving through the winding hills of the beautiful Texas Hill Country yesterday and I was thinking how much fun it would be to ride those roads on a motorcycle. I'm not going to do it myself but I totally get the joy in it!

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Susan Macaulay's avatar

TYSM <3

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Joanie Madsen's avatar

Gentle and loving care to Eric and you. I will never get “used” to these tender dates. Always exhaling deeply afterwards to have navigated, and to have twelve months in the interim. Hand in hand, Heart to heart. Remembering our Kiki and Douglas together. Thank goodness for the signs. Our children are truly AMAZING. 🦉🪶💜

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Thank you Joanie, your empathic presence here is a blessing. 💛

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Cyndi Kane's avatar

Gosh, another newsletter where I laugh and cry with you❤️. Thank you for sharing your gift for words with us.

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Thank you Cyndi, I appreciate having you as a reader!

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Deborah Demander's avatar

Sending gentle love and peace for tender hearts. All of them.

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Thank you Deborah 💛

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Catherine Jones's avatar

Retreat, quiet, nature are like a salve. I have no doubt the two owls were an amazing answer. Thank you for taking the time to keep us updated and for the beautiful photos. The swamp filled with life, thick and mucky, is like stepping into days sometimes. Grief is a path no one can walk with us. But you manage to touch us with your writing and photography. Thank you.

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Hi Cathy, I'm so glad you liked this post. Thank you for being here 💛

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Jim Matysik's avatar

Christmas was oddly hard this year……but I looked forward to this latest entry and was, as always, transported to another day place and time. But also? Happy 2025, whatever that means for you.

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Thank you Jim. I appreciate having you as a reader, and appreciate your comments. Despite everything, I still feel hopeful at the start of a new year, and expect it will hold good things.

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Judith Owens-Manley's avatar

My niece, Elizabeth Bullmer, is just having a chapbook come out of her poetry on grief and loss. https://www.wmuk.org/wmuk-news/2025-01-09/art-beat-the-poetry-of-grief. I was moved by this interview she did. She's 48. I'm always and forever touched by your relationship with your daughter and the grief you carry and share with such grace.

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Thank you for the link, Judith. I listened to the interview and found it interesting and moving. Writing poetry about grief is important, it can be a lifeline for both the poet and the reader. Thanks so much for being here. 💛

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Amy Makechnie's avatar

The owls 🦉

Feeling this from a small town in frigid New Hampshire 💚

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Thank you Amy, stay cozy!

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Annette Deardurff's avatar

Tina, you are such a great writer! I feel as if I can “see” where you are and it’s awesome! We’re so glad we got to meet you and Eric, and really hope our paths will cross again. Much love and peace to you both on your journey!

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Thanks so much Annette, I really appreciate you reading and commenting. We feel the same, it was so great to meet you guys and hope we'll cross paths again. We will follow each other's journeys as we go. 😊 Saw the cute pic of you two bundled up on the cart – brrrr!

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Annette Deardurff's avatar

Did you get the package?

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Tina Hedin's avatar

oh yes, sorry! Just texted you.

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Becky's avatar

The holidays were hard for me this year, as always since we lost our Hilary to suicide in 2007. I also talk to her on my walks, still. I so enjoy your letters. They feel familiar.

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Dear Becky, I appreciate having you as a reader. We are both moms, missing our daughters. And our relationships with them continue, still. I am thankful for those walks and talks. I like that you say the letters feel familiar. Thanks so much for being here.

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Cristina Negrut's avatar

Thank you. Beautiful as always. I have so many newsletters in my inbox but always wait for the one from you. Many hugs.

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Dear Cristina, thanks so much for being here. Knowing that you look forward to this newsletter is the best compliment I could receive. Thank you.

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