29 Comments
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It is utterly not enough to click on the heart emoji for this. Everything is so real here that I feel as though I lived through it with you. Many, many hearts.

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Thank you so much, Elizabeth ❤️

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Dear Jeannine, you write so beautifully, I was engrossed. Also in awe of your memory for the details of back then. I had a lot of healing to do…still do on the early ruptures of a teenage marriage, pregnancies and then single parenting. Either through design to spare me or by the passage of time , I remember very little of the details. Thank you for such an inspiring read. 🙏🏻

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Forgetting can be a protection, yes. Thank you so much for reading my work, Susan, and for sharing this.

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Feb 6Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

Your memoir arrives today and looking forward to reading it. Your prose and storytelling inspires me!

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Thank you so much, Lisa ❤️

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I gobbled up every word of this!

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Well thank you, Linda. It wasn't supposed to go out today! I messed up somehow. Oh well. Now it's out, and I am glad you found something in it. Thank you for reading!

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Absolutely. Our life stories are similar. I love learning about you and about writing from you.

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It is an honor.

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Feb 7Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

What a beautiful piece of writing, Jeannette. I am in awe. I love the richness of the imagery, and the braiding of images and memories.

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Thank you so much!

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dumbstruck by the loveliness of your writing

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Oh my gosh thank you so much ☺️

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I cried. This hit me hard.

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❤️

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I remember parts of this from your incredible memoir. Every phrase here sucked me in and carried me along through the seasons, the ugly, the soft, the painful parts of healing. I had to pause and re-read portions. Amazing that I can still smell the roses, even after they’re gone.

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Awww thank, Joy! This is an earlier draft of material that ended up in The Part That Burns, yes. Thank you for reading my work ❤️

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I can hardly write a comment to you about how this story sweeps me away. This is my second trembling attempt. Wonderful.

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Margaret. This post went out by mistake today, I am not sure what I did wrong, but it wasn't supposed to go out today. And there's no way to undo a Substack email once it goes. So, to know it touched you takes away the sting of my mistake this morning. Thank you so much.

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I loved this piece very much. Thank you for sharing it!

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Thank you, Karli!

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Feb 7Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

Just beautiful.

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Wow!

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Thank you so much, Micah!

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Feb 7Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

Gobbled, yes. Dumbstruck, yes, that too - struck dumb as in wordless and wanting for more than a “like” or a “heart” to reply. Trembling, yes, swept away to a new level of yearning and now waiting every moment for something this shockingly profound around every corner .... what an unparalleled gift you have

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Thank you so much, Andrea.

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founding

I was dumbstruck by the beauty of this writing, again. Jeannine, I’m so glad you’re here on this platform and we’re able to learn from your grace and art!

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founding

So very moving & beautiful! I was captivated.💗

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