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I often think about the time it takes light to reach us from the sun, and wonder what we would do if it suddenly stopped shining and the world would end after those 8 minutes. If the last rays of light were on their way to us, we wouldn't have much time for anything but to take a breath and reflect on our lives. In my imagination it's always a peaceful moment.

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How beautiful. That's an image I'll hold onto. Thank you.

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Oct 27, 2023Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

Stunned speechless, humbled and crying with goosebumps.

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Thank you for this sincerity, Priscilla. I'm sending you love --and I'm grateful to have this place where we can safely venture into the enormity of these feelings, these times. (And I'm starting to understand why I was never very good at Twitter.)

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How beautiful. It is a post to both savor and digest. We are not here for unconditional love. We already know that. We are here for messy love. Two soft hands together before jumping. A little boy with Covid, doing a puzzle and happy to be living “here” on this one, most importantly, with his poetic, loving grandmother. It is a nice way to begin this day and my mind shall grapple with it all today, just a little.

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What a sweet, uplifting comment to receive this morning (after a long night of coughing). Thank you, Terra!

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Dear Jeannine, thank you for this. It's hard holding back tears, so I don't. I wish you and everyone else on this aching planet love, too

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Yes — our aching planet, too ❤️

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Oct 27, 2023Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

I love your letters. Feel better to you and Z.

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Thank you so much, Maureen. xo

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Jan 6Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

I often think of you and Z as I’m wrangling my grandkids. Here’s to more crazy love in 2024.

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We appreciate this so much and please keep him and us in your thoughts wherever there is room as we navigate what comes next, which now looks increasingly like Billie adopting but we can never be certain until it's certain!

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Showing up, being, seeing-- so easy to say and yet they are the hardest, realest things to do. So grateful to be among other earnest Twitter flunkeys!! I always wanted to just hug away the glib and snark and have a real conversation or shared moment. Like here. Love in real time and all its complexity. Hope you all feel better and the leaves are showing off where you are, too.

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Yes, I was way way WAY too sincere for Twitter! I am like, hardwired sincere. All my humor is best applied with the preschool set. Our grands think I am the silliest person they know haha. And the leaves are doing their best to remind us that the world is good, even though this week's world news is trying to suggest otherwise.

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Oct 27, 2023Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

I was meditating so softly and deeply, and then my clock alarm rang to remind me to MEDITATE. Eyes flying open, the irony. But I didn’t get angry, I just accepted it. Then I read your letter again, Jeannine. You, your grandson, the puzzle, his words, the earth, Mars, 9/11 hands holding--I am in awe of the world right at this moment. I wonder what to do. I will do the best I can today, along with everyone else. Gracias.

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Ah the irony indeed. I’m right there with you, Liza— just doing the best I can today. ❤️

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My thanks to Courtney Walsh & Brian Doyle & you for inviting them into my day.

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Thank YOU for being here, and inviting me into your day, too!

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Oct 27, 2023Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

Well, you just made my day! :)

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Great!! As it should be! You need to put together a flash collection ...

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The beautiful and tragic lines from the Brian Doyle essay you quoted made me think of the David Bowie song, Heroes.

"We could steal time, just for one day

We can be heroes, forever and ever

What d'you say?"

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Our beloved David Bowie!

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Oct 27, 2023·edited Oct 27, 2023Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

Thank you for the beauty of your words and thoughts. You eloquently wrote what I had not yet found the words to express.

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I am glad it brought you something to hang onto. It's taken me a couple of weeks (during which we've only had more calamity) to find words, which are never enough, but they're also what we share here. Thank you, Ginni.

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Oct 27, 2023Liked by Jeannine Ouellette

Loving you ♥️

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You too, friend. Also, when I was thinking of writing from an animal's POV I was remembering that amazing piece you wrote. It was so good. So I was already thinking of you & your writing today. xoxoxo

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