So many gems here... but this one made me actually laugh actually out loud. " I imagine he’s enjoying my poetry much more now that he’s a comet and not a Republican."
I am so glad to hear about your friend! And her father might be my favorite comet, which I never thought I would say about a former Louisiana Republican. But he clearly had great taste in poets and credit where credit is due.
this just made me laugh out loud with joy sitting on my back deck soaking in this warm Colorado day in the midst of lots of pain. That too was a prayer. 🙏🏼
One of my best friends has a knack for changing his voice. He's the best prank caller I know. He once had me going longer than I like to admit when he pretended to be the postal service insisting I had to come in to pick up a special delivery of a rare bird.
Ah, your every email cracks my heart open a little wider.
Another firecracker of a post that made me laugh, think and feel. So glad your friend is okay and what a gift to be alongside them through that scary time.
I keep meaning to write to say that it was my birthday in October and I was feeling very bleak about the world because of the situation in Israel and Palestine. Half of my family are Jewish but many of my friends are Muslim, including some Palestinians and everything in the spheres I inhabit feels deeply polarised and very dark right now. So I found myself writing some pretty bad poetry to try and make sense of my feelings and then I thought, I should go and check out Andrea's latest blog because they have a way of making meaning and beauty out of dark things. So I went to check it out and that's how my wife and I ended up listening to you and Megan on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast. And it was so hopeful and affirming and funny that it turned my birthday mood right around. Having taken both Write Your Heart In and Poems That Don't Suck, I guess I feel like I know you both a little and hearing you sound so happy after everything you've been through made my heart full. And then my wife and I went bowling and played some arcade games so it was a pretty fun birthday after all!
But anyway, on a different note, you have this way with the Louisiana Republican (and in You Better Be Lightning) of honouring the fact that often the people who love us are complex and contradictory and loving them involves trying to reconcile those confusing things. And maybe we never do reconcile them, but I feel like the endeavour makes us more human. So thanks for helping me feel more human.
This post made me laugh out loud a few times which I’m so grateful for as I’m currently stuck at home with Covid. I love how your words heal and remind that people are often more similar than different. I loved your most recent We Can Do Hard Things double date. I wrote about it a little here if you or anyone else wants to read. https://open.substack.com/pub/pocketfulofprose/p/on-marriage-and-mountain-goats?r=qqbxq&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post There is also some sweet footage of a mountain goat. So happy for your friend!
I spent most of the summer between fifth and sixth grade going to the community pool, eating pizza rolls, and making prank calls. It remains in my mind as one of my most favorite childhood summers. My daughter will never know the beauty in a well-played prank call. Damn cell phones!
And, the title of this post makes me want to make a list. It's really beautiful ❤️
Wow I'm pretty sure this person was a participant in my dissertation work! Very sorry to hear of her dad passing but so glad she has a friend like you, and is cancer free. 🩷
Loved the episode on We Can Do Hard Things. Totally stealing the "loving look" - i have a one year old and it's shocking how eye-contact deprived my partner and I can get because we're always looking at her. I wish I had a prank call idea. Maybe say you're the host of a podcast about pizza and you're conducting a survey on the best pizza topping and then ask them about their relationship with their mother.
So many gems here... but this one made me actually laugh actually out loud. " I imagine he’s enjoying my poetry much more now that he’s a comet and not a Republican."
I am so glad to hear about your friend! And her father might be my favorite comet, which I never thought I would say about a former Louisiana Republican. But he clearly had great taste in poets and credit where credit is due.
She could call a place that does shrink wrapping and ask if they shrink rappers? Makes no sense, but was what came to me!
this just made me laugh out loud with joy sitting on my back deck soaking in this warm Colorado day in the midst of lots of pain. That too was a prayer. 🙏🏼
A million ways to say 'I love you'... like sitting beside your friend as she faces scary mammogram results ❤️
My daughter recorded a voice greeting that says, “Hello? … Hi, can you hear me?” And then you try talking back… but it’s a voicemail greeting. 🤣
Love your writing!
I call my best friends my “anchor partners” <3
One of my best friends has a knack for changing his voice. He's the best prank caller I know. He once had me going longer than I like to admit when he pretended to be the postal service insisting I had to come in to pick up a special delivery of a rare bird.
Ah, your every email cracks my heart open a little wider.
Another firecracker of a post that made me laugh, think and feel. So glad your friend is okay and what a gift to be alongside them through that scary time.
I keep meaning to write to say that it was my birthday in October and I was feeling very bleak about the world because of the situation in Israel and Palestine. Half of my family are Jewish but many of my friends are Muslim, including some Palestinians and everything in the spheres I inhabit feels deeply polarised and very dark right now. So I found myself writing some pretty bad poetry to try and make sense of my feelings and then I thought, I should go and check out Andrea's latest blog because they have a way of making meaning and beauty out of dark things. So I went to check it out and that's how my wife and I ended up listening to you and Megan on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast. And it was so hopeful and affirming and funny that it turned my birthday mood right around. Having taken both Write Your Heart In and Poems That Don't Suck, I guess I feel like I know you both a little and hearing you sound so happy after everything you've been through made my heart full. And then my wife and I went bowling and played some arcade games so it was a pretty fun birthday after all!
But anyway, on a different note, you have this way with the Louisiana Republican (and in You Better Be Lightning) of honouring the fact that often the people who love us are complex and contradictory and loving them involves trying to reconcile those confusing things. And maybe we never do reconcile them, but I feel like the endeavour makes us more human. So thanks for helping me feel more human.
This post made me laugh out loud a few times which I’m so grateful for as I’m currently stuck at home with Covid. I love how your words heal and remind that people are often more similar than different. I loved your most recent We Can Do Hard Things double date. I wrote about it a little here if you or anyone else wants to read. https://open.substack.com/pub/pocketfulofprose/p/on-marriage-and-mountain-goats?r=qqbxq&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post There is also some sweet footage of a mountain goat. So happy for your friend!
I love the way you make visions of beauty with your words.
The only prank I can think of outside every Bart Simpson trick is the "Mr Wall" one.
Is Mr Wall there?
No
Is Mrs Wall there?
No
Are there any Walls there?
No
What's holding your house up?
Like a bad dad joke.
You are truly a Great One!
Infinite Love to You & Yours, Always! 🩵
I spent most of the summer between fifth and sixth grade going to the community pool, eating pizza rolls, and making prank calls. It remains in my mind as one of my most favorite childhood summers. My daughter will never know the beauty in a well-played prank call. Damn cell phones!
And, the title of this post makes me want to make a list. It's really beautiful ❤️
Wow I'm pretty sure this person was a participant in my dissertation work! Very sorry to hear of her dad passing but so glad she has a friend like you, and is cancer free. 🩷
I loved the old photographs in between
Loved the episode on We Can Do Hard Things. Totally stealing the "loving look" - i have a one year old and it's shocking how eye-contact deprived my partner and I can get because we're always looking at her. I wish I had a prank call idea. Maybe say you're the host of a podcast about pizza and you're conducting a survey on the best pizza topping and then ask them about their relationship with their mother.