Wow, this is such a perfectly crafted little story… it reads like it’s already published and in a book somewhere. Are you… writing a book?? Is this what you’re doing with these essays? Sure seems like it. You’re on fire!
Well, that's a relief. And just so you know, I will be putting this comment safely in my "heart pit" to be taken out in moments of writing despair. I am practicing this "way" of writing essays as a way into writing a memoir! But these essays haven't been worked on before each morning I begin writing them. Paul, however, has been bugging me for a long time to write about him. I'm so glad you liked it. When I read Abigail Thomas's book "What Comes Next...", it was written this way, short snaps, and it worked so well / giving me some hope for a way forward with the larger story I've been wrestling with for a long time. But for now, this is just practice....maybe everything always is. XOXO Thank you for reading it!!
This is gorgeous, heartbreaking, and soul filling. Where is Paul? He is still here... and so is that little girl with the chalk. Look how good she's gotten at making letters, into words, into stories...
Beautiful piece.
Thank you for reading Emma!!
I remember this day! We all.loved Paul, he was an amazing gentle soul
He did come home, and moved to Arizona , we wrote letters and stayed in touch for years after.
Wow, this is such a perfectly crafted little story… it reads like it’s already published and in a book somewhere. Are you… writing a book?? Is this what you’re doing with these essays? Sure seems like it. You’re on fire!
Well, that's a relief. And just so you know, I will be putting this comment safely in my "heart pit" to be taken out in moments of writing despair. I am practicing this "way" of writing essays as a way into writing a memoir! But these essays haven't been worked on before each morning I begin writing them. Paul, however, has been bugging me for a long time to write about him. I'm so glad you liked it. When I read Abigail Thomas's book "What Comes Next...", it was written this way, short snaps, and it worked so well / giving me some hope for a way forward with the larger story I've been wrestling with for a long time. But for now, this is just practice....maybe everything always is. XOXO Thank you for reading it!!
Isn't Abigail Thomas such an inspiration!
She’s incredible. I love that I just found her and get to read ALL of her books!!!
This is gorgeous, heartbreaking, and soul filling. Where is Paul? He is still here... and so is that little girl with the chalk. Look how good she's gotten at making letters, into words, into stories...
This made me get a little teary. Thank you, Donna. Gentle and generous words, I'll keep close.