15 Comments

I love this more than I can properly express. The past few days have been scary— a relative’s terrible health news, the election hubbub. But in this world you’ve gifted us the scary is LOVE. Yes, that’s exactly right, I say to myse as I read. I love my relative. I love my country, my neighbors, and my life. The flip side of fear is/ love is joy / love. Thank you for this! I’m gonna shadow dance and invite the monster friends into my dreams.❤️

Expand full comment

Awww, Jillian. Thank you so much! You summarized it more clearly than I could have! I love my country, too, and my neighbors. I love the way you wrote this. Thank you.

Expand full comment

Ohhhhh the line ‘she loved schizophrenics the most’ set me to a very big much needed cry…..thank you to your mother. And to you for sharing that gorgeous line about how they ‘pull truth from the sky’, it knocked me out. Gorgeous.

This whole essay is spectacular, a bringer of peace and beauty - you captured such a special moment and shared it with us with true artistry; the walk, the smells, the sky. I’m going to try some shadow dancing soon, it’s good to know it’s contagious!

Expand full comment

Jane! How are you doing?!! Thank you so much for this--for reading and letting me know that you liked it. Come visit next year and shadow dance with me! I'm sure you are the most beautiful shadow dancer.

Expand full comment

ummmm oh my god YES I wanna come! It sounds like Mayberry! Seriously this story resonates so deeply - you are such a gorgeous writer, it's stayed with me since I read it. I'll start thinking about my costume now cause I always mess that one up....😅 😂

Expand full comment

You captured the magic of the village of Tburg.

Expand full comment

Thank you so much, Jill. It really is magical this time of year.

Expand full comment

Oh Rebecca, your writing just fills me up. The smallest things become enormous. The details you gather together are just ::chef's kiss::. And I always leave your work feeling in love with the world. Could you write some more books for me, pretty please? ;)

Expand full comment

Thanks, Steph! That makes me so happy. I will do my best to write some more books. I think they'll have to be short and easy to make, though. But I love so much that you want another one from me. Thank you!

Expand full comment

very spirited -- so important we build community -- and nothing like spontaneous shadow dances to do that!!!

Expand full comment

Thank you, Mike! Yes, I highly recommend impromptu dances--anywhere, any time. Thanks for reading.

Expand full comment

Hey! My mother was a psych nurse who loved schizophrenics the most. She would have loved the phrase that they "could pull truth from the sky." I wish she was here so I could tell her that one. I can just hear her throaty cackle at the idea.

Expand full comment

Hi Susan, That is so cool! Psych nurses are the best. It makes sense that we liked each other's letters in the Letters Reimagined seriesI love that you hear her throaty cackle. I'm sure she knew everything ;)

Expand full comment

Some days she knew everything, others she knew nothing at all. Both very powerful positions on the spectrum.

Expand full comment

Yep--100%.

Expand full comment