26 Comments
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Louise Strecker's avatar

Love this chapter. I embarrassed myself in public by weeping while reading it. (First time that’s happened.) Guess I’m way old enough to know what it’s like to return to a place where stuff happened and be reminded the place is beautiful and maybe reclaiming that part of my life. The photo of you, Michael, and Woody is wonderful! Yeah, follow Woody. Great stuff.

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Julia Park Tracey's avatar

I fucking love this and here's your goddamn chapter.

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Lauren Hough's avatar

Seriously. I met a couple DLI students who are just openly fucking queer. Wild. I’m told my book is passed around. Still don’t know what to do with that. But it felt good. And not just because my ego needed the stroke of being recognized. It did. But goddamn. My book gets passed around at DLI.

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Louise Strecker's avatar

How cool!

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Jeannette's avatar

I’m glad you’rea writer (with a book deal) because if you weren’t I’d probably have to tell you you should be, and that can be awkward.

Follow the dog is god life advice, or it will get you rolling in interesting shit at least… Thanks.

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Susan Stinson's avatar

Woke up at 3 am on a very hot night in the east. Aching hip. Read this, and, oh, it's so good. I feel ankle deep (as much as I can handle) in cold ocean water on a beach with tough history. Mostly, I feel grateful to read such good writing about such important things. Hope that you and Woody (and Michael, too) have a good night .

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Brian Watson's avatar

I fucking love how you write.

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Catherine Lent's avatar

MAN! I love this. You really capture the weird of going toward/avoiding

a place/time with hope/dread of rephrasing/re-visioning it.

But I don't have a dog....maybe that would help.

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Timber Fox's avatar

Following Woody is a good way to live. This was wonderful. I am glad that he's as good for you as you are for him.

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Samantha Westcott's avatar

I love this chapter. I love that you share the experience, and your expectations, and your revelations.

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AJ's avatar

It’s a very good plan. Thanks so much for sharing this. Powerful.

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Jennifer Pierce's avatar

You are very brave. Look forward to reading it. Woody is a good boy.

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Diane's avatar

I know we're all just saying how much we love this piece but really, me too. Absolutely fucking love it. Read it twice. Probably going to read it again. Thank you!!!

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MoonMamaWarrior's avatar

Oh my god I'm crying in the tub reading this, fuck yes. I love your writing and I love me some California🔥❤🌈

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Kathleen W.'s avatar

Steinbeck guy! And I love "Cannery Row."

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Jody Zemel's avatar

Hands down, I would follow Woody’s lead excluding squirrels

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Cindy T's avatar

Beautiful.

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Annelieke Schauer's avatar

I loved this dispatch. So much. The photo. I loved it all.

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