What a propulsive piece over generations and state lines! A joy to read. I was very moved by that giant around in the time of Socrates and Cleopatra. Sequoias' fireproof bark. The permission to let ourselves be "forged by the elements."
Thank you so much Jayne! I'm so glad we get to connect here, and in Monday writing group. 💛 I really need to get myself to the Essay Feedback group one of these times...
This reminds me so much of a line I have rolling around in my Notes app, ‘I miss California and I live here.’ What a wistful, quiet, powerful piece. You inspire me with your methodical work on your pieces.’
It's so funny, I always think about how much I admire YOU for your devotion to showing up every Sunday with something (beautiful) to share! And wahhh, "I miss California and I love here" makes all the sense in the world to me. Thank you so much for reading, and for your kind words on this one 💛
Michelle!!! My jaw is forever dropped by this piece. So tender and raw and I felt what feels most akin to homesickness. For the wild and the trees and, also the home that can be found within them.
Ughhhh what a splendor of a piece, Michelle! I just adore the way you shapeshifted some of those more familiar images and metaphors; in particular, this one: "an anxious homebody apple, fallen at the foot of her shaken tree." I really feel the tension and the discomfort of challenging routines and creature comforts and also the quiet but steady determination and wildness underneath that is being given a voice and an opportunity to come through in this season of life. Really proud of you for writing and sharing this piece and everything that went into it.
There were a lot of lines in here that stuck me, but I think these two right here were my favorites as they surprised me and also made me feel very known:
"to stretch her legs toward the other side of the bed and find the cool patches of sheets"
"I wonder if this is why we’re drawn to the wild—to tangle with ourselves"
I love how you braided your grandmother with wildness. I also love the obsession with place in this piece. As someone who as always felt that places choose me rather than the other way around, I really resonate with the "tangling" our relationship with place (especially wild ones) brings about. And I can't wait to hear how your retreat with horses goes. I hope you write about it!
Ok, I got a little shiver from the way you reflected that back—"I also love the obsession with place in this piece." No part of me thought about this piece in terms of being obsessed with place, but you're so right. And I find myself SO drawn to that in other people's work (yours included) and exploring how we tangle with place. Thank you so much for these reflections and for reading, Kate. 💛💛 (and the retreat in question is the one Joy is leading next May—I can't imagine a world where I don't write about it!)
Wow. This piece hit me like an especially powerful question. It put me off-balance (in a good way) and I know I’m going to be returning to your words and turning them over in the coming days (weeks? months?) I’ve already read it twice today!
I loved the breadcrumbs… and the fallen apple… and deep sighs.. And just.. All of it. I have been in a very dark place for the last six years.. And I've finally gotten to the point where I'm ready to be brave and do whatever it takes to get my life back.. Get myself back.. I literally just made the phone call.. The one that will hopefully save my life. And if it doesn’t, I will make another call. And another. I won’t give up this time.
This is literary and emotional genius, Michelle 😮 💜🤗
Well THAT just made my morning 🥹❤️ thank you, it means so much that you follow along and read!
What a propulsive piece over generations and state lines! A joy to read. I was very moved by that giant around in the time of Socrates and Cleopatra. Sequoias' fireproof bark. The permission to let ourselves be "forged by the elements."
Thank you so much Jayne! I'm so glad we get to connect here, and in Monday writing group. 💛 I really need to get myself to the Essay Feedback group one of these times...
This reminds me so much of a line I have rolling around in my Notes app, ‘I miss California and I live here.’ What a wistful, quiet, powerful piece. You inspire me with your methodical work on your pieces.’
It's so funny, I always think about how much I admire YOU for your devotion to showing up every Sunday with something (beautiful) to share! And wahhh, "I miss California and I love here" makes all the sense in the world to me. Thank you so much for reading, and for your kind words on this one 💛
Michelle!!! My jaw is forever dropped by this piece. So tender and raw and I felt what feels most akin to homesickness. For the wild and the trees and, also the home that can be found within them.
Wahhhh I LOVE how you phrased that—homesick for the wild and the trees. Yes yes yes. Also this comment made my whole freakin day, thank you friend. 💛
Ughhhh what a splendor of a piece, Michelle! I just adore the way you shapeshifted some of those more familiar images and metaphors; in particular, this one: "an anxious homebody apple, fallen at the foot of her shaken tree." I really feel the tension and the discomfort of challenging routines and creature comforts and also the quiet but steady determination and wildness underneath that is being given a voice and an opportunity to come through in this season of life. Really proud of you for writing and sharing this piece and everything that went into it.
Thank youuu 💛 for your encouragement as I wrestled this piece into existence, and for your reflections here! I appreciate you.
There were a lot of lines in here that stuck me, but I think these two right here were my favorites as they surprised me and also made me feel very known:
"to stretch her legs toward the other side of the bed and find the cool patches of sheets"
"I wonder if this is why we’re drawn to the wild—to tangle with ourselves"
I love how you braided your grandmother with wildness. I also love the obsession with place in this piece. As someone who as always felt that places choose me rather than the other way around, I really resonate with the "tangling" our relationship with place (especially wild ones) brings about. And I can't wait to hear how your retreat with horses goes. I hope you write about it!
Ok, I got a little shiver from the way you reflected that back—"I also love the obsession with place in this piece." No part of me thought about this piece in terms of being obsessed with place, but you're so right. And I find myself SO drawn to that in other people's work (yours included) and exploring how we tangle with place. Thank you so much for these reflections and for reading, Kate. 💛💛 (and the retreat in question is the one Joy is leading next May—I can't imagine a world where I don't write about it!)
I love that. I think it’s a perfect example of how we don’t know what we’re going to write/what it means until we write it. Follow the shivers!
(meant to say "struck me" not "stuck me")
This was such a beautifully woven essay, Michelle! I loved how you blended the natural elements with threads of family history. Wonderful!
Oh thank you so much, Eliza!
This was exquisite Michelle! I'm so grateful for your writing.
Thank you so much for reading and for the sweet encouragement, Makayla! It means a lot. 💛
Wow. This piece hit me like an especially powerful question. It put me off-balance (in a good way) and I know I’m going to be returning to your words and turning them over in the coming days (weeks? months?) I’ve already read it twice today!
Thank you so much for this, Roxanne! Your kind feedback means a lot, and something about the idea of you coming back to it really warms me. 💛
Low on words myself at the moment, but, Michelle, this is so beautiful and I enjoyed it so much!
Guh, thank you so much Rebecca! That means a lot.
I loved the breadcrumbs… and the fallen apple… and deep sighs.. And just.. All of it. I have been in a very dark place for the last six years.. And I've finally gotten to the point where I'm ready to be brave and do whatever it takes to get my life back.. Get myself back.. I literally just made the phone call.. The one that will hopefully save my life. And if it doesn’t, I will make another call. And another. I won’t give up this time.
Thank you 🙏❤️
💛💛