This piece is stunning! I’ve read it twice now, and each time your luminous writing shines on the page. So many stirring lines that l love, it’s hard to choose one. The paragraph about the stray dog’s devotion to Estelle and his memory living in the mint:
“mongrel howls over the drums as if giving a eulogy for his beloved Estelle. When we bury her I pocket some of the dirt and bring it to him. I think he appreciates it but the grief and empty kitchen must be too much. He dies 14 days later a sad and quiet death. We bury him near the mint bush under the outdoor kitchen where he spent so much time licking at her ankles and begging for food. Whenever I see mint I think of his body marred and yet loved…” your tender imagery is haunting. I admire how you’ve created a trilogy across 3 generations, interweaving their lives together in an elegant masterpiece. The quotes from her gramma’s family on grief are phenomenal. Excellent questions about what gifts we refuse and which ones we accept freely? Still thinking about this one, which is the best sign that your beautiful writing hits a nerve and rings true. Thank you!
“That is how I learned skin-to-skin contact is kintsukuroi for the human spirit. I put her together with bits of the brown titanium she has gifted me.” - talk about how two sentences fit together beautifully. Family, this was gorgeous. So much love and care in the words and in the kitchen.
Really excellent, the concept of how to give and how (and when) to reserve for yourself is expressed so lyrically. Some really super prose going on here.
I’ll have to find this and read it! I’m so glad you enjoy it and hope you check out some of my other stuff. I get the feeling you’ll like “smiling with no teeth”
I am beyond honored that you would mention me in connection with your beautiful writing. I am so grateful you did not abandon this story. What a powerful reflection of your mother and grandmother. As women we often put ourselves last to our own detriment.
Your grandmother is an altruistic woman, giving to everyone until her kindness "kills her." Your mother prioritized men who she felt she couldn't live without. I'm curious about the relationship between these two women.
Do you think your mother felt neglected by your grandmother's generosity toward everyone else? Could that be why she sought love elsewhere? The mother-daughter relationship can be very complicated, especially when there is a lot of love between the two.
Women are praised for being givers, it is not only expected of us, but for many our worth is tied to how much we can do for other people. Women are seen as selfish if we are not constantly doing for others, but if we don't care for ourselves, who will?
In the end you reject the gift of giving yourself away, but without demonizing your mother or grandmother. You love them both, and learn from them, but choose differently for yourself.
I do think about that with my own mother and grandmother. I didn't know my grandmother that well. She lived in Chicago and I grew up in New York. I saw her maybe once a year as a child but in my 20's there was a rift in my mother's relationship with her family which extended to my brother and I. I didn't know when she died, no one contacted us.
My mother was a complicated woman, but I loved her dearly. She was my best friend until I met my husband and got married. She thought I would always be single, that I would always put her first the way she put me first. She saw my marriage as losing a daughter rather than gaining a son-in-law and later a grandchild.
I still saw her regularly until she died in 2018 at 80 yrs old. At one time in my life I would have been devastated to lose her, but I already had 10 years earlier when I got married. Three months before she died we found out my husband had incurable cancer, so I think I was also ambivalent about her death for that reason.
I loved my mother's strength, and her encouragement of my anger at inequality for women and marginalized people. She was an activist, and I still am so proud of her. I do reject her ability to cut people out of her life so easily, and her inability to apologize and admit she was wrong.
I try focus more on humility, and the impact my actions have on others rather than my intent. I don't think I'm alway successful, but I try to find the lessons in my mistakes.
Ah Amy thank you so much for reading and such a thoughtful response. This piece is mostly fiction my mom is not a giver to men mainly to family but the essence of the piece is still true.
It is always a blessing to have a mother who is also a best friend! Mine is also. I am sad to hear she did not adapt to the expansion of your family how you anticipated. Seems like she gave you things that you both accepted and rejected(not cutting ppl
Off too quickly/not apologizing). You know how I feel about humility BUT I totally get where you’re coming from and I’m so glad to hear you think so strategically about how you impact others. Know you and your work are appreciated here.
This piece is stunning! I’ve read it twice now, and each time your luminous writing shines on the page. So many stirring lines that l love, it’s hard to choose one. The paragraph about the stray dog’s devotion to Estelle and his memory living in the mint:
“mongrel howls over the drums as if giving a eulogy for his beloved Estelle. When we bury her I pocket some of the dirt and bring it to him. I think he appreciates it but the grief and empty kitchen must be too much. He dies 14 days later a sad and quiet death. We bury him near the mint bush under the outdoor kitchen where he spent so much time licking at her ankles and begging for food. Whenever I see mint I think of his body marred and yet loved…” your tender imagery is haunting. I admire how you’ve created a trilogy across 3 generations, interweaving their lives together in an elegant masterpiece. The quotes from her gramma’s family on grief are phenomenal. Excellent questions about what gifts we refuse and which ones we accept freely? Still thinking about this one, which is the best sign that your beautiful writing hits a nerve and rings true. Thank you!
🥹🥹🥹🥹 this was so sweet! Thanks for reading and for feeling such a strong connection to the piece. I’m glad it hit such a nerve
The rhythm of this piece felt like a jazz song and the quotes felt like solos from the band.
Super creative 👏🏽❤️
“That is how I learned skin-to-skin contact is kintsukuroi for the human spirit. I put her together with bits of the brown titanium she has gifted me.” - talk about how two sentences fit together beautifully. Family, this was gorgeous. So much love and care in the words and in the kitchen.
Thank youuuuu I actually added the brown titanium and kintsukuroi bits later so I’m glad it hits like intended!
Really excellent, the concept of how to give and how (and when) to reserve for yourself is expressed so lyrically. Some really super prose going on here.
This is magnificent. As someone coming from a long matriarchal line of givers and people pleasers, this cuts like a knife.
Thank you so much! I’m glad it resonated I appreciate you reading
This comment is for "Do Witches Whisper in The Sky?"
Love love love this piece. The imagery was clear as day, and I fell deep into the reading. I was sad when it finished.
My dragon would be red.
I think mine would be green or red too! I’m glad you enjoyed it
At some point, it sounded like I was reading Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Oparanta.
The flow is good, and so is the writing. I utterly enjoyed it.
I’ll have to find this and read it! I’m so glad you enjoy it and hope you check out some of my other stuff. I get the feeling you’ll like “smiling with no teeth”
Your best one yet!
Thank you so much!!
Magnificent
Thank you so much!
Beautiful, with such a lovely movement throughout the piece. It’s a bit like a song in its rhythm and phrases.
Thank you so very much. I love when a piece has good rhythm. Appreciate you reading it
How marvelous, NJ. My goodness. Thank you.
You’re most welcome Tifanei! Thanks for reading 🖤
I am beyond honored that you would mention me in connection with your beautiful writing. I am so grateful you did not abandon this story. What a powerful reflection of your mother and grandmother. As women we often put ourselves last to our own detriment.
Your grandmother is an altruistic woman, giving to everyone until her kindness "kills her." Your mother prioritized men who she felt she couldn't live without. I'm curious about the relationship between these two women.
Do you think your mother felt neglected by your grandmother's generosity toward everyone else? Could that be why she sought love elsewhere? The mother-daughter relationship can be very complicated, especially when there is a lot of love between the two.
Women are praised for being givers, it is not only expected of us, but for many our worth is tied to how much we can do for other people. Women are seen as selfish if we are not constantly doing for others, but if we don't care for ourselves, who will?
In the end you reject the gift of giving yourself away, but without demonizing your mother or grandmother. You love them both, and learn from them, but choose differently for yourself.
I do think about that with my own mother and grandmother. I didn't know my grandmother that well. She lived in Chicago and I grew up in New York. I saw her maybe once a year as a child but in my 20's there was a rift in my mother's relationship with her family which extended to my brother and I. I didn't know when she died, no one contacted us.
My mother was a complicated woman, but I loved her dearly. She was my best friend until I met my husband and got married. She thought I would always be single, that I would always put her first the way she put me first. She saw my marriage as losing a daughter rather than gaining a son-in-law and later a grandchild.
I still saw her regularly until she died in 2018 at 80 yrs old. At one time in my life I would have been devastated to lose her, but I already had 10 years earlier when I got married. Three months before she died we found out my husband had incurable cancer, so I think I was also ambivalent about her death for that reason.
I loved my mother's strength, and her encouragement of my anger at inequality for women and marginalized people. She was an activist, and I still am so proud of her. I do reject her ability to cut people out of her life so easily, and her inability to apologize and admit she was wrong.
I try focus more on humility, and the impact my actions have on others rather than my intent. I don't think I'm alway successful, but I try to find the lessons in my mistakes.
Ah Amy thank you so much for reading and such a thoughtful response. This piece is mostly fiction my mom is not a giver to men mainly to family but the essence of the piece is still true.
It is always a blessing to have a mother who is also a best friend! Mine is also. I am sad to hear she did not adapt to the expansion of your family how you anticipated. Seems like she gave you things that you both accepted and rejected(not cutting ppl
Off too quickly/not apologizing). You know how I feel about humility BUT I totally get where you’re coming from and I’m so glad to hear you think so strategically about how you impact others. Know you and your work are appreciated here.
My apologies for not realizing this was a work of fiction! I’ve been too focused on memoir, but it’s really a testament to your skill as an author.
I’m blushing! Thank you
I love everything about this--the story, the images, the prose, the format. It completely consumed me. I'll probably steal this structure one day! :)
Complete consumption!! Well my Newsletter lives up to its name! I’d be honored to have you steal the format 🫡
beautiful NJ.
Thank you EJ!