I spent the last 24 hours binge reading your memoir. I don’t even remember who shared the notification circling a portion of the preface that also resonated with me.
In the beginning I didn’t think I could relate, but it’s definitely a page-turner. I lost track of how many times I cried from myriad emotions. I was in a hole, and you helped me out. Forever grateful to you for your willingness to be raw and real.
I did not take time to love or comment on posts yet, because I needed to keep going. I will when I read it all again. Closer to recent posts, I began reading comments and admire how you dialogue with your readers.
Fairly new to Substack, I had only dabbled in reads until now, because I’m working on my own memoir. Thanks for showing me the way, but you set the bar so high.
Each person you have come in contact with, they read your heart and fall into your story. What a beautiful testament to you.
“…an unusual penchant for marking his existence.”
Carving his name, leaving messages. He carries himself from the past to those in the future. He leaves a piece of himself for someone to find. I am beginning to think he knew. You would seek to find. You would be coming.
Or the universe knew.
“Maybe he doesn’t want crumbs of his existence around anymore.”
"this isn’t a meeting, this is a memorial. And Charlie, carried in on the same elemental power that took him away, offers his final epitaph. Not with knife or hardwood surface, just water."
You have true talent with capturing all this in such words, Kimberly.
Donna's asking Charlie permission through you was so deeply moving to read. I can't help but wonder if her doing so speaks to some inherent knowing (one so often muted by logic and reason) that all of our ancestors can be mainlined through us at a moments notice. And life has fashioned you into a clear channel :)
Once again I am sitting here with my mouth agape. This chapter! The house! The water! My God the theme of water in both of your lives. WOW! The little notes he left behind! The kindness of Donna and Bill! Especially Donna. She knew how important it was for you to see Charlie's house regardless of the state it was going to be in when you all arrived. I'm so glad she insisted. I am in a glass case of emotion. The way in which Charlie weaved his magic throughout his time on earth for you to discover after his physical departure. As if his cells and highest self knew that you were out there and would one day answer the tug of your silver cord that binds you to one another. 🥹 I could burst from the aching beauty of it all. I'm so grateful that you've created this space because even though the memoir is coming to a close, your story still goes on and hopefully we will get glimpses of it here.
“Once erased by a massive force of water, is Charlie now tidying up loose ends?”
I believe you are tidying loose ends together, as you have done from the very beginning, guided but the force of that which took him, that which now threatens all physical remains… that on which you have floated and floundered uncontrollably for so many long long days.
But Kimberly, oh my heart feels so selfishly sad, I don’t want this to be so, I don’t want this story to end so finally and I wonder if perhaps, even now, there is more?
Because loose ends have a habit of becoming loose again….
“Let go” - at this the damn breaks…
Selfishly I hope for more while selflessly I hope that letting go is not too painful for you. Either way, because your words wrap us so entirely into your story, there will be tears from me… always with love xxx
Kim, those last two words hit me this morning like a wrecking ball. Phrases like "let go" and "just be" have become increasingly commonplace in cultural vernacular, which is a good thing, but repetition always risks raw sacredness. The way you lead the reader back to those words from the chapter title is sacred.
AND - so happy and heartened to see more people finding and being moved by your work.
It’s amazing how these different synchronicities with all these different strangers occurred at this time in your life. And it even better that you were open and perceptive enough to appreciate it. :)
I've got goosebumps. Seeing what Charlie created and also being there to witness the letting go. A memorial like no other. What serendipity. Water sure is a major theme in your life.
As I write this, I'm staring out at the ocean in front of me. I chose a home on the water. I felt pulled to it. Water is a major theme in mine as well, but for wholly different reasons. I'm trying to piece them together at the moment. For me, it is healing. The healing power of my morning ocean dips and being able to get lost in watching the water in my backyard shift and change. Evolving every day and moment by moment. I marvel at the peace of it, and the tempest when she rises. Accepting all of it with wonder and a huge dose of gratefulness. xo
reading your story is easier than falling off a log and this portion is so poetically artfully framed
ahhh the bald eagle! i long for my Baraga Mi. place and the return soon to work more on it and the turkey deer the wild all around...maybe the winter there... and found Rush Creek just now on satellite map as i always return that way and veer off in exploration but never that far over by Mississippi river
Wow, the symmetry of this real life story proves that life truly is stranger than fiction. What a journey this has been. I’m so happy you decided to bring us all along.
This is an incredible turn/ development of events. In the final paragraph it's like all those symptoms of dizziness are showing themselves as what they have been all along... "And Charlie, carried in on the same elemental power that took him away, offers his final epitaph... just water"
These monumental moments to let-go of attachments, making peace with it, and welcoming a new era. I could sense grief, despair, and relief. Beautifully written!
I spent the last 24 hours binge reading your memoir. I don’t even remember who shared the notification circling a portion of the preface that also resonated with me.
In the beginning I didn’t think I could relate, but it’s definitely a page-turner. I lost track of how many times I cried from myriad emotions. I was in a hole, and you helped me out. Forever grateful to you for your willingness to be raw and real.
I did not take time to love or comment on posts yet, because I needed to keep going. I will when I read it all again. Closer to recent posts, I began reading comments and admire how you dialogue with your readers.
Fairly new to Substack, I had only dabbled in reads until now, because I’m working on my own memoir. Thanks for showing me the way, but you set the bar so high.
Each person you have come in contact with, they read your heart and fall into your story. What a beautiful testament to you.
“…an unusual penchant for marking his existence.”
Carving his name, leaving messages. He carries himself from the past to those in the future. He leaves a piece of himself for someone to find. I am beginning to think he knew. You would seek to find. You would be coming.
Or the universe knew.
“Maybe he doesn’t want crumbs of his existence around anymore.”
I’m not so sure.
" Am I one of his epitaphs written in flesh?" :-o
Incredible.
and
"this isn’t a meeting, this is a memorial. And Charlie, carried in on the same elemental power that took him away, offers his final epitaph. Not with knife or hardwood surface, just water."
You have true talent with capturing all this in such words, Kimberly.
Donna's asking Charlie permission through you was so deeply moving to read. I can't help but wonder if her doing so speaks to some inherent knowing (one so often muted by logic and reason) that all of our ancestors can be mainlined through us at a moments notice. And life has fashioned you into a clear channel :)
Once again I am sitting here with my mouth agape. This chapter! The house! The water! My God the theme of water in both of your lives. WOW! The little notes he left behind! The kindness of Donna and Bill! Especially Donna. She knew how important it was for you to see Charlie's house regardless of the state it was going to be in when you all arrived. I'm so glad she insisted. I am in a glass case of emotion. The way in which Charlie weaved his magic throughout his time on earth for you to discover after his physical departure. As if his cells and highest self knew that you were out there and would one day answer the tug of your silver cord that binds you to one another. 🥹 I could burst from the aching beauty of it all. I'm so grateful that you've created this space because even though the memoir is coming to a close, your story still goes on and hopefully we will get glimpses of it here.
“Once erased by a massive force of water, is Charlie now tidying up loose ends?”
I believe you are tidying loose ends together, as you have done from the very beginning, guided but the force of that which took him, that which now threatens all physical remains… that on which you have floated and floundered uncontrollably for so many long long days.
But Kimberly, oh my heart feels so selfishly sad, I don’t want this to be so, I don’t want this story to end so finally and I wonder if perhaps, even now, there is more?
Because loose ends have a habit of becoming loose again….
“Let go” - at this the damn breaks…
Selfishly I hope for more while selflessly I hope that letting go is not too painful for you. Either way, because your words wrap us so entirely into your story, there will be tears from me… always with love xxx
Kim, those last two words hit me this morning like a wrecking ball. Phrases like "let go" and "just be" have become increasingly commonplace in cultural vernacular, which is a good thing, but repetition always risks raw sacredness. The way you lead the reader back to those words from the chapter title is sacred.
AND - so happy and heartened to see more people finding and being moved by your work.
It’s amazing how these different synchronicities with all these different strangers occurred at this time in your life. And it even better that you were open and perceptive enough to appreciate it. :)
Oh, your words are so poignant...
I take it all in under a gentle autumn sun while wrens trill indifference.
Can grief and awe, bewilderment and wonderment exist within one moment? My brain short-circuits trying to process the argument of emotion.
Stunning. Every word.
I've got goosebumps. Seeing what Charlie created and also being there to witness the letting go. A memorial like no other. What serendipity. Water sure is a major theme in your life.
As I write this, I'm staring out at the ocean in front of me. I chose a home on the water. I felt pulled to it. Water is a major theme in mine as well, but for wholly different reasons. I'm trying to piece them together at the moment. For me, it is healing. The healing power of my morning ocean dips and being able to get lost in watching the water in my backyard shift and change. Evolving every day and moment by moment. I marvel at the peace of it, and the tempest when she rises. Accepting all of it with wonder and a huge dose of gratefulness. xo
reading your story is easier than falling off a log and this portion is so poetically artfully framed
ahhh the bald eagle! i long for my Baraga Mi. place and the return soon to work more on it and the turkey deer the wild all around...maybe the winter there... and found Rush Creek just now on satellite map as i always return that way and veer off in exploration but never that far over by Mississippi river
"Let go." How hard it is, how key it is, how wise and moving this chapter is, lovely Kimberly!
Wow, the symmetry of this real life story proves that life truly is stranger than fiction. What a journey this has been. I’m so happy you decided to bring us all along.
This is an incredible turn/ development of events. In the final paragraph it's like all those symptoms of dizziness are showing themselves as what they have been all along... "And Charlie, carried in on the same elemental power that took him away, offers his final epitaph... just water"
These monumental moments to let-go of attachments, making peace with it, and welcoming a new era. I could sense grief, despair, and relief. Beautifully written!