You were and still are cute as a button and I love that you took a frog from your eighth grade biology class and named him Kermie! 💕 What an endearing thoughtful piece. I don’t really have many memories of Thanksgiving growing up just bits and pieces, left overs if you will some good some not. Happy Thanksgiving Louise 🍁💕
Happy Thanksgiving to you too. Kermie was awesome. I refused to dissect him in biology and Mrs. Highland let me keep him. Do they do that anymore in school? He had my own old Barbie furniture and a big tank. I eventually released him on the canal behind our house, I think, before college. Poor guy. I’m thinking of you. I have a gap in memories around some trauma that I went through in middle school and some craziness in 2nd and 3rd grade (ish). It’s weird how the mind protects. Sending love. See you in class. 🥰 ❤️
What are those things we don’t say, right? Thank you, Jill. I’m sending you peace and love this Thanksgiving and enjoy your family. Hug those kiddos. 🥰
Your writing makes me feel so much, like I'm there with you. Your mind is a pensive place to be. Beautiful too, so beautiful. Sometimes you bring to light some remembrances similar to my own experiences. This piece really matters to me like that. Love you, Louise.
You were "cute as a button!" I still remember your bedroom and your dollhouse. I always envied your toys, you had a basement full of babydoll stuff that I loved and wanted so badly. But you were the cowgirl that could care less! I even remember the dog bed in your parents room where Muffet & Lucy slept, I wished our dog slept inside. I remember the giant Steve Miller wall artin Will's room and when girls from Will's high school class tee-peed the big tree in your front yard! It was CRAZY full of toilet paper, I've never seen anything like it! I always thought they did that because Will was so handsome! And I was so shocked & saddened when you moved in high school. That was a good house, warm and cozy. But then we all adored the new house so much and built new memories there. I miss visiting you and your family there. Both feel like Louise to me when I drive by to see my dad, both feel like home. Happy Thanksgiving, I am grateful we are still "Besties" after all these years.
I am so grateful too. I love this note. We have that Steve Miller band in our garage now -we call it the Steve Miller studio where Bill works. So crazy all these memories. You thought of a lot. That doll house was made by my uncle Fred and my aunt Alice- he made it himself by hand and they decorated it with things from their own house/wallpaper, etc. I loved it. You know me though. I ended up giving it to Stephanie‘s daughter when she was born, my little cousin. So it’s still in the family. Isn’t that crazy? Oh my God, so many memories on Vine and Race. I think of your Dad all time the in your house - I miss it. Sending love to you all on Thanksgiving. You and your wonderful family… we adore you all. So blessed we are still besties after all these years too. Big time! 😭 🥰
Having been born on Thanksgiving, I've always had a direct connection with the day that most others I've known don't.
I also, like you, used to hide in, or simply spend time in, the small spaces. I loved to sit under the roll-top desk that my mom kept in the kitchen for a work space and storage. It was a kitchen originally built in the late 1800s and those didn't really have counters. I also used to hide under the farmhouse sink. It had a curtain across it so I could go under there and no one could see me. There were quite a lot of spaces like that in the house we lived in when I was little. I think they must have felt safe to me and my likely disregulated nervous system.
Aw. Cary. I love this. Happy early birthday. I bet you do have that connection!
I hear you. The deregulated system. I always wanted to be outside or in a hiding spot. Still sort of do. Cozy corners and away from people- not as much now with being away from people. Dis-regulated for sure. My husband asked me if I ever slept thought the night (I haven’t as long as he has known me). I don’t think I have- at least I couldn’t think of a night. Sending some early bday love!❤️
Great reflections and retelling of your story! Many things I can relate to in your stories! and especially liked the part about grace and offering it to ourselves as well as other.... also, "Maybe it was a gift, I am trying to see all perspectives now." That is a pearl of wisdom! Thank you for your pictures with works!
Thank you for Grace. It’s given me a lot to ponder this Thanksgiving. I was reminded of the huge Thanksgiving dinners we used to have at the farm. There were eight adults and 13 children necessitating a table (several, actually) that spanned two rooms. It was so much fun for us kids but so much work for the adults. One thing I’ve always been grateful for is that I’ve never had to experience that outlier relative, the one who drinks too much and then starts arguments or worse. We’ve always just been able to enjoy each other and appreciate being able to spend time together. The older I get the more important those opportunities become. Happy Thanksgiving and so looking forward to Christmas!
Thank you for this beautiful reply. I love hearing about your childhood-so neat. I can picture it. I don’t think we ever had an outlier either at Thanksgiving (that I know of). We did have a guest that my dad invited once, a man who was down and out in the neighborhood, and I remember there being some dramatic fireworks there. I think at the time I thought it was funny. Or fun? Anyway, can’t wait to see you at Christmas too. Love you.🥰
You were and still are cute as a button and I love that you took a frog from your eighth grade biology class and named him Kermie! 💕 What an endearing thoughtful piece. I don’t really have many memories of Thanksgiving growing up just bits and pieces, left overs if you will some good some not. Happy Thanksgiving Louise 🍁💕
Happy Thanksgiving to you too. Kermie was awesome. I refused to dissect him in biology and Mrs. Highland let me keep him. Do they do that anymore in school? He had my own old Barbie furniture and a big tank. I eventually released him on the canal behind our house, I think, before college. Poor guy. I’m thinking of you. I have a gap in memories around some trauma that I went through in middle school and some craziness in 2nd and 3rd grade (ish). It’s weird how the mind protects. Sending love. See you in class. 🥰 ❤️
What ARE the things we don't say? Lots.
Beautiful 'picture' of your family.. both in the writing and photos.
Happy Thanksgiving my wonderful friend. Peace.
Jill xxx
What are those things we don’t say, right? Thank you, Jill. I’m sending you peace and love this Thanksgiving and enjoy your family. Hug those kiddos. 🥰
Your writing makes me feel so much, like I'm there with you. Your mind is a pensive place to be. Beautiful too, so beautiful. Sometimes you bring to light some remembrances similar to my own experiences. This piece really matters to me like that. Love you, Louise.
Mary. This was so beautiful. Thank you for sharing with me. Love you too and I am glad it matters to you. This means so much!
I love this, Louise! Just beautiful! Happy Thanksgiving to you and Bill!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Paul. Love you guys so much -Thank you!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and Bill, too! Love you guys too!
You were "cute as a button!" I still remember your bedroom and your dollhouse. I always envied your toys, you had a basement full of babydoll stuff that I loved and wanted so badly. But you were the cowgirl that could care less! I even remember the dog bed in your parents room where Muffet & Lucy slept, I wished our dog slept inside. I remember the giant Steve Miller wall artin Will's room and when girls from Will's high school class tee-peed the big tree in your front yard! It was CRAZY full of toilet paper, I've never seen anything like it! I always thought they did that because Will was so handsome! And I was so shocked & saddened when you moved in high school. That was a good house, warm and cozy. But then we all adored the new house so much and built new memories there. I miss visiting you and your family there. Both feel like Louise to me when I drive by to see my dad, both feel like home. Happy Thanksgiving, I am grateful we are still "Besties" after all these years.
I am so grateful too. I love this note. We have that Steve Miller band in our garage now -we call it the Steve Miller studio where Bill works. So crazy all these memories. You thought of a lot. That doll house was made by my uncle Fred and my aunt Alice- he made it himself by hand and they decorated it with things from their own house/wallpaper, etc. I loved it. You know me though. I ended up giving it to Stephanie‘s daughter when she was born, my little cousin. So it’s still in the family. Isn’t that crazy? Oh my God, so many memories on Vine and Race. I think of your Dad all time the in your house - I miss it. Sending love to you all on Thanksgiving. You and your wonderful family… we adore you all. So blessed we are still besties after all these years too. Big time! 😭 🥰
I enjoyed your Thanksgiving thoughts Louise!
Having been born on Thanksgiving, I've always had a direct connection with the day that most others I've known don't.
I also, like you, used to hide in, or simply spend time in, the small spaces. I loved to sit under the roll-top desk that my mom kept in the kitchen for a work space and storage. It was a kitchen originally built in the late 1800s and those didn't really have counters. I also used to hide under the farmhouse sink. It had a curtain across it so I could go under there and no one could see me. There were quite a lot of spaces like that in the house we lived in when I was little. I think they must have felt safe to me and my likely disregulated nervous system.
Aw. Cary. I love this. Happy early birthday. I bet you do have that connection!
I hear you. The deregulated system. I always wanted to be outside or in a hiding spot. Still sort of do. Cozy corners and away from people- not as much now with being away from people. Dis-regulated for sure. My husband asked me if I ever slept thought the night (I haven’t as long as he has known me). I don’t think I have- at least I couldn’t think of a night. Sending some early bday love!❤️
Great reflections and retelling of your story! Many things I can relate to in your stories! and especially liked the part about grace and offering it to ourselves as well as other.... also, "Maybe it was a gift, I am trying to see all perspectives now." That is a pearl of wisdom! Thank you for your pictures with works!
Aw Louisa, thank you! I love your reply and perspective. Missed you in evening yoga tonight. Thankful for you! Grace- yes! 🥰
Thank you for Grace. It’s given me a lot to ponder this Thanksgiving. I was reminded of the huge Thanksgiving dinners we used to have at the farm. There were eight adults and 13 children necessitating a table (several, actually) that spanned two rooms. It was so much fun for us kids but so much work for the adults. One thing I’ve always been grateful for is that I’ve never had to experience that outlier relative, the one who drinks too much and then starts arguments or worse. We’ve always just been able to enjoy each other and appreciate being able to spend time together. The older I get the more important those opportunities become. Happy Thanksgiving and so looking forward to Christmas!
Thank you for this beautiful reply. I love hearing about your childhood-so neat. I can picture it. I don’t think we ever had an outlier either at Thanksgiving (that I know of). We did have a guest that my dad invited once, a man who was down and out in the neighborhood, and I remember there being some dramatic fireworks there. I think at the time I thought it was funny. Or fun? Anyway, can’t wait to see you at Christmas too. Love you.🥰
I’m thankful for all the characters popping in and out of this Substack these past 500 days… https://substack.com/home/post/p-180084496