Oh boy. I love this. The story of the tree and it's cabl;es is wonderful. The ash book was really powerful. Lord. I am so glad to be along as you sift through. Amazingh to find things that survived.
Kara this is all made possible by the space you provide, so thank you for all that you do. Glad you are enjoying the ride. This is an ever changing journey for me so there will be plenty to write about for some time. And thank you so much for the restack!
Thank you for sharing these intimate moments with us. It feels so holy to bear witness to all you are going through. I'm so impressed that you can speak to your experiences with such beauty in the midst of tremendous pain.
Christine, I never thought that my training as a spiritual director would someday prove to be invaluable for dealing with my own tragedies. Taking the time to contemplate, to really sit with all the emotions and to be able to speak to others through writing is so so therapeutic and life giving. Thanks for always being here, friend.
Thank you so much, Rona. Writing is my way of being authentic with myself and to anyone else who is listening. Thank you for sharing this journey with us Rona. The emotional swings that my wife and I experience everyday is something I hold, contemplate and try to convey to my readers. We all want to be seen and heard and I’m grateful that you’re seeing us right now.
The calm with which you write, calms me. I can’t imagine what you have been through and I know with certainty that I never want to. I send you blessings from a long long way away, and hope that more treasures will be found.
Thank you so much for being here, Karen. Writing is my refuge right now. This journey my wife and I are on keeps changing and everyday is a mix bag of emotions for us. But just sitting with my thoughts, choosing words to express, feeling the moment, gives me a lot of clarity and I really try to convey that in my sharing. Thank you so much for the blessings. We honestly feel them and appreciate them.
My heart goes out to you and Andrea. I'm so glad to read that you're able to find joy intermingled with the despair. That is so important. Know that you both are in my prayers daily. I am glad to see in the comments that you've found a more permanent place to stay in Glendale. Hugs to you both! ❤️
Thank you so much, Pamela for being here with us. It would be so easy to just stay in a place of misery but there is always hope, everything changes. I am so inspired by you. I know you have you have your own life’s struggles but everyday you share positivity so freely. I so appreciate that about you. We feel all the love and prayers being poured on our lives right now. Thank you so much, friend.
sending love from Oklahoma. my dad is from the Monterey Bay Area of California and my husband's family from Southern California. California is always on our minds in some way.
my dear friend shared your substack with me in November thinking it would be my jam. I love running and I love contemplating...she knows me well. your work is very much my jam :)
I am so heartbroken for you and your lovely wife. but I am also heartfull because in the face of such devastation your love of life experience shines through. you are and have been an inspiration to me these past several weeks, thank you.
Thank you so much for being here JK and I’m so happy the writing resonates and inspires you. I honestly believe that by joining my passion for running with contemplation I am able to have some resilience in these times. Thanks again.
Yes! The tree was a focal point for everyone that frequented or lived at the house. Emily, so many people feel the loss of the tree but I fully intend to carry on its legacy through more writing. Thank you for holding grief with me friend.
Thanks Mela. So happy that you’re along for the journey. Sifting through memories is really difficult for me but it is bringing us some closure for this loss. Hope to be running with you soon, friend.
Steve, what happened to you and Andrea was totally unfathomable. No one ever expected that this could happen and I’m sorry it happened to two such kind, wonderful people ❤️ Thank you for sharing your intimate experience with us. My heart is broken but your words bring hope. I am so glad you both have each other to cry, talk, reminisce, hold and rise from the ashes with….together.
Becky you’re so right, we never expected this to happen but it did. It really is getting better everyday and next week we’re moving to a more permanent place in Glendale. Everyday is filled with ups and downs but it is a journey and I’m going to keep writing about it. Thanks for being such a good friend to us and thank you for reading my stories.
Dearest Steve and Andrea, my love and thoughts are with you, both. Thank you for sharing your raw emotions and your journey forward. Godspeed to you both, and holding you close in thoughts and prayers.
Thank you for being here Janet and thank you so much for the love and support you’re giving us. Honestly, we’re just so grateful for the love being given to us right now.
Ahhh you did it again, friend. I'm tearing up as I write, picturing you sifting, hoping, finding. Treasuring the remains that are intact, while mourning all that you won't find. And that ending. So much love, so much hope, so much wisdom. This, "A word, a phrase, a memory prodded into presence, all of these things can trigger my sadness response. " and this, "the three thieves of joy in life are regret of the past, ingratitude of the present, and fear of the future." I am so glad you have each other and family and friends to take care of you. It's unimaginable that this happened, but the future and what it could bring is also unimaginable and maybe full of joy. 🙏❤️
Thank you for the preciousness of tears, friend. It’s interesting but as we dig, sift, find I really have the opportunity to just sit in the moment and feel all the feels and consider what is really going on. The big takeaway is always the same—gratitude. It could’ve been so much worse but I’m most grateful for the love I’m receiving right now. Thank you always for being here friend. And yes, the unknown future holds so much hope and potential.
Rachel I’m glad you can feel the emotion I’m trying to convey. I hope no one ever has to literally wear the shoes I’m wearing right now. Thank you so much for being here Rachel.
Oh boy. I love this. The story of the tree and it's cabl;es is wonderful. The ash book was really powerful. Lord. I am so glad to be along as you sift through. Amazingh to find things that survived.
Kara this is all made possible by the space you provide, so thank you for all that you do. Glad you are enjoying the ride. This is an ever changing journey for me so there will be plenty to write about for some time. And thank you so much for the restack!
Thank you for sharing these intimate moments with us. It feels so holy to bear witness to all you are going through. I'm so impressed that you can speak to your experiences with such beauty in the midst of tremendous pain.
Christine, I never thought that my training as a spiritual director would someday prove to be invaluable for dealing with my own tragedies. Taking the time to contemplate, to really sit with all the emotions and to be able to speak to others through writing is so so therapeutic and life giving. Thanks for always being here, friend.
A staggering loss described with unflinching honesty. When you wrote of entering the ruins in Hazmat gear, the devastation felt personal.
Thank you so much, Rona. Writing is my way of being authentic with myself and to anyone else who is listening. Thank you for sharing this journey with us Rona. The emotional swings that my wife and I experience everyday is something I hold, contemplate and try to convey to my readers. We all want to be seen and heard and I’m grateful that you’re seeing us right now.
The calm with which you write, calms me. I can’t imagine what you have been through and I know with certainty that I never want to. I send you blessings from a long long way away, and hope that more treasures will be found.
Thank you so much for being here, Karen. Writing is my refuge right now. This journey my wife and I are on keeps changing and everyday is a mix bag of emotions for us. But just sitting with my thoughts, choosing words to express, feeling the moment, gives me a lot of clarity and I really try to convey that in my sharing. Thank you so much for the blessings. We honestly feel them and appreciate them.
My heart goes out to you and Andrea. I'm so glad to read that you're able to find joy intermingled with the despair. That is so important. Know that you both are in my prayers daily. I am glad to see in the comments that you've found a more permanent place to stay in Glendale. Hugs to you both! ❤️
Thank you so much, Pamela for being here with us. It would be so easy to just stay in a place of misery but there is always hope, everything changes. I am so inspired by you. I know you have you have your own life’s struggles but everyday you share positivity so freely. I so appreciate that about you. We feel all the love and prayers being poured on our lives right now. Thank you so much, friend.
Steve, I am inspired by you as well, my friend.
Thank you for your vulnerability in all you share. Know we are all thinking of you continuously. ❤️
Thank you so much Roshni. Truth is the only way to go and if it means being vulnerable well then all the better.
sending love from Oklahoma. my dad is from the Monterey Bay Area of California and my husband's family from Southern California. California is always on our minds in some way.
my dear friend shared your substack with me in November thinking it would be my jam. I love running and I love contemplating...she knows me well. your work is very much my jam :)
I am so heartbroken for you and your lovely wife. but I am also heartfull because in the face of such devastation your love of life experience shines through. you are and have been an inspiration to me these past several weeks, thank you.
Thank you so much for being here JK and I’m so happy the writing resonates and inspires you. I honestly believe that by joining my passion for running with contemplation I am able to have some resilience in these times. Thanks again.
I remember that tree from one of your posts. I'm mourning the loss. Thank you for continuing to share.
Yes! The tree was a focal point for everyone that frequented or lived at the house. Emily, so many people feel the loss of the tree but I fully intend to carry on its legacy through more writing. Thank you for holding grief with me friend.
Writing as a legacy for a tree is wonderful.
Thank you for sharing this journey with us. May the writing help you heal. I hope you will find more treasures. Thinking of you
Thanks Mela. So happy that you’re along for the journey. Sifting through memories is really difficult for me but it is bringing us some closure for this loss. Hope to be running with you soon, friend.
Steve, what happened to you and Andrea was totally unfathomable. No one ever expected that this could happen and I’m sorry it happened to two such kind, wonderful people ❤️ Thank you for sharing your intimate experience with us. My heart is broken but your words bring hope. I am so glad you both have each other to cry, talk, reminisce, hold and rise from the ashes with….together.
Becky you’re so right, we never expected this to happen but it did. It really is getting better everyday and next week we’re moving to a more permanent place in Glendale. Everyday is filled with ups and downs but it is a journey and I’m going to keep writing about it. Thanks for being such a good friend to us and thank you for reading my stories.
Dearest Steve and Andrea, my love and thoughts are with you, both. Thank you for sharing your raw emotions and your journey forward. Godspeed to you both, and holding you close in thoughts and prayers.
Thank you for being here Janet and thank you so much for the love and support you’re giving us. Honestly, we’re just so grateful for the love being given to us right now.
Ahhh you did it again, friend. I'm tearing up as I write, picturing you sifting, hoping, finding. Treasuring the remains that are intact, while mourning all that you won't find. And that ending. So much love, so much hope, so much wisdom. This, "A word, a phrase, a memory prodded into presence, all of these things can trigger my sadness response. " and this, "the three thieves of joy in life are regret of the past, ingratitude of the present, and fear of the future." I am so glad you have each other and family and friends to take care of you. It's unimaginable that this happened, but the future and what it could bring is also unimaginable and maybe full of joy. 🙏❤️
Thank you for the preciousness of tears, friend. It’s interesting but as we dig, sift, find I really have the opportunity to just sit in the moment and feel all the feels and consider what is really going on. The big takeaway is always the same—gratitude. It could’ve been so much worse but I’m most grateful for the love I’m receiving right now. Thank you always for being here friend. And yes, the unknown future holds so much hope and potential.
Thank you for putting us in your shoes. All the feels.
Rachel I’m glad you can feel the emotion I’m trying to convey. I hope no one ever has to literally wear the shoes I’m wearing right now. Thank you so much for being here Rachel.
Breath-taking details so lovingly described.
The resilience and wisdom you both possess is remarkable.
Thank you for sharing your story, Steve and Andrea.
Thinking of you with love.
Thank you so much for your kind words Nina. Being able to lean into the love we’re receiving is what is inspiring us right now. Thank you again, Nina.
Thank you so much for reading and restocking Catherine!