Frederick, thank you! I cherish your kindness and support. I hope to keep this project alive. It truly is a beloved community. I’m glad you’re along with us on this journey. And yes, this recognition was unexpected and a huge honor. I don’t know if I screamed with joy, but I did scare my cat.🙀
Now that I’ve had my coffee and am relatively awake, I want to go back and add some less perfunctory comments. Victoria, you are doing great work, shining a light on the deficiencies in our caring system. You are so kind and generous. Thank you for being here, part of this community.❤️
Jeffrey, what a difference sleep and coffee make. I’m so honored that you’re here. You do amazing, evocative, and beautifully written work, and are such a huge champion of mine. Your grasp of history and knowledge of place are pure gold. I’m really impressed by your insights into other cultures. Your world happiness work is inspiring. Thank you for being hurt.
Again, Teri: sleep and coffee are the key to everything in life. I’m overwhelmed and grateful for your being here right from the start. I can’t tell you how much that means. You are doing great work with your posts; they are so honest and often bring me to tears. Much more than a disability advocate, you are a beacon of hope. Thank you for shining your light.❤️
Ann, I feel so humbled and grateful. You were one of my first pledged subscribers and your support keeps me moving forward on this journey. Hugs and blessings to you.❤️
And more important, you are a brilliant scholar and writer who has brought so much to the subject of women’s work, the literary and artistic lives. I so enjoy being lost in the archives with you.
And to think I only just came across your work and was introduced to you through https://mmccl.substack.com/p/twist-and-shout-i-told-my-dying-husband which touched me deeply as it must have so many. I can imagine it must be especially meaningful for you to have such an honest and personal piece gain wide recognition. And so inspiring for the rest of us as well!
(Coffee. Sleep. Repeat.) John, I’m honored. My heart is on gratitude overload, but my brain is just slowly coming awake. I’m moved that my work resonates with you. Thank you for sharing it. I’m glad you’re part of this community.
Maya! I can’t thank you enough! I was just delirious with joy when I saw that you’d been kind enough to feature me in your selection. My name next to those Substack powerhouses. This is the biggest honor of my life. Not only that, but over the past several weeks I’ve opened my emails to see that a great number of people came here because of your recommendation. And you’re the inspiration for my poetry. Even though that’s the core of my MFA, I hadn’t written a real poem in years. Maybe decades. Your writing is amazing, as is your teaching. As are you. 🥰🥰🥰
Jenna! History teacher of my dreams. I’m so excited to have you here. I want to sit in your classroom and follow you around on your travels. More cowbell to you.😊📚❤️
Wonderful news, Mary. I am loving the inside track of what this recognition means to you. That badge is super cool too. Well deserved and all the sweeter for the diligence and dedication you put into your work. Brava!
Colleen. My friend and fellow writer. I can’t tell you much you mean to me. I’m constantly amazed at the grace and strength you’ve shown in your difficult journey. So proud to be a part of it. I want everyone reading this to go immediately to @Colleen Burns Durda’s website, and subscribe to @This Side of the Couch. Much love, my friend.💕❤️
I’m so happy to have found you here. And I have found others through your Substack too. Maya is the person I found Substack through after beginning “Wound”. I can’t remember if I found you through comments on one of her posts or if your post showed up on my feed because of “algorithms”. Either way I’m glad I get to read such personal and meaningful posts!
Tara, you are a terrific poet and generous human being. I loved your Posted poem. Can’t believe it was the second one that you’d written. And your Destin’s? I’ve struggled with that form forever. You nailed it. Can’t wait to read more.❤️📚🙏
Sanuj. What can I say. You are a fine writer and compassionate doctor who is willing to share your expertise in a way that speaks to the needs of those, like me, who have little medical knowledge. I keep your stroke essay pinned because it’s so important. Blessings.❤️🙏
That socks poem got me in. I didn’t realize anyone else would relate to socks that way! And as a scientist I usually have some difficulty relating to poetry so I was curious about what you would put out on Substack as a poet. So by signing up as a freebie I figured I could try you out and always unsub if you were too abstruse or difficult for me. And pay if your writing gets me hooked as some mostly political writers like HCR and Joyce Vance and her clarifying dives into today’s major legal quagmires and remarkable chickens do. So far so good. I suspect you well deserve a spotlight.
Marian, thank you so much. I have so much respect for scientists and the often- overlooked work they do. I write about everyday life. I love socks and teakettles and my grandmother’s steamer trunk and butter churn. Maya did a class on stopping for food yesterday. She’s a brilliant teacher. It’s too bad that poetry is seen as lofty and inaccessible, as science is often seen as abstruse. But socks! I believe they speak to us all.
Congratulations! I was delighted to see you featured in the Substack Reads. New to this forum, it was fun to recognize the "sock" piece. And I can't wait to read about lilacs. One of my very favorite signs of spring.
Frederick, thank you! I cherish your kindness and support. I hope to keep this project alive. It truly is a beloved community. I’m glad you’re along with us on this journey. And yes, this recognition was unexpected and a huge honor. I don’t know if I screamed with joy, but I did scare my cat.🙀
Congrats, Mary - well deserved! Twist and Shout is an especially powerful piece that I hope everyone will read.
Thank you, Victoria.❤️
Now that I’ve had my coffee and am relatively awake, I want to go back and add some less perfunctory comments. Victoria, you are doing great work, shining a light on the deficiencies in our caring system. You are so kind and generous. Thank you for being here, part of this community.❤️
That's fabulous news, Mary. And so very richly deserved! 🎉🎉
Thanks, Jeffrey!
Jeffrey, what a difference sleep and coffee make. I’m so honored that you’re here. You do amazing, evocative, and beautifully written work, and are such a huge champion of mine. Your grasp of history and knowledge of place are pure gold. I’m really impressed by your insights into other cultures. Your world happiness work is inspiring. Thank you for being hurt.
Congratulations!
Thank you Teri! I’m so honored and fortunate to have you as one of my first paid subscribers. Your energy keeps me going.❤️
Again, Teri: sleep and coffee are the key to everything in life. I’m overwhelmed and grateful for your being here right from the start. I can’t tell you how much that means. You are doing great work with your posts; they are so honest and often bring me to tears. Much more than a disability advocate, you are a beacon of hope. Thank you for shining your light.❤️
Wow! That is great news, Mary. Warm congratulations on being a featured publication, so well deserved.
Ann, I feel so humbled and grateful. You were one of my first pledged subscribers and your support keeps me moving forward on this journey. Hugs and blessings to you.❤️
And more important, you are a brilliant scholar and writer who has brought so much to the subject of women’s work, the literary and artistic lives. I so enjoy being lost in the archives with you.
I'm so happy for you Mary! ❤️
And to think I only just came across your work and was introduced to you through https://mmccl.substack.com/p/twist-and-shout-i-told-my-dying-husband which touched me deeply as it must have so many. I can imagine it must be especially meaningful for you to have such an honest and personal piece gain wide recognition. And so inspiring for the rest of us as well!
John, thank you so much! I’m glad you’re here. I am grateful for your kindness and support. It means the world to me.
(Coffee. Sleep. Repeat.) John, I’m honored. My heart is on gratitude overload, but my brain is just slowly coming awake. I’m moved that my work resonates with you. Thank you for sharing it. I’m glad you’re part of this community.
This makes me so, so happy, Mary. 💛
Maya! I can’t thank you enough! I was just delirious with joy when I saw that you’d been kind enough to feature me in your selection. My name next to those Substack powerhouses. This is the biggest honor of my life. Not only that, but over the past several weeks I’ve opened my emails to see that a great number of people came here because of your recommendation. And you’re the inspiration for my poetry. Even though that’s the core of my MFA, I hadn’t written a real poem in years. Maybe decades. Your writing is amazing, as is your teaching. As are you. 🥰🥰🥰
Thoroughly deserved Mary! Congratulations 🎉 You are an inspiration here 🙌
Penny, thank you. I’m thrilled you’re part of this community. 💕❤️
Could not have happened to a better writer :)
Jenna! History teacher of my dreams. I’m so excited to have you here. I want to sit in your classroom and follow you around on your travels. More cowbell to you.😊📚❤️
MORE COWBELL! ("clunk, clunk, clunk")
Wonderful news, Mary. I am loving the inside track of what this recognition means to you. That badge is super cool too. Well deserved and all the sweeter for the diligence and dedication you put into your work. Brava!
Colleen. My friend and fellow writer. I can’t tell you much you mean to me. I’m constantly amazed at the grace and strength you’ve shown in your difficult journey. So proud to be a part of it. I want everyone reading this to go immediately to @Colleen Burns Durda’s website, and subscribe to @This Side of the Couch. Much love, my friend.💕❤️
I’m so happy to have found you here. And I have found others through your Substack too. Maya is the person I found Substack through after beginning “Wound”. I can’t remember if I found you through comments on one of her posts or if your post showed up on my feed because of “algorithms”. Either way I’m glad I get to read such personal and meaningful posts!
B W, you are the best. However it is you found me, I’m so grateful that you did.❤️
And let us now praise Maya. Wound is most definitely the origin of wonder. It’s what summons our best selves.
Congratulations, Mary! That's happy news. Enjoy it!💕
Tara, you are a terrific poet and generous human being. I loved your Posted poem. Can’t believe it was the second one that you’d written. And your Destin’s? I’ve struggled with that form forever. You nailed it. Can’t wait to read more.❤️📚🙏
Congrats Mary. Very well deserved!!
Sanuj. What can I say. You are a fine writer and compassionate doctor who is willing to share your expertise in a way that speaks to the needs of those, like me, who have little medical knowledge. I keep your stroke essay pinned because it’s so important. Blessings.❤️🙏
This is great news Mary! Well deserved.
Thank you, Matthew. You’re very generous and kind.❤️
That socks poem got me in. I didn’t realize anyone else would relate to socks that way! And as a scientist I usually have some difficulty relating to poetry so I was curious about what you would put out on Substack as a poet. So by signing up as a freebie I figured I could try you out and always unsub if you were too abstruse or difficult for me. And pay if your writing gets me hooked as some mostly political writers like HCR and Joyce Vance and her clarifying dives into today’s major legal quagmires and remarkable chickens do. So far so good. I suspect you well deserve a spotlight.
Marian, thank you so much. I have so much respect for scientists and the often- overlooked work they do. I write about everyday life. I love socks and teakettles and my grandmother’s steamer trunk and butter churn. Maya did a class on stopping for food yesterday. She’s a brilliant teacher. It’s too bad that poetry is seen as lofty and inaccessible, as science is often seen as abstruse. But socks! I believe they speak to us all.
Congratulations! I was delighted to see you featured in the Substack Reads. New to this forum, it was fun to recognize the "sock" piece. And I can't wait to read about lilacs. One of my very favorite signs of spring.
I’m so glad we found each other, Amy. Substack does not make things easy. I hope to hear more from you. Welcome.❤️