20 Comments

I started listening to this, and had no idea where it was going. You dip in and out of so many moments across the span of your life, it’s at once dizzying and perfectly emotionally logical. As you kept going, I found I was right there with you. I also grew up in a place with icy hills we called ski slopes because we’d never skied on a real mountain. Boone, North Carolina. You captured the essence of the longing I feel about my childhood in that rural place, and that ache of first love that never seems to leave us.

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Beautifully put, Ben. “Emotional logic” is definitely my MO. I’m so glad it resonated, there’s something about those fierce little slopes. 🤝

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Wow, a stunning, stunning post! I’ve been waiting a while to read this as it’s a long one, but your beautiful butterfly post this morning was the catalyst for me to make a brew and and fly down those frozen slopes right alongside you. ⛷️ Another awesome read. ♥️

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You’re too kind Rebecca. Thank you, I’m so glad you liked it! 🙏

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“Mountains shatter too. They get pushed up to impossible heights — and eventually stop growing. Tectonic plates shift and the world moves on.” You write like Robert Macfarlane ❤️

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Oh Chloe 🫠 you know what to say to make a gal melt. If only... but thank you darling, you’re far too kind.

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‘Tis true, ‘tis true...😘

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There is no more satisfying feeling than turning to some snoot trying to keep up with you doing something you've been doing since you were a kid and saying, "Ha! What a lark! Are you having hard time? I'm just warming up." GO Jill!

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It was so satisfying. Am I a horrible person? I really wasn’t expecting it. I raced that day in my hoodie. She had a skintight Lycra suit 🤷🏻‍♀️ I must find the pictures, always get a little warm tummy glow when I look at them. 🥰

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I've been looking forward to reading this since I saw Miter's note about this earlier. It far exceeded my high expectations! My only regret is that I read it after I already scheduled my post for tomorrow and I don't have enough time to go and make it better. Your wonderful writing makes me want to keep reading your work forever while also forcing me to improve my own prose.

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I grew up skiing in California ⛷ and there is nothing I like better than to cruise down a pillowy mountain of snow. It fells like floating through clouds. You do it over and over again all day long. 🤗

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It will always be Willard MOUNTAIN to me.

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Multiply a cliffhanger. Again! Beautiful ride, in and out. Also again. Bravo

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Thanks Kenneth ❤️🙏

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Sorry for the awkwardness, friend! I was excited to comment about skiing and Colorado, but I actually don't have that much to say. I'll come back after I feel less embarrassed... hahaha

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You have nothing to be embarrassed about!! Oh god, the awkwardness is a contagion and it’s spreading... I’m so sorry

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All good!! It's awkward turtles all the way down.

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Wow. You always leave us with so many questions! I'm gripped by a little sadness, you made it to the centre Jill, that is so rare. I have to know why you didn't stay. What happened, what brought you here into our lives? Let's go skiing!

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Also! Yes to skiing! Sit-skiing is a thing, you’d love it. I’ll enlist Helen. She would hate the chairlifts though (they go up high)

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Not to give the game away too much but I’ve already foreshadowed what happened in a much earlier piece... https://open.substack.com/pub/lifelitter/p/18-pebbles-in-the-river?r=1nbhmt&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post

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