Thank you, thank you, thank you Cherales…I hope that covers all the lovely things you have written in response to my post. You’ve put a wry grin on my face too, so thank you for sharing yours with me.
And yes…I hope your weekend is full of goodness, as you are ♥️
More, more than welcome. What an odd place this Substack world is, glad I found it, glad you're all in it too. As for 'full of goodness'? I think you meant to say 'chocolate and wine', but it's fine, I'll settle for goodness too! :)
Beautiful! That may not be the right word to describe this post, but your feelings and heartache, and getting to know about Dom just a little, came full circle in this. I am your sister in losing a son, and I hear you and I feel you. Thank you for allowing me to share these moments with you.
Oh Joann, that’s such a lovely response to my post. It is so helpful knowing that we are not alone, that what we are experiencing (although so much of it is very hard) we do so alongside others. Love and appreciation back to you 🤗
I agree that it’s important that you’re in the frame. It’s annoying to try and take a photo of art with glass on it and keep yourself/other things out of the reflection. But in this case, it just seems so right. And it’s so good that you’re recognize your feelings and where you are and are taking care of yourself. I love that you made yourself a banana omelette. Sending you hugs.
Such a lovely post, thank you Esther ♥️ thank you for sharing your memories and your reflections. Glad you're being conscious of where you're at and remembering to take care of yourself. The "defragmentation" metaphor has got my mind whirring around how this can be applied to my life and to organisations and social movements. I think about that poster a lot, and Dom's attempts to restart that group virtually in the pandemic. It's heartbreakingly inspiring to me. I also think about his approach to food a lot. I remember him bringing food to my bedroom when I was feeling low, and talking about how, often the best thing you can do when someone is struggling is just to feed them. That's something I've taken forward in my life in a big way. I've recently started making big meals for my local community every Monday evening, which has been an incredibly nourishing experience. I wish it's something I could share with Dom - the meals have been decent enough but missing a certain level of creative inspiration which is something I'm certain he would have been delighted to bring. Thanks for sharing that lovely photo of him and Caitlin 🥰 thinking of you through these weeks, sending love xxx
Oh Ell, I cannot tell you how lovely it was to see this message from you! You’re so right, Dom would have been hugely enthusiastic about those community meals you’re making…it feels to me that whenever anyone does anything inspired by the things he valued, it keeps Dom in the world. And that is a very precious thing to me.
Glad the defragmentation metaphor struck a chord…and that you like the photos…the flyer (so very Dom) and him and Caitlin. I so miss Dom, and always will. Thank you so much for bringing a bit of him back to me…means a great deal xxx
Bless you Lou, I’m really glad my posts are ‘speaking to you’ (as they say!) Yes…the omelette was delicious…a healthy (ish!) treat. Right back at you with that love 🤗 xx
I am glad you left your reflection in the photo. Grief changes, yet is always there. Sonny sounds so delightful and appreciative the synchronicity of his birthday. A banana omelette does sound divine.
Reading your thoughts helps with being in this club none of us ever wanted to join.
Thank you Majorie, as ever you have made me feel so supported. Yes, the banana omelette hit the spot. One mashed up banana and one egg, two tablespoons porridge oats. Fry in oil then turn (gently or it falls apart!) and make sure you think of our two keen chefs, Dom and Alyssa, as you eat it! 🤗
I was sat here in a slightly low mood and now find myself with a small wry grin.
Your latest post popped up just as I was getting ready to put my phone away to spend the rest of the afternoon out and about.
At the risk of repeating myself, I’m very likely to have said before that my reason for coming to Substack was to simply share some simple poetry and at the same time delete my multiple social media accounts.
I’ve since been able to pretty much do both.
However, what I never counted on, was my being drawn in to the sometimes heartbreakingly difficult worlds of those who, on first reading, have seen their own families and friends treated so unkindly by our shared world.
Yet, through their own grace, love and kindness - and that of the clearly lovely people in their ‘real’ day to day lives too - these ‘anonymous internet strangers’ end up shining some light and kindness on the darkness in our own travails.
Yup, all this and word travail are directed at you.
Thank you!
(I’ve not spent as much time as I wanted on Substack but that last word has recently stuck in my head with a smile - travails - perfect)
The wry grin?
It’s there for reasons two fold, because in addition, your post today doesn’t feel to me to be an uneasy read, rather, your writing seemed to me to be a welcoming of hope for you and yours - as much as for the rest of us.
Thanks again then for sharing as you do, it gives hope in ways I don’t otherwise want to always explain.
Sorry, the other, second reason for the wry grin?
Whilst at first I was trying to reply by matching the poignancy of your writing, I feel sadly to no avail, I quickly decided the best ‘thank you’ I could send was to a simply sign off blowing soft raspberries to you and yours - and your hopeful, hope-filled loving tale.
Here’s to a lovely, long weekend for us all,
Best wishes,
Cherales
PS
Banana omelettes?
Oh dear, that’s my weekend absolutely and completely now ruined, as that’s all I want to eat for the next few days!
I’m very moved by your response to my writing Emm. And emboldened to keep showing up and being truthful to myself and my son. Thank you so much for encouraging me to keep going too x
Thank you, thank you, thank you Cherales…I hope that covers all the lovely things you have written in response to my post. You’ve put a wry grin on my face too, so thank you for sharing yours with me.
And yes…I hope your weekend is full of goodness, as you are ♥️
More, more than welcome. What an odd place this Substack world is, glad I found it, glad you're all in it too. As for 'full of goodness'? I think you meant to say 'chocolate and wine', but it's fine, I'll settle for goodness too! :)
Beautiful! That may not be the right word to describe this post, but your feelings and heartache, and getting to know about Dom just a little, came full circle in this. I am your sister in losing a son, and I hear you and I feel you. Thank you for allowing me to share these moments with you.
Oh Joann, that’s such a lovely response to my post. It is so helpful knowing that we are not alone, that what we are experiencing (although so much of it is very hard) we do so alongside others. Love and appreciation back to you 🤗
Thank you for sharing this memory of Dom and the banana omelette recipe. I think I will try making it in the morning.
I agree that it’s important that you’re in the frame. It’s annoying to try and take a photo of art with glass on it and keep yourself/other things out of the reflection. But in this case, it just seems so right. And it’s so good that you’re recognize your feelings and where you are and are taking care of yourself. I love that you made yourself a banana omelette. Sending you hugs.
Thank you Lisa, smiling as I read this 🤗
Such a lovely post, thank you Esther ♥️ thank you for sharing your memories and your reflections. Glad you're being conscious of where you're at and remembering to take care of yourself. The "defragmentation" metaphor has got my mind whirring around how this can be applied to my life and to organisations and social movements. I think about that poster a lot, and Dom's attempts to restart that group virtually in the pandemic. It's heartbreakingly inspiring to me. I also think about his approach to food a lot. I remember him bringing food to my bedroom when I was feeling low, and talking about how, often the best thing you can do when someone is struggling is just to feed them. That's something I've taken forward in my life in a big way. I've recently started making big meals for my local community every Monday evening, which has been an incredibly nourishing experience. I wish it's something I could share with Dom - the meals have been decent enough but missing a certain level of creative inspiration which is something I'm certain he would have been delighted to bring. Thanks for sharing that lovely photo of him and Caitlin 🥰 thinking of you through these weeks, sending love xxx
Oh Ell, I cannot tell you how lovely it was to see this message from you! You’re so right, Dom would have been hugely enthusiastic about those community meals you’re making…it feels to me that whenever anyone does anything inspired by the things he valued, it keeps Dom in the world. And that is a very precious thing to me.
Glad the defragmentation metaphor struck a chord…and that you like the photos…the flyer (so very Dom) and him and Caitlin. I so miss Dom, and always will. Thank you so much for bringing a bit of him back to me…means a great deal xxx
Sending love Esther. 💞🙏
Rea 🙏♥️
Thankyou for sharing Esther. I am finding your words very moving and thought provoking. Every day I am thankful for what I have.
I hope you enjoyed your banana omelette? Sending love xx
Bless you Lou, I’m really glad my posts are ‘speaking to you’ (as they say!) Yes…the omelette was delicious…a healthy (ish!) treat. Right back at you with that love 🤗 xx
Thank you always for sharing. I'm so glad you took time to take care of yourself this week. Happy Easter!
thank you so much Hannah! And to you x
Thank you!
I am glad you left your reflection in the photo. Grief changes, yet is always there. Sonny sounds so delightful and appreciative the synchronicity of his birthday. A banana omelette does sound divine.
Reading your thoughts helps with being in this club none of us ever wanted to join.
The riper the better (the banana, as in life 🤪)
Thank you Majorie, as ever you have made me feel so supported. Yes, the banana omelette hit the spot. One mashed up banana and one egg, two tablespoons porridge oats. Fry in oil then turn (gently or it falls apart!) and make sure you think of our two keen chefs, Dom and Alyssa, as you eat it! 🤗
Thank you so much for sharing as you do.
I was sat here in a slightly low mood and now find myself with a small wry grin.
Your latest post popped up just as I was getting ready to put my phone away to spend the rest of the afternoon out and about.
At the risk of repeating myself, I’m very likely to have said before that my reason for coming to Substack was to simply share some simple poetry and at the same time delete my multiple social media accounts.
I’ve since been able to pretty much do both.
However, what I never counted on, was my being drawn in to the sometimes heartbreakingly difficult worlds of those who, on first reading, have seen their own families and friends treated so unkindly by our shared world.
Yet, through their own grace, love and kindness - and that of the clearly lovely people in their ‘real’ day to day lives too - these ‘anonymous internet strangers’ end up shining some light and kindness on the darkness in our own travails.
Yup, all this and word travail are directed at you.
Thank you!
(I’ve not spent as much time as I wanted on Substack but that last word has recently stuck in my head with a smile - travails - perfect)
The wry grin?
It’s there for reasons two fold, because in addition, your post today doesn’t feel to me to be an uneasy read, rather, your writing seemed to me to be a welcoming of hope for you and yours - as much as for the rest of us.
Thanks again then for sharing as you do, it gives hope in ways I don’t otherwise want to always explain.
Sorry, the other, second reason for the wry grin?
Whilst at first I was trying to reply by matching the poignancy of your writing, I feel sadly to no avail, I quickly decided the best ‘thank you’ I could send was to a simply sign off blowing soft raspberries to you and yours - and your hopeful, hope-filled loving tale.
Here’s to a lovely, long weekend for us all,
Best wishes,
Cherales
PS
Banana omelettes?
Oh dear, that’s my weekend absolutely and completely now ruined, as that’s all I want to eat for the next few days!
Oh that’s lovely…I hope you enjoy it! X
I’m very moved by your response to my writing Emm. And emboldened to keep showing up and being truthful to myself and my son. Thank you so much for encouraging me to keep going too x