This is an amazing manifesto (and backstory, in brief). So many universal truths within. Losing parents is geologic in scale; I mean, the whole of society advances toward their future when a set of parents dies—it’s huge. I just lost my dad… and I’m leaving on a road trip tomorrow. I find your stories so relatable. Family dynamics are a rich subject to mine. I’m so glad you triumphed. My daughters’ father abandoned us/them. I wonder what they’ll write when they come of age!
Complicated…how profound. Life, death and everything in between isn’t easy. Even when we find our way, our challenges remain. Life is short. My wish for you all is to get out of the fog and follow your dreams!
What a beautiful and well-written piece on what it feels like to be an orphan midlife. Thank you Kelly for sharing this insightful work. I’m sad to say I can relate to all too much of it- especially the biblical passage you quoted, which I deeply appreciate and will be sharing.
Beautiful, profound and thought provoking. It’s interesting to me that children of parents who show no physical love can still have empathy and loving relationships. I wasn’t shown any physical or emotional love. It was all discipline and fear based parenting. Yet, I was able to give my son the opposite upbringing.
So sorry for your loss, Kelly. I had an uncle who used to say “you’re never too old to be an orphan.” For some reason that really stuck with me, maybe because when he said it I was at peak Orphan Annie fan girl age. Texas is my home (for better or worse) and we’re having some lovely weather this week in my area (Austin). I hope it’s a balm for your soul.
Kelly thanks for your deep thinking and for including poetry. I’m also in Texas w daughter and granddaughters for the holiday. In Austin. There is no direct flight from Connecticut so getting here was a pain.
This is an amazing manifesto (and backstory, in brief). So many universal truths within. Losing parents is geologic in scale; I mean, the whole of society advances toward their future when a set of parents dies—it’s huge. I just lost my dad… and I’m leaving on a road trip tomorrow. I find your stories so relatable. Family dynamics are a rich subject to mine. I’m so glad you triumphed. My daughters’ father abandoned us/them. I wonder what they’ll write when they come of age!
So glad it resonates, Michelle! Solidarity. My daughters dads too abandoned them physically absent as mine was emotionally.
Thanks for the Mary Oliver today.
🌻🫶🌻
Complicated…how profound. Life, death and everything in between isn’t easy. Even when we find our way, our challenges remain. Life is short. My wish for you all is to get out of the fog and follow your dreams!
💯❤️🔥
What a beautiful and well-written piece on what it feels like to be an orphan midlife. Thank you Kelly for sharing this insightful work. I’m sad to say I can relate to all too much of it- especially the biblical passage you quoted, which I deeply appreciate and will be sharing.
Thank you for this thoughtful response, Sage!
Beautiful, profound and thought provoking. It’s interesting to me that children of parents who show no physical love can still have empathy and loving relationships. I wasn’t shown any physical or emotional love. It was all discipline and fear based parenting. Yet, I was able to give my son the opposite upbringing.
Thank you Andrea. Yes it’s fascinating. We are each unique in our expression on this planet.
So sorry for your loss, Kelly. I had an uncle who used to say “you’re never too old to be an orphan.” For some reason that really stuck with me, maybe because when he said it I was at peak Orphan Annie fan girl age. Texas is my home (for better or worse) and we’re having some lovely weather this week in my area (Austin). I hope it’s a balm for your soul.
Thank you Kelly! As always, deeply moving, deeply contemplative! ❤️❤️❤️
Glad to be in touch!
Thank you for the shout out, Kelly! And for continuing to speak up for us all.
🌻🫶🌻
Kelly thanks for your deep thinking and for including poetry. I’m also in Texas w daughter and granddaughters for the holiday. In Austin. There is no direct flight from Connecticut so getting here was a pain.
You’re so welcome. Enjoy the holiday. This one feels important.
Thanks for being here 💙
Ditto. Heart to heart.