12 Comments
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Joshua Seiden's avatar

This is so good and beautiful and vulnerable. Thank you for sharing it.

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Kate Culkin's avatar

Thank you for the shoutout Victoria! I loved reading about your process. (Did you know Etta & I have been in a writing group for a few years now? So nice to see us together in this newsletter).

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Victoria Olsen's avatar

I didn’t know til Etta replied but it figures! I’m glad for the serendipity.

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Marnie Mueller's avatar

Beautiful writing, interesting content! And I agree that Kate Culkin's new book is excellent. So proud to know both of you!

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Victoria Olsen's avatar

Thank you, loyal friend!

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Lnakamur's avatar

Yes that part about how we look meaning more than what we think or how we feel. When I got chicken pox my father’s one comment was about the scar not how awful it felt to be sick. He was just trying to help us survive in a world he found to be all about appearances.

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Victoria Olsen's avatar

Yes, I’m having second, third thoughts about that comment of mine. It was also definitely caretaking, after all. I put these things down then want to take them back and modify.

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Etta Madden's avatar

Aweee, thanks so much for the shout out--and how great to be in company with Kate Culkin, a friend and writer I admire so, so much. Her book is amazing, as you mentioned.

But now, my friend, How about we give away Vicky instead? I mean, really? Ouch!

Thanks for sharing such a beautiful piece.

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Victoria Olsen's avatar

Thank you/you're welcome. I'm glad you admire Kate too! Maybe I knew that.

Yeah, I doubt my sisters remember that comment. They were very young. :) And it is funny too.

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Etta Madden's avatar

My 5 siblings always joked that I was adopted. Bad joke. Some jokes aren’t funny, as I tell the guys I have lived with for for decades . . . Anyway, no, you probably didn’t know that I know Kate! Small world!

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Clyde Watson's avatar

Hey Victoria, I love the humor you've imbued this post with -- and the rueful tone vis-a-vis aging, striving, self-questioning. Wonderful read, thanks.

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Victoria Olsen's avatar

Thanks, Clyde! I'm glad I managed the humor because it's a tricky subject. I enjoyed writing it.

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