Thank you so much. I was just wondering what quote I would use for my monthly column in our little free monthly magazine. I'd like to use your quote about feeling tight and then feeling broken open. It's a big theme of mine.
I will. Thank you. I write a column called Random Acts of Community for the North Columbia Monthly. Should I send a link through this spot? It’ll come out on June 1.
"How can I feel anything but tenderness for all of these people?" I find myself tearing up over the smallest things these days--tenderness is just the right word. For people, for early morning light, for the moonrise, for our aging cat, for my neices and nephews. For so many little and big moments, people, things. Thank you.
Beautiful, Rob. Interesting what you say about Londoners saying sorry a lot, because as a New Zealander I find them far less apologetic than my own countryfolk (I just got here, less than a week ago). One other thing I notice strongly when moving through public space is the lack of eye contact: New Zealanders generally greet or acknowledge each other, if it's two people passing they might even greet each other aloud! Maybe this is where the idea comes from that New Zealanders are friendly & Londoners unfriendly. I haven't found them unfriendly, most of them will respond willingly to a conversational gambit— they just don't tend to look at each other if they don't have to.
Thank you, Rosie, that’s very kind. I love to hear how you’re finding it there. Interesting that you find the English less apologetic than back home in NZ. Many of the folks on my train may have been commuters from outside of London, or maybe I just got a particularly apologetic train, I don’t know! Either way, I hope you settle in well and that things go well for you there. London is such an amazing city.
I can't tell you how much I enjoy your writing. It is so human and so real, encapsulating so many facets of this wild, magical, mysterious and ordinary human experience. I felt a deep recognition with so many of the feelings you experience in this piece and it also made me laugh out loud a few times which is always such a treat. Thank you.
What a comment to receive, thank you, Elizabeth. I’m so thrilled to hear all of this. Deep recognition and laughter are the very best things I could hope for. I appreciate you.
Terrific, Rob, and you know our tendency toward and facility for apologizing has been on my mind. I appreciate that your version widens the lens and also looks at cultural influences. Next, we can both explore the sorry-not-sorry trend. 😅
Thank you, Elizabeth. It’s so good to know this has been on your mind, and that the ending landed with the hopefulness I intended (while recognizing there’s still so, so much work to be done.) I really appreciate your reading, and leaving such a lovely comment.
Love this Rob … along the same lines when someone stops for you at a pedestrian crossing and you wave and burst in to a trot as if to say I’m really sorry for you having to stop but I’m trying not to delay you any further. I know I do this all the time!
This passage: ‘…I sometimes feel small and clenched, bracing against all this lost. Other times I feel utterly cracked open…’ brought tears to my eyes. Exactly how I feel. So beautiful, the whole piece, thank you.
When I hold your concluding thought, I'm not flustered by those "for fuck's sake" moments. But I tend to forget. Thanks for the reminder, Rob. Most people are trying to do their best, often under circumstances we can't imagine.
I’m always so pleased to see your name pop up, Rona, and ever grateful for your kind words. There’s no shortage of “for fuck’s sake” moments, that’s for sure. I try to remember, too.
Exquisite, my friend. Poignant as always and had me laughing quite a bit at the beginning.
"people just wanting things to continue smoothly in our mutual space" is the best explanation/recognition I've heard for all the little apologies that scaffold human interaction.
I feel like EMS gives people a particular appreciation for impermanence. Walking past cemeteries sure does that, too. It is still hard to remember sometimes, isn’t it? Like you, I love waking up each morning. I try to stop for just a couple seconds, sitting on the side of the bed, and say the names of some friends I’ve lost, and my parents. Anyway, I’m very grateful for your thoughtful response, as always.
Like the Kiwi I found that the Londener's didn't apologize near as much as a Canadian would. But I did find they (especially the young) were very quick to jump up on the tube and let me and my cane/boot/broken leg sit down.
And yes life is fleeting. Too often people fail to notice the little things each day that we should be grateful for. Even if it is the clean up boy in the produce aisle!
When I lived in San Francisco I used to say “thank you” at the end of each day - thank you to the 800,000 other people living in SF (and countless others commuting in) who all worked together, even while doing our own separate things, to get thru the day safely and successfully as a city and community.
Thank you so much. I was just wondering what quote I would use for my monthly column in our little free monthly magazine. I'd like to use your quote about feeling tight and then feeling broken open. It's a big theme of mine.
Of course, I’d be thrilled. Thank you so much, Stine. I’d love to read your column when it’s published, so please let me know.
I will. Thank you. I write a column called Random Acts of Community for the North Columbia Monthly. Should I send a link through this spot? It’ll come out on June 1.
Yes, that’s excellent, thank you.
"How can I feel anything but tenderness for all of these people?" I find myself tearing up over the smallest things these days--tenderness is just the right word. For people, for early morning light, for the moonrise, for our aging cat, for my neices and nephews. For so many little and big moments, people, things. Thank you.
This is so lovely, thank you, Barbara. All of those things.
Beautiful, Rob. Interesting what you say about Londoners saying sorry a lot, because as a New Zealander I find them far less apologetic than my own countryfolk (I just got here, less than a week ago). One other thing I notice strongly when moving through public space is the lack of eye contact: New Zealanders generally greet or acknowledge each other, if it's two people passing they might even greet each other aloud! Maybe this is where the idea comes from that New Zealanders are friendly & Londoners unfriendly. I haven't found them unfriendly, most of them will respond willingly to a conversational gambit— they just don't tend to look at each other if they don't have to.
Thank you, Rosie, that’s very kind. I love to hear how you’re finding it there. Interesting that you find the English less apologetic than back home in NZ. Many of the folks on my train may have been commuters from outside of London, or maybe I just got a particularly apologetic train, I don’t know! Either way, I hope you settle in well and that things go well for you there. London is such an amazing city.
I can't tell you how much I enjoy your writing. It is so human and so real, encapsulating so many facets of this wild, magical, mysterious and ordinary human experience. I felt a deep recognition with so many of the feelings you experience in this piece and it also made me laugh out loud a few times which is always such a treat. Thank you.
What a comment to receive, thank you, Elizabeth. I’m so thrilled to hear all of this. Deep recognition and laughter are the very best things I could hope for. I appreciate you.
Terrific, Rob, and you know our tendency toward and facility for apologizing has been on my mind. I appreciate that your version widens the lens and also looks at cultural influences. Next, we can both explore the sorry-not-sorry trend. 😅
Your ending here is so hopeful. Thank you.
Thank you, Elizabeth. It’s so good to know this has been on your mind, and that the ending landed with the hopefulness I intended (while recognizing there’s still so, so much work to be done.) I really appreciate your reading, and leaving such a lovely comment.
Love this Rob … along the same lines when someone stops for you at a pedestrian crossing and you wave and burst in to a trot as if to say I’m really sorry for you having to stop but I’m trying not to delay you any further. I know I do this all the time!
Yes, I love this, and do it, too.
This passage: ‘…I sometimes feel small and clenched, bracing against all this lost. Other times I feel utterly cracked open…’ brought tears to my eyes. Exactly how I feel. So beautiful, the whole piece, thank you.
Milda, I feel so uplifted and encouraged reading this, thank you. It’s a real joy to hear this from you. I appreciate you!
Gorgeous writing. I know those feelings of awe and wonder and minutes later being a "separate person" again.
Thank you, Sophie. I so appreciate the kind words. I’m really glad to know this landed.
When I hold your concluding thought, I'm not flustered by those "for fuck's sake" moments. But I tend to forget. Thanks for the reminder, Rob. Most people are trying to do their best, often under circumstances we can't imagine.
I’m always so pleased to see your name pop up, Rona, and ever grateful for your kind words. There’s no shortage of “for fuck’s sake” moments, that’s for sure. I try to remember, too.
I love how you make a little trip to a grocery store so enjoyable to read Rob!
Thanks so much, Istiaq. That means a lot, coming from you. I’m looking forward to reading your latest from Dhaka.
Exquisite, my friend. Poignant as always and had me laughing quite a bit at the beginning.
"people just wanting things to continue smoothly in our mutual space" is the best explanation/recognition I've heard for all the little apologies that scaffold human interaction.
Thanks so much, brother.
“Impermanence “ that is the word that sums it up. The word that unknowingly causes anxiety.
I’m reminded of this everyday when I pass 2 nearby cemeteries full of mementos made of stone but no people.
It should give us freedom to do better, to do something. But each of us don’t really think we’re impermanent.
I love waking up each morning.
I also love my wife’s T-Shirt that says “ Sorry,not sorry “.
Thanks for your writings.
I feel like EMS gives people a particular appreciation for impermanence. Walking past cemeteries sure does that, too. It is still hard to remember sometimes, isn’t it? Like you, I love waking up each morning. I try to stop for just a couple seconds, sitting on the side of the bed, and say the names of some friends I’ve lost, and my parents. Anyway, I’m very grateful for your thoughtful response, as always.
Like the Kiwi I found that the Londener's didn't apologize near as much as a Canadian would. But I did find they (especially the young) were very quick to jump up on the tube and let me and my cane/boot/broken leg sit down.
And yes life is fleeting. Too often people fail to notice the little things each day that we should be grateful for. Even if it is the clean up boy in the produce aisle!
This was wonderful! Thank you!
✨💕💕
Thank you, Sandy. I appreciate the kind words.
When I lived in San Francisco I used to say “thank you” at the end of each day - thank you to the 800,000 other people living in SF (and countless others commuting in) who all worked together, even while doing our own separate things, to get thru the day safely and successfully as a city and community.
I love this, jcp, thank you. What a beautiful way to end the day. I’m a sucker for a collectivist mindset.
What a beautiful sentiment.
Thanks so much, Christine.