Thank you for folding Liddy into your life story, Allison, and writing about your feelings so clearly. That was a powerful piece. The ripples of Liddy's influence are many, wide and deep.
I agree that Liddy's life will touch people for many years to come. I hope she would have liked this essay and I regret that I didn't tell her all of these things when she was alive, though I did communicate much of it. Thank you so much for reading! I know that you and Liddy had such a special friendship.
This is so beautiful. I love seeing how writers change those around them, and their words last forever. Thank you for bringing writers together, Allison!
Absolutely. I feel that call every day and some days am brave enough to answer that call. I know you are contributing to the beauty in the world with your lovely poetry and soon-to-be-released memoir!
Oh I am so glad to "know" someone who worked with Liddy at L'Arche. She spoke so highly of her co-workers and friends there. I was actually able to meet Fritz at her celebration of life and felt like I was meeting a celebrity! Thanks for saying hello, Mary.
Dang, Allison. Who among us hasn't asked themselves (or their therapist) these questions: “Who could I have been,” I would ask my therapist, “If I had grappled with all of this sooner, like Liddy has? What could I have made? What could I have done? Who could I have changed? What kind of community could I have built?”
So grateful for you sharing this angst with us and reminding me, through this beautiful piece about a woman I never knew, that we are all in this together, that our struggles are similar and that other people often light the way we can't see ourselves.
Elizabeth, you are so right. I have been amazed by the number of people who have texted me and sent me messages saying that they related so deeply with this essay. Our struggles really are similar, and we are all so much more alike than we are different. It's important to remind ourselves of that everyday.
Thanks so much for reading, and sharing, and for your invaluable support.
I love every minute of this! And not just because you wrote about Liddy, though that is wonderful. But because you totally opened up yourself to us. Thank you for trusting us to do that. And I guess for trusting yourself. I had no idea of your early history with Liddy and that makes it so much more special… And with my one visit to Duke, I can imagine a little bit of both of you being there. 💙💙💙
Thank you so much Vicky It's always nice to know that being vulnerable is worth it. Vulnerability hangovers are real! :) But I am so glad this essay is out in the world, and that it resonated with you. Thank you.
I've been waiting for your essay on Liddy. I know of Liddy because of you, and she enriched my life as well. Thank you for sharing an intimate portrait of yourself, and for introducing me to someone who reminded me how much more vulnerable and real and grounded I can be, every day. My condolences 💜
This is beautiful, Allison. Thank you for writing it. I leaned about Liddy and also learned more about you, and I appreciate both.
Also, these lines from Liddy made me start crying: “I’m telling you, there was so much more bread than there was before! And people gathered on their balconies, to applaud at the sky, to make music together.” (Or maybe it was the sentences together with learning that she died from breast cancer, since my sister was just diagnosed ...) But thank you for this reminder to be alive while we're here and to continue growing and connecting with ourselves and others.
"But I think the lesson that will stick with me the longest is the way she didn’t turn away from reality, or try to “overcome” it with strength, but confronted it bravely and then asked what else was possible, within that reality. She inhabited that unique space of possibility that only opens up to us when we accept what’s actually in front of us, without sugarcoating it, without denying it, without wanting more, without overcoming."
That was such a beautiful tribute to Liddy, Allison. I was deeply touched. Looking forward to your future writing classes.
lovingly,
Joanne
Thank you so much Joanne!
You wrote about Liddy!! ❣️❣️❣️
As Liddy would often say, "LOVE!"
Thank you for folding Liddy into your life story, Allison, and writing about your feelings so clearly. That was a powerful piece. The ripples of Liddy's influence are many, wide and deep.
I agree that Liddy's life will touch people for many years to come. I hope she would have liked this essay and I regret that I didn't tell her all of these things when she was alive, though I did communicate much of it. Thank you so much for reading! I know that you and Liddy had such a special friendship.
I'm so glad you brought that part of yourself out into the light, Allison. It's beautiful and I want to hear more.
I'm very sorry for your loss. I feel like I gained and lost Liddy within your essay. What a beautiful tribute to your friend.
Thank you so much for reading this and taking the time to comment, Tracy!
This is so beautiful. I love seeing how writers change those around them, and their words last forever. Thank you for bringing writers together, Allison!
Thank you so much!
I loved this so, so much. Liddy sounds absolutely wonderful.
She really was. Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to comment.
Very touching to read. Thank you for sharing your voice, for speaking, for reflecting out loud.
This rung clear to me in my relationship to stuttering:
"Because Liddy had accepted the realities of her own body, she was free to create something beautiful."
Isn't that we are called to do everyday? To take what was given to us and create something beautiful out of it.
Absolutely. I feel that call every day and some days am brave enough to answer that call. I know you are contributing to the beauty in the world with your lovely poetry and soon-to-be-released memoir!
As a friend of Liddy from her time at L'Arche, thank you so much! She'd always talk about her writing group, and how much she loved this group.
Oh I am so glad to "know" someone who worked with Liddy at L'Arche. She spoke so highly of her co-workers and friends there. I was actually able to meet Fritz at her celebration of life and felt like I was meeting a celebrity! Thanks for saying hello, Mary.
Dang, Allison. Who among us hasn't asked themselves (or their therapist) these questions: “Who could I have been,” I would ask my therapist, “If I had grappled with all of this sooner, like Liddy has? What could I have made? What could I have done? Who could I have changed? What kind of community could I have built?”
So grateful for you sharing this angst with us and reminding me, through this beautiful piece about a woman I never knew, that we are all in this together, that our struggles are similar and that other people often light the way we can't see ourselves.
Elizabeth, you are so right. I have been amazed by the number of people who have texted me and sent me messages saying that they related so deeply with this essay. Our struggles really are similar, and we are all so much more alike than we are different. It's important to remind ourselves of that everyday.
Thanks so much for reading, and sharing, and for your invaluable support.
I love every minute of this! And not just because you wrote about Liddy, though that is wonderful. But because you totally opened up yourself to us. Thank you for trusting us to do that. And I guess for trusting yourself. I had no idea of your early history with Liddy and that makes it so much more special… And with my one visit to Duke, I can imagine a little bit of both of you being there. 💙💙💙
Thank you so much Vicky It's always nice to know that being vulnerable is worth it. Vulnerability hangovers are real! :) But I am so glad this essay is out in the world, and that it resonated with you. Thank you.
What a heartfelt tribute to a friend and colleague. I am sorry for this great loss to the world and I empathize with you in your grief. Hugs, Allison.
Thank you so much, Tricia. That means a lot.
I've been waiting for your essay on Liddy. I know of Liddy because of you, and she enriched my life as well. Thank you for sharing an intimate portrait of yourself, and for introducing me to someone who reminded me how much more vulnerable and real and grounded I can be, every day. My condolences 💜
I'm so thrilled that you got to know Liddy's writing. Thank you so much for your kind words.
This is beautiful, Allison. Thank you for writing it. I leaned about Liddy and also learned more about you, and I appreciate both.
Also, these lines from Liddy made me start crying: “I’m telling you, there was so much more bread than there was before! And people gathered on their balconies, to applaud at the sky, to make music together.” (Or maybe it was the sentences together with learning that she died from breast cancer, since my sister was just diagnosed ...) But thank you for this reminder to be alive while we're here and to continue growing and connecting with ourselves and others.
I am so sorry to hear about your sister, Joanna. Thanks for reading and sharing this essay, and for your continued support.
I didn’t know Liddy, but your words are a beautiful tribute. Your writing is powerful, Allison! Thank you.
What a powerful, insightful and moving tribute. Beautifully written!
"But I think the lesson that will stick with me the longest is the way she didn’t turn away from reality, or try to “overcome” it with strength, but confronted it bravely and then asked what else was possible, within that reality. She inhabited that unique space of possibility that only opens up to us when we accept what’s actually in front of us, without sugarcoating it, without denying it, without wanting more, without overcoming."
THIS! THIS! THIS!
What a beautiful remembrance of a remarkable person. Thank you!