After reading through for the fifth time, face wiped clean of crumbs and frosting , I stepped outside on this first chilly morning at the lake.( I was about to add that all of your words lay softly around me like a warm fleece blanket, and I had no need for a coat, but that’s not true, down coat and hat). Dense fog slowly lifting in smokey curls, exposing misty blue gray waters vibrating with frothy white caps, hillsides draped in fiery reds, jeweled crimsons, sunflower (Sparkle-ing) golds and pumpkin orange, offset by deep emerald pines.
I breathe in the cold of the morning, lungs expanding, heart stretched wide with joy, making room for every last beautiful word. And wearing a huge smile that will last the entire day.
Adam , this is just a crazy, embarrassing and a wonderful honor. I can raise my hand and say, I received the most outrageously incredible birthday party. And you all showed up dressed in your best words. Suddenly I am not anonymous any more. I, I feel, exposed.
Since none of you are ‘just’ readers like me, I will tell what it is like to experience, you. I only read a select few in the world of Substack, and since I have excellent taste, each of you excel above and beyond this platform. I have a small window into your special rooms that are dear to you, where your craft lives. I can see you sitting in your favorite chairs, sometimes studying, doing the research, sometimes sitting with eyes closed waiting for the words to come , I can see when they do. I can feel your mood , always. I watch as you read and re-read , then finally, a finger hesitates, then presses send. And your glorious words; stories, prose and poems land at my door. Special delivery! as I figuratively race to my mailbox, greedily open the page and dive in.
I laugh with you, cry, grimace, delight, wonder, wander, walk with you across a cherished hill on a well-trodden path, sit in the back seat (not that I always trust your driving, sometimes I’m white knuckled back there), sing with you ( totally off tune), blast into space, dive into the sea , communicate with whales, delve into dark places, carefully explore different worlds, run away from porcelain cats, black sharp edged, shining rocks, on my knees watching gut wrenching truths play out turning into lost tales in turbulent waters, hanging on with one hand, taking to the air with her beating wings and heart, get high with you (no,no, legal in Vermont, but no) learn from you, nothing is mere coincidence, And always, always each of you deliver. You deliver your heart.
A birthday gift beyond measure, you have all refreshed my soul. I feel so full of life I’m going on an adventure today, swinging from tree branches, fly with the leaves, hop boulders, eat cake again. And that is just the plan for this morning.
Like all seasoned adventurers, normally I’d invite you along, but my pack would be too heavy and I am not sharing cake .
Today, I travel across an ocean, to France, the UK, Australia, then cross country to Oregon, and on down towards the city. One of you, I’m 11.11% sure of where you live, so I am sending a hug. And a shout out to the guy in Sweden walking deep in the woods with ‘the dog’.
Sending hugs and thank you to all of you. ‘See’ you soon, in my next, way too long comment.
From the moment I opened Substack this morning and saw 100 Stories, Lor , with a huge picture of Ranger, to this moment, sitting in front of a stone hearth, enjoying the warmth of a fire, I have had a birthday to remember. Even strangers became well wishers. Once again, thank you for the day.
There you are Nathan,glad to see I’m still ‘employed’ on your stack. It is difficult for me not to be my usual humble self, and come up with all the reasons what your statement should not pertain to me. I will acquiesce, as my grandmother used to say, ‘just say thank you’. Thank you Nathan!
Jeez, as you may have noticed, I had to bring up thoughts of porcelain cats and obsidian rocks. I hope neither of them sneak into my dreams tonight. You helped make my B-day a most spectacular day.
"Sometimes there are points of light. They have come in the form of people, when darkness seems too thick to find a path forward . A hand reaches out to pull me into the light. Sometimes they unexpectedly come from within me . And every once in a while, they come from words”
I reply; I read your words of empathy and kindred love and I know without a shadow of doubt, you are that light…
I am eating cake and adventuring with you vicariously dear Lor, while "sitting with eyes closed waiting for the words to come" Its been nearly ten days... maybe too much cake? X
Thank you Susie, for sharing your compassion. Now let’s see about those words. Remember to sit in a relaxed position with your eyes gently closed , no squeezing the eyelids too tight, no, still too tight. Ok, that’s good. Remember to breathe, no, no, your holding your breath, don’t forget to exhale. Good , now be sure to eat more cake.
There you go, words should arrive any day now. Thank you for shining a blinding light on my day.
“ I laugh with you, cry, grimace, delight, wonder, wander, walk with you across a cherished hill on a well-trodden path, sit in the back seat (not that I always trust your driving, sometimes I’m white knuckled back there), sing with you ( totally off tune), blast into space, dive into the sea , communicate with whales, delve into dark places, carefully explore different worlds, run away from porcelain cats, black sharp edged, shining rocks, on my knees watching gut wrenching truths play out turning into lost tales in turbulent waters, hanging on with one hand, taking to the air with her beating wings and heart, get high with you (no,no, legal in Vermont, but no) learn from you, nothing is mere coincidence, And always, always each of you deliver. You deliver your heart.” I can’t even… this exchange yesterday and today is something I am certain I will think about during my last moments on this earth someday, my heart skipping a beat before its silence to rejoice in the love of great humans and my somehow even greater fortune to hold hands with them.
Happy birthday Lor. I stumbled across these birthday wishes on my morning scroll and it has been a delight to read. It seems that some of your carefully selected reads are my own absolute favourites - Chloe’s birds and Susie’s hill and David’s garden of imagination are right there at the very top of my list too. Sending love ✨
I just came to say Hear! Hear! Lor is the most generous reader and kind hearted person. This is such a cool post Adam and friends, and the very reason why I love this community so much!
After reading through for the fifth time, face wiped clean of crumbs and frosting , I stepped outside on this first chilly morning at the lake.( I was about to add that all of your words lay softly around me like a warm fleece blanket, and I had no need for a coat, but that’s not true, down coat and hat). Dense fog slowly lifting in smokey curls, exposing misty blue gray waters vibrating with frothy white caps, hillsides draped in fiery reds, jeweled crimsons, sunflower (Sparkle-ing) golds and pumpkin orange, offset by deep emerald pines.
I breathe in the cold of the morning, lungs expanding, heart stretched wide with joy, making room for every last beautiful word. And wearing a huge smile that will last the entire day.
Adam , this is just a crazy, embarrassing and a wonderful honor. I can raise my hand and say, I received the most outrageously incredible birthday party. And you all showed up dressed in your best words. Suddenly I am not anonymous any more. I, I feel, exposed.
Since none of you are ‘just’ readers like me, I will tell what it is like to experience, you. I only read a select few in the world of Substack, and since I have excellent taste, each of you excel above and beyond this platform. I have a small window into your special rooms that are dear to you, where your craft lives. I can see you sitting in your favorite chairs, sometimes studying, doing the research, sometimes sitting with eyes closed waiting for the words to come , I can see when they do. I can feel your mood , always. I watch as you read and re-read , then finally, a finger hesitates, then presses send. And your glorious words; stories, prose and poems land at my door. Special delivery! as I figuratively race to my mailbox, greedily open the page and dive in.
I laugh with you, cry, grimace, delight, wonder, wander, walk with you across a cherished hill on a well-trodden path, sit in the back seat (not that I always trust your driving, sometimes I’m white knuckled back there), sing with you ( totally off tune), blast into space, dive into the sea , communicate with whales, delve into dark places, carefully explore different worlds, run away from porcelain cats, black sharp edged, shining rocks, on my knees watching gut wrenching truths play out turning into lost tales in turbulent waters, hanging on with one hand, taking to the air with her beating wings and heart, get high with you (no,no, legal in Vermont, but no) learn from you, nothing is mere coincidence, And always, always each of you deliver. You deliver your heart.
A birthday gift beyond measure, you have all refreshed my soul. I feel so full of life I’m going on an adventure today, swinging from tree branches, fly with the leaves, hop boulders, eat cake again. And that is just the plan for this morning.
Like all seasoned adventurers, normally I’d invite you along, but my pack would be too heavy and I am not sharing cake .
Today, I travel across an ocean, to France, the UK, Australia, then cross country to Oregon, and on down towards the city. One of you, I’m 11.11% sure of where you live, so I am sending a hug. And a shout out to the guy in Sweden walking deep in the woods with ‘the dog’.
Sending hugs and thank you to all of you. ‘See’ you soon, in my next, way too long comment.
This is wonderful, Lor. I'm glad you felt the love. We were excited about sharing this with you.
From the moment I opened Substack this morning and saw 100 Stories, Lor , with a huge picture of Ranger, to this moment, sitting in front of a stone hearth, enjoying the warmth of a fire, I have had a birthday to remember. Even strangers became well wishers. Once again, thank you for the day.
One of the best things I've ever read. :)
Same
There you are Nathan,glad to see I’m still ‘employed’ on your stack. It is difficult for me not to be my usual humble self, and come up with all the reasons what your statement should not pertain to me. I will acquiesce, as my grandmother used to say, ‘just say thank you’. Thank you Nathan!
Jeez, as you may have noticed, I had to bring up thoughts of porcelain cats and obsidian rocks. I hope neither of them sneak into my dreams tonight. You helped make my B-day a most spectacular day.
The rock and porcelain were duly noted, hehe.
So pleased to hear you had a wonderful day.
This comment is a masterpiece. 💚
Agree.
Thank you Julie! Boy, I am staying put right here as a reader. Way too much ‘performance anxiety’ to create on a regular basis.
Don't entirely shut the door on that.
Seconded
Overruled
Thirded
Overruled
🚪🔐
Dear Lor, you wrote;
"Sometimes there are points of light. They have come in the form of people, when darkness seems too thick to find a path forward . A hand reaches out to pull me into the light. Sometimes they unexpectedly come from within me . And every once in a while, they come from words”
I reply; I read your words of empathy and kindred love and I know without a shadow of doubt, you are that light…
I am eating cake and adventuring with you vicariously dear Lor, while "sitting with eyes closed waiting for the words to come" Its been nearly ten days... maybe too much cake? X
Thank you Susie, for sharing your compassion. Now let’s see about those words. Remember to sit in a relaxed position with your eyes gently closed , no squeezing the eyelids too tight, no, still too tight. Ok, that’s good. Remember to breathe, no, no, your holding your breath, don’t forget to exhale. Good , now be sure to eat more cake.
There you go, words should arrive any day now. Thank you for shining a blinding light on my day.
How fitting that the Comments section right here dwarfs the size of the actual post. :)
Agree with Nathan S and Julie and Adam N - this comment is one of the best things I've ever read.
Hope you had (and looks like you did have!) an excellent birthday, Lor.
Ummm 💧🦗🦗💦🦗💦
Give me a minute💧💧
6:00am
need cake
a cold wash cloth on my face💧💦
I’ll be back 🥹🙈
Happy birthday!!
Thank you Holly! A crazy morning surprise.
Happy Birthday Lor :) Have a beautiful day woith Ranger and co :)
I reckon there could have been 60 writers doing this piece :)
💯
I can’t thank you enough for a very special birthday!
Thanks for the birthday wishes! I’ll be sure to put a little cream cheese frosting on Ranger’s nose.
😭 We're just so lucky to have her 💜
A little birdie whispering?
Oh, you know little birds…
Always the little ones that chirp the loudest.
Two week old Sparkle, case in point
Happy birthday Lor!
Thanks Ana!!
As a gift to myself, I’m aging backwards, at least for the day…
“ I laugh with you, cry, grimace, delight, wonder, wander, walk with you across a cherished hill on a well-trodden path, sit in the back seat (not that I always trust your driving, sometimes I’m white knuckled back there), sing with you ( totally off tune), blast into space, dive into the sea , communicate with whales, delve into dark places, carefully explore different worlds, run away from porcelain cats, black sharp edged, shining rocks, on my knees watching gut wrenching truths play out turning into lost tales in turbulent waters, hanging on with one hand, taking to the air with her beating wings and heart, get high with you (no,no, legal in Vermont, but no) learn from you, nothing is mere coincidence, And always, always each of you deliver. You deliver your heart.” I can’t even… this exchange yesterday and today is something I am certain I will think about during my last moments on this earth someday, my heart skipping a beat before its silence to rejoice in the love of great humans and my somehow even greater fortune to hold hands with them.
What a tribute! And I must say everyone here who is giving gratitude for your brilliant reading is a deep, beautiful reader themselves.
Beautiful to read this post.
Happy birthday, Lor. You deserve every word.
There should be a "Substack Reader" award. You would 100% be a recipient.
🤗
Agree.
P.S. wish I could highlight everyone, but a haven’t clue on how;
Adam Nathan
Chloe Hope
E.T. Allen
Susie Mawhinney
Nathan Slake
Kimberly Warner
May Ranger wash you in a thousand kisses today—channeling all of ours, of course. Happy birthday dear friend!
This , is unbelievable! I think it rivals your virtual party, though you had chocolates, cheese, and wine. Thank you, thank you!
You didn’t get the chocolate? Try licking your screen.
haha.
What a lovely tribute! 💚
Thank you Julie!
Happy Birthday 🎉
Thank you Julia !
Thank you Mary, indeed an honor and shock…
Happy birthday Lor. I stumbled across these birthday wishes on my morning scroll and it has been a delight to read. It seems that some of your carefully selected reads are my own absolute favourites - Chloe’s birds and Susie’s hill and David’s garden of imagination are right there at the very top of my list too. Sending love ✨
Thank you Emily!
I just came to say Hear! Hear! Lor is the most generous reader and kind hearted person. This is such a cool post Adam and friends, and the very reason why I love this community so much!
Happy birthday! 🎂🎈