"All you have to do is breathe it in!" This is beautiful. It's everything I want from a Substack writer (emotion, scene) and nothing that I don't want! (why are so many posts all about love or beauty or connection in the abstract, without any scene to ground them??) thank you so much for writing.
That's one of the great things about writing from your own life. You go back and read an old piece you wrote when you were a young New Yorker, and there you are in New York again -- in my case, breathing in the soot from the now banished incinerators . . . My husband died five years ago, but before he did that, he wrote tons of stuff. When I read what he wrote I hear his voice. He's right there with me.
You're observant, Abby. I think you've a lot of time in your life just watching people—on subways, in restaurants, or on the sidewalk. That's one reason, I think, why your writing is so full of detail and wonderful fun to read. Like what happened to his neck when he turned to kiss the girl. Your detailed descriptions of life happening in real time takes me right there.
Incessant talking from 6 year olds. It was raining throughout the day so the school I was at (I do relief teaching) expects the teachers to stay with the children in class during their play time. Instead of teaching most of the time I am correcting student behaviour most of the time. The curriculum is out of touch with what children need. Teachers are stressed from administrative expectations, lack of appropriate breaks, and no mental reprieve from the talking and concerning behaviour from some students. Thank you for your question. I believe teachers have similar if not the same experience in most Western countries.
"All you have to do is breathe it in!" This is beautiful. It's everything I want from a Substack writer (emotion, scene) and nothing that I don't want! (why are so many posts all about love or beauty or connection in the abstract, without any scene to ground them??) thank you so much for writing.
Thank you so much for reading it. That's what we writers love the most, besides the act of writing, the connections made. Thank you.
This is why I love Abigail’s writing, her scene-setting is crisp and clean and gives you everything you need to know and nothing more.
Thank you. I do think it's about what we leave out as much as what we keep.
exactly!
Feel free to feed me Safekeeping bit by bit on any or every day! I won’t tire.
Thank you. I'm terribly tempted. Looking at it after all these years, t brings back all those days..
That's one of the great things about writing from your own life. You go back and read an old piece you wrote when you were a young New Yorker, and there you are in New York again -- in my case, breathing in the soot from the now banished incinerators . . . My husband died five years ago, but before he did that, he wrote tons of stuff. When I read what he wrote I hear his voice. He's right there with me.
Ah, New York! I was only ever there for a year but am always hankering to return!
“Take today on the subway” - I love this transition.
Thank you. Sometimes it's just so simple, isn't it?
"love comes and goes in so many forms"
amen to that.
Amen. Thank you.
I rarely feel the quality of writing that springs from you brain. So spare. So perfect. A gift to us readers.
Thank you very much. And readers are such a gift to writers.
True!
You're observant, Abby. I think you've a lot of time in your life just watching people—on subways, in restaurants, or on the sidewalk. That's one reason, I think, why your writing is so full of detail and wonderful fun to read. Like what happened to his neck when he turned to kiss the girl. Your detailed descriptions of life happening in real time takes me right there.
Thank you. So much is so interesting, and cannonballs into you.
I have always loved safekeeping. What an honor to also in real life love you.
Thank you, Beth. Lovely to say. Lovely to read.
I love this book so much. I always have creative writing students read it. “Look!” I say. “My God, look what’s possible!”
Oh thank you! I love that it tells you that really anything is possible. Screw the rules. Just write your words!
Yes yes yes! ❤️
Loved this one, Abigail. The last sentence is particularly stunning.
Thank you very much. The simple truth, right?
Always.
Breathe it in and it becomes your passion, too. I love the idea of a secretly shared passion. Reminds us all to stop and smell the “passion”.
Right. Stop and look and breathe it in.
😊❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you. So sweet, those hearts.
I'm breathing this in. I feel warm in my belly. Thank you, Abby.
I love that you feel warm in your belly. A belly is so important, and such a great word.
This piece has been a delightful distraction after a difficult day teaching. Thanks 😊
Thank you. What made it difficult? You made me curious!
Incessant talking from 6 year olds. It was raining throughout the day so the school I was at (I do relief teaching) expects the teachers to stay with the children in class during their play time. Instead of teaching most of the time I am correcting student behaviour most of the time. The curriculum is out of touch with what children need. Teachers are stressed from administrative expectations, lack of appropriate breaks, and no mental reprieve from the talking and concerning behaviour from some students. Thank you for your question. I believe teachers have similar if not the same experience in most Western countries.
I read Safekeeping years ago. It was present of choice my girl friends on the birthdays. I still love the short pieces Prose poems.
Thank you very much. I love being a present.
I just love this. So much is so few words.
Thank you. Sometimes fewer words are what's called for. (actually, it's always.)
Oh yeah. There you are. XXX
Thank you, Ann.