Happy birthday, Imola! I loved the poem; it made me smile--and, of course, Thank you so for the mention" Who by Fire is almost finished -- so do check it out. I have a bit of good news, too via Alisa Kennedy Jones, who is such a love--so go here to see it: https://alisakennedyjones.substack.com/p/the-empress-questionnaire-theres
Oh Mary, I am so excited for you!! Indeed big news! And I’m glad I can purchase a copy because I have missed so many chapters and every time I read you I am reminded of what a skilled and touching writer you are. I look forward to having a copy to add to my collection of Mary L Tabor books! And what a wonderful write up (for some reason I couldn’t leave a comment)! You are truly an inspiration Mary! À proof that you can restart at any age, do it with style and look absolutely fabulous!
Happy Birthday you talented and dedicated woman! Yes you have stuffed in lots of life and lots of countries and lots of words in your years. As my grandmother used to say, "Ahh, to be 49 again." It's all relevant. She was 80 at the time.
Happy, happy birthday dear Imola! I am so delighted to be among your close Substack coterie. With this week's essay, you had me at the title and I thought you had been published in The New Yorker because of course!~ It made perfect sense to me, you talented woman, you! And yet as I read on and understood this was part of your poem about how you imagined this 'ideal' life would look like, had you been published in The New Yorker, I loved you even more for the humor and the clarity and the wisdom of knowing you already have everything you could possibly need or want. When you are published in The New Yorker, it will be the icing on an already magnificently delicious cake made of the ingredients of your "lite living" that is steeped in appreciation for the simpler things and for the love that surrounds you and the love that you give to so many. Bravo! I could so relate to your yearning, however, my dear. I crave my own New Yorker moment, the societally defined success of the creative writer (for me, the published novel) and lately I've been sunk into moments of sadness and regret that this may not ever happen for me and if so, can I accept this? Can I be happy despite not achieving this marker of success that I've dangled before myself for so long? You remind me to look around, at this extraordinarily rich and blessed life I have, the two beautiful loving and cherished daughters, my new life in Barcelona, the fruits of the hard work of a sometimes dull copywriting career; even if I was not living the dream of the novelist but supporting my family singlehandedly throughout my 33 year marriage, this skill and work ethic has afforded me a decent amount of financial security, negotiated in my divorce settlement because I advocated for myself, at last. Birthdays give us pause, don't they, as many milestones do. And like you, "I will continue to string one word behind another" because I don't know any other way to live, to express myself, to BE myself. And even if it is only for myself, it is enough. Hugs! See you in Barcelona SOON!
Amy!! I love these insights and nodded at all of them. My intention with the title was to trick you a little, the reader, and see what comes up for you. This is exactly what I hoped!! That you would recognize the yearning (as I have it too. What writer does not dream about getting published in the New Yorker?) but also see what you DO have. And you Amy, have so much to be proud of. Every week I revel in the beauty and wisdom you share here and I can’t wait to see you in Barcelona! Big hug!
Happy birthday again! 🥳 so grateful I got to celebrate YOU on your special day. And we will celebrate again when the New Yorker publishes you. Write, woman, write!
HBD, Imola! And I love this quote you use from HDT... "Man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can do without." So, true. Knowing perhaps what is important and what's not. Keep traveling!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I wish I'd known on Friday. I was coming home from a writing conference that day. You totally deserved to be celebrated by your friends. ❤️❤️❤️
And this: please do not apologize for anything! You don't owe me anything, friend. If you read my essays, great. If not, I promise you I'm not offended. I feel quite secure in the friendship we're building.
Now go write that stellar piece that The New Yorker is going to publish someday!
Also, thank you for making me a favorite. Take care of yourself. Slow is good. But of course, you know this. And I am here if you ever need to chat. DM me anytime. Love to you. Hope you Sunday feels sweet. xo
Happy birthday, Imola! I loved the poem; it made me smile--and, of course, Thank you so for the mention" Who by Fire is almost finished -- so do check it out. I have a bit of good news, too via Alisa Kennedy Jones, who is such a love--so go here to see it: https://alisakennedyjones.substack.com/p/the-empress-questionnaire-theres
Oh Mary, I am so excited for you!! Indeed big news! And I’m glad I can purchase a copy because I have missed so many chapters and every time I read you I am reminded of what a skilled and touching writer you are. I look forward to having a copy to add to my collection of Mary L Tabor books! And what a wonderful write up (for some reason I couldn’t leave a comment)! You are truly an inspiration Mary! À proof that you can restart at any age, do it with style and look absolutely fabulous!
The novel, in the original, is also available now -- see Table of contents ...
Happy Birthday you talented and dedicated woman! Yes you have stuffed in lots of life and lots of countries and lots of words in your years. As my grandmother used to say, "Ahh, to be 49 again." It's all relevant. She was 80 at the time.
much love to you and yours.
Thank you Gail! Yes, it is all a matter of perspective...
Happy, happy birthday dear Imola! I am so delighted to be among your close Substack coterie. With this week's essay, you had me at the title and I thought you had been published in The New Yorker because of course!~ It made perfect sense to me, you talented woman, you! And yet as I read on and understood this was part of your poem about how you imagined this 'ideal' life would look like, had you been published in The New Yorker, I loved you even more for the humor and the clarity and the wisdom of knowing you already have everything you could possibly need or want. When you are published in The New Yorker, it will be the icing on an already magnificently delicious cake made of the ingredients of your "lite living" that is steeped in appreciation for the simpler things and for the love that surrounds you and the love that you give to so many. Bravo! I could so relate to your yearning, however, my dear. I crave my own New Yorker moment, the societally defined success of the creative writer (for me, the published novel) and lately I've been sunk into moments of sadness and regret that this may not ever happen for me and if so, can I accept this? Can I be happy despite not achieving this marker of success that I've dangled before myself for so long? You remind me to look around, at this extraordinarily rich and blessed life I have, the two beautiful loving and cherished daughters, my new life in Barcelona, the fruits of the hard work of a sometimes dull copywriting career; even if I was not living the dream of the novelist but supporting my family singlehandedly throughout my 33 year marriage, this skill and work ethic has afforded me a decent amount of financial security, negotiated in my divorce settlement because I advocated for myself, at last. Birthdays give us pause, don't they, as many milestones do. And like you, "I will continue to string one word behind another" because I don't know any other way to live, to express myself, to BE myself. And even if it is only for myself, it is enough. Hugs! See you in Barcelona SOON!
Amy!! I love these insights and nodded at all of them. My intention with the title was to trick you a little, the reader, and see what comes up for you. This is exactly what I hoped!! That you would recognize the yearning (as I have it too. What writer does not dream about getting published in the New Yorker?) but also see what you DO have. And you Amy, have so much to be proud of. Every week I revel in the beauty and wisdom you share here and I can’t wait to see you in Barcelona! Big hug!
Thanks Imola, we are going to have so much to talk about in Barcelona 💗
Yes we will! Looking forward to it!!
Je t’adore ! So privileged to know you ❤️😍
And I am to know you!! ♥️
Happy birthday again! 🥳 so grateful I got to celebrate YOU on your special day. And we will celebrate again when the New Yorker publishes you. Write, woman, write!
We will find any excuse to celebrate! Always!
Very funny poem, Imola. And happy birthday. Hell, at 49 you're still just a kid!
David
I've got one about The New Yorker, too. Not as funny as yours but I'll send it (separately, so I can have the option of trying to publish it).
Sure David! Always a pleasure to read you!
Happy birthday, Imola! I'm glad you have friends who celebrated with you. Take care of yourself and please don't apologise! Lots of love from me.
Thank you Tiffany. Sending much love back.
HBD, Imola! And I love this quote you use from HDT... "Man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can do without." So, true. Knowing perhaps what is important and what's not. Keep traveling!
Travelling makes me feel rich!
I love you, Imola.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I wish I'd known on Friday. I was coming home from a writing conference that day. You totally deserved to be celebrated by your friends. ❤️❤️❤️
And this: please do not apologize for anything! You don't owe me anything, friend. If you read my essays, great. If not, I promise you I'm not offended. I feel quite secure in the friendship we're building.
Now go write that stellar piece that The New Yorker is going to publish someday!
Haha. Ok. I will :) time for another catch up. Want to hear about the writing conference
Oohh let me leave you a message on WhatsApp soon about the writing conference. Warning: IT WILL BE LONG.
Happy Birthday, Imola! Love the poem - I am tossing confetti for you now (who cares about the New Yorker) 😘
That's almost as good as the New Yorker Martha! Love this idea! Thank you!!
Also, thank you for making me a favorite. Take care of yourself. Slow is good. But of course, you know this. And I am here if you ever need to chat. DM me anytime. Love to you. Hope you Sunday feels sweet. xo
Thank you so much Danni. Very low key Sunday, which is my favourite thing.xox
Loved this one. Beautiful. So relatable. You deserve to be in the New Yorker. Wish I had contacts. 🥰😘
Haha. I wish that too! :)
And, Happy Birthday!!!!!