32 Comments
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Katie Weinberger's avatar

Gosh, how did I miss this post until now? these are all breathtaking.

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Melissa Turrentine's avatar

I enjoyed everyone's place descriptive map. I'll try to send mine in soon. I got behind but I write mine and read your lovely words.

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Lisa Wagner's avatar

I so loved (re-) reading these. It’s such a journey of delight through well-loved places, as well as remembered places.

This has quickly become my favorite gathering spot.

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Linda's avatar

Mine too!!

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Shari R Barr's avatar

Thank you for sharing this varied collection of places people feel at home.

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Yasmin Chopin's avatar

It’s a wonderful thing to be able to write about the place you know best, and to recognise details and how they make you feel. Your group is doing some great work, Janisse. I really enjoyed reading all of these extracts.

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Marianne Abel-Lipschutz's avatar

Oh I so needed all of this tonight! Thanks, everyone who submitted writing! And thx to Janisse for sharing this sojourn through loved worlds as well as those that don’t fit well. I love the insight that we become our truest selves in these deep echo chambers where our souls thrive.

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Nancy Friedland's avatar

I have been across the country and back again this week as I read everyone's entries - not just conjuring up my thoughts on my own place, but also learning about the entire country, through everyone's eyes. I so appreciate this collection because they provide a wonderful cross-section of places, connections, histories, approaches, language, knowledge, and depth and width. I've read more than I've written this week, and that isn't sustainable, but right now I'm afraid to miss out on something or someplace that I need to know about. I may just unsubscribe to everything else in the world and focus on our little corner of the internet. That sounds pretty nice right now. Thanks to everyone.

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Caroline Kulesza's avatar

Same here, Nancy, I feel like I’m getting a look at other people’s maps. All these places and their names and their connections to the writers. It’s a wonderful way to travel.

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Janisse Ray's avatar

It honestly is like being invited into someone's home.

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Janisse Ray's avatar

Nancy, strangely enough, I've found myself doing that very thing. My posts on social media dried up. We have something happening over here that is powerful in an otherworldly kind of way. It's really phenomenal how our places are gathering us in.

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Gena Courtney's avatar

Incredible stories. Thank you.

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Janisse Ray's avatar

yes. Thank YOU.

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Becki Clifton's avatar

Thank you for sharing these. I LOVE THEM ALL!

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Janisse Ray's avatar

And I'm going to want to share yours too. It's so good.

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Michael Spake's avatar

These are very beautiful.

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Susi's avatar

What gorgeous jewels of beauty - each one so different and yet so close.

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Linda S's avatar

It is a wonderful thing to find your "place". I believe there must be some kind of energy that pulls one in, and it is unexplainable!

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beth duff's avatar

Yes, yess and yes!

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Janisse Ray's avatar

That energy! Let's put our finger on it.

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Christy Fricks's avatar

Yall have me in tears! So much beauty and emotion. This is such a great group. I’m so happy I joined.

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Janisse Ray's avatar

It is an outpouring of exquisite beauty. I only picked a handful of the essays. All of them are really something.

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Janelle Whalen's avatar

Wow!

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MK Creel's avatar

I enjoyed each and every one. Thanks for sharing these.

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Janisse Ray's avatar

You honor them by reading them, MK. Thank you.

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Michele Moon's avatar

What a gift. These writers made me want to visit their places and see what they love and know because I would also feel the comfort they feel.

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Janisse Ray's avatar

I hear you, Michele.

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