Rachel from Illinois. Mom of a 2.5 yo and a 4 month old. Type A with anxiety and depression. Finally reading all of your newsletters from the ER with unknown abdominal pain.
So late to the game and never to miss an introduction, I’m Melissa, from Washington (not D.C.) I love reading your words, so thank you for this gift you give to us. Absurdly sharted the bed while on vacation; while happily dreaming that my daughter wasn’t flushing the paper while in Mexico. 🤷🏻♀️
Hello again, Kelly. This forum is a great vehicle for your essays and I enjoy reading them. My name is Terry and 2022 finds me living in Edmonton. (I did live in Palm Springs for eight years and that's where I discovered your writing. I'd still be there except my work visa expired and, well, you get the idea.) Anyway, I'm a published author, a 40-year journalist before that, a father of five and grandfather of seven. The oldest grandkid is 18. The youngest just turned three. Alberta in the summer is lovely but at this time of year, I pine for the desert. I'm finishing up two books. One as a memoirist -- it's a compilation of crime stories as narrated by the retired DA for Ventura County, California. We're publishing it independently, but looking for an agent to shop it. The other is a work of fiction, yet inspired by the true story of my grandparents' unlikely romance against the backdrop of the First World War. It's being shopped by my Canadian agent but no takers yet. In my spare time, I'm a communications consultant so yeah, I'm busy. Writers don't really retire, they just keep going until they drop. Oh, and my youngest daughter used to get her hair done at your sister's shop, but then she took a job in the U.K. and had to find someone new to break in. Such are the hazards of life as a professional.
Jose from LA. The same LA as you, not the Terry Bradshaw one. I'm getting through your posts late. I always prefer to read them when I can soak it in instead of on the run. Grew up in LA, love this city, love the beach. I hope people who do live here are able to see past the shiny shit and surface level to find the pearls that make life here really good. My wife and I bought a house last year so I think I can say I've achieved greatness for doing that here and now please just let me rest. We have a dog that's amazing and he's 10 and I'm going to cry like a baby when he's gone. Thanks for being a real G Kelly, I'm going to watch Pink Skies this week while we recover from Covid. I caught it from either a football game or going to a karaoke bar. I regret neither.
Kelly from Wilmington, NC and living in Winnetka, IL. I always need to point out that I am from NC. I have no idea why. I am a stay-at-home mom with a few side hustles. My beloved Jack Russel Terrier mix, George, escaped from our yard at 7:00 am in the morning and I had to chase him down in my pajamas and braless. A police officer, also named George, had to stop traffic on the main road in my small town in order for me and a group of runners to catch him. I was crying hysterically the whole time because I love this dog so much. I loved your Woman on the Verge post.
Adriana from Long Beach. Pro musician and teacher. Absurd that contracts come and go with the tides and this virus. Starting a maintenance job at a church this morning because I need income that won’t disappear on a moment’s notice. Single mom too. Best wishes!
Hi, I'm Gabi. I'm 27, I have 2 water signs in my "big three" which is both a blessing (mainly for others) and a curse. I live in DC, raised in both Colombia ( the country) and South Florida. I felt it was important to say South Florida as we all know that's just a whole different section. The most absurd thing that happened to me is that this month I realized, while on shroom tea, that I have absolutely no idea what I want to do with my life. It felt like a very clear vision that I just don't know. Zero clue. Not an inkling.
Anyway, I also bought a fake monster taxidermy off of someone on TikTok for $100.
Nicole from Manitoba, Canada (it’s -40C/F here today). I potty trained my 2 year old over holiday break, my girl who was born late Sept 2019 and only knows this new world. She loves wearing a mask because to her it’s as normal as putting on pants. Life is fucking wild, thanks for sharing your thoughts Kelly and helping us feel not so alone <3
Katie from the suburbs of Philadelphia. I am living at my parents house. I spent 10 days at an in-patient facility for mental health right before Christmas. I am praying that 2022 will be a year of getting my life back on track and finding a career that fulfills my soul. I know that's a lot to ask, but I've been on this journey awhile and spent most of 2020 and 2021 in and out of rehab for my issues (big issues) with alcohol. I know I am crazy and hopefully not crop circle crazy.
I’m behind. This tracks for me. I’m Rachael. I grew up in Alabama and I now live in South Carolina for the past 18 years. Oh damn. That’s a long time. So I have now officially been here longer than anywhere else. I am on my third and final husband and if he dies I’m dating only women or keeping cats from now on. I don’t generally like women and I already have a bunch of cats so I hope he doesn’t die. I am walking around living with unmedicated ADHD and going through menopause and my three kids aren’t old and neither am I. They are 13, 7 and 4 and I am almost 45. I like to cook. I can never find what I’m looking for. I’m a borderline hoarder because I am walking around living with unmedicated adhd and can’t find things because…the loop continues. My only goal was to be an actress when I was little and I have not achieved that because I’m not very good at it. I am good at decorating cakes. I think no one will ever see this because it’s three weeks later and we have all moved on to other things. Like baking birthday cakes for my daughter who turns 13 tomorrow. So. I think that about covers it.
Hi, I'm Aubry from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. While working in a community center in NYC on the UES, an older woman became confused and needed help. So I walked her around to find her home, helped her get into her apartment, and made some tea. She was in her 80's and a self-proclaimed witch from Chile. She told me her life story and a few personal things about myself that she couldn't have known. Hours later, when I realized I should probably head back to work, she thanked me for helping her and told me to think of 3 things I wanted throughout the upcoming week and that she would grant me these wishes. The only rule was that it couldn't be about something as silly as a man. So I spent the rest of my work week thinking about 3 things I wanted and focusing on them. This happened somewhere in 2017, and I forgot about it until my mom randomly asked me, "Hey do you remember that time you met a witch in NYC?" and then I realized that slowly but surely, those things have been happening for me.
Val & Lori (Sangria Sisters) from Calgary here. Our 82-year-old mother had two back surgeries in December, and in true freaky Friday fuckery, we’re now parenting a defiant teenager. “I’m bored” is muttered ten times a day. She talks back, won’t listen to sage advise, and downs drugs like an amateur. Everyone knows how to raise a parent, except the people who have them!
Kayleigh from the suburbs of Chicago. I turned 29 this month and treated myself to a trip to NYC despite it also being finals week for grad school (which ironically I am currently completing my Masters at NYU for professional writing - a remote program) and had the most amazing time. I also ended up with 100% on both of finals and ended the semester with a 4.0 and I am feeling great about what 29 has in store!
Rachel from Illinois. Mom of a 2.5 yo and a 4 month old. Type A with anxiety and depression. Finally reading all of your newsletters from the ER with unknown abdominal pain.
So late to the game and never to miss an introduction, I’m Melissa, from Washington (not D.C.) I love reading your words, so thank you for this gift you give to us. Absurdly sharted the bed while on vacation; while happily dreaming that my daughter wasn’t flushing the paper while in Mexico. 🤷🏻♀️
Hello again, Kelly. This forum is a great vehicle for your essays and I enjoy reading them. My name is Terry and 2022 finds me living in Edmonton. (I did live in Palm Springs for eight years and that's where I discovered your writing. I'd still be there except my work visa expired and, well, you get the idea.) Anyway, I'm a published author, a 40-year journalist before that, a father of five and grandfather of seven. The oldest grandkid is 18. The youngest just turned three. Alberta in the summer is lovely but at this time of year, I pine for the desert. I'm finishing up two books. One as a memoirist -- it's a compilation of crime stories as narrated by the retired DA for Ventura County, California. We're publishing it independently, but looking for an agent to shop it. The other is a work of fiction, yet inspired by the true story of my grandparents' unlikely romance against the backdrop of the First World War. It's being shopped by my Canadian agent but no takers yet. In my spare time, I'm a communications consultant so yeah, I'm busy. Writers don't really retire, they just keep going until they drop. Oh, and my youngest daughter used to get her hair done at your sister's shop, but then she took a job in the U.K. and had to find someone new to break in. Such are the hazards of life as a professional.
Hi Kelly, Mick from Sydney, procrastinating in January. I came across your writing in the Blog Times. My whole life is low-key absurd :-)
Hi Kelly, Michael from Sydney, procrastinating in January. I came across your writing in the Blog Times. My whole life is low-key absurd ;-)
Jose from LA. The same LA as you, not the Terry Bradshaw one. I'm getting through your posts late. I always prefer to read them when I can soak it in instead of on the run. Grew up in LA, love this city, love the beach. I hope people who do live here are able to see past the shiny shit and surface level to find the pearls that make life here really good. My wife and I bought a house last year so I think I can say I've achieved greatness for doing that here and now please just let me rest. We have a dog that's amazing and he's 10 and I'm going to cry like a baby when he's gone. Thanks for being a real G Kelly, I'm going to watch Pink Skies this week while we recover from Covid. I caught it from either a football game or going to a karaoke bar. I regret neither.
Kelly from Wilmington, NC and living in Winnetka, IL. I always need to point out that I am from NC. I have no idea why. I am a stay-at-home mom with a few side hustles. My beloved Jack Russel Terrier mix, George, escaped from our yard at 7:00 am in the morning and I had to chase him down in my pajamas and braless. A police officer, also named George, had to stop traffic on the main road in my small town in order for me and a group of runners to catch him. I was crying hysterically the whole time because I love this dog so much. I loved your Woman on the Verge post.
Adriana from Long Beach. Pro musician and teacher. Absurd that contracts come and go with the tides and this virus. Starting a maintenance job at a church this morning because I need income that won’t disappear on a moment’s notice. Single mom too. Best wishes!
Hi, I'm Gabi. I'm 27, I have 2 water signs in my "big three" which is both a blessing (mainly for others) and a curse. I live in DC, raised in both Colombia ( the country) and South Florida. I felt it was important to say South Florida as we all know that's just a whole different section. The most absurd thing that happened to me is that this month I realized, while on shroom tea, that I have absolutely no idea what I want to do with my life. It felt like a very clear vision that I just don't know. Zero clue. Not an inkling.
Anyway, I also bought a fake monster taxidermy off of someone on TikTok for $100.
An incredible gaggle of humans with great stories!
Nicole from Manitoba, Canada (it’s -40C/F here today). I potty trained my 2 year old over holiday break, my girl who was born late Sept 2019 and only knows this new world. She loves wearing a mask because to her it’s as normal as putting on pants. Life is fucking wild, thanks for sharing your thoughts Kelly and helping us feel not so alone <3
Katie from the suburbs of Philadelphia. I am living at my parents house. I spent 10 days at an in-patient facility for mental health right before Christmas. I am praying that 2022 will be a year of getting my life back on track and finding a career that fulfills my soul. I know that's a lot to ask, but I've been on this journey awhile and spent most of 2020 and 2021 in and out of rehab for my issues (big issues) with alcohol. I know I am crazy and hopefully not crop circle crazy.
I’m behind. This tracks for me. I’m Rachael. I grew up in Alabama and I now live in South Carolina for the past 18 years. Oh damn. That’s a long time. So I have now officially been here longer than anywhere else. I am on my third and final husband and if he dies I’m dating only women or keeping cats from now on. I don’t generally like women and I already have a bunch of cats so I hope he doesn’t die. I am walking around living with unmedicated ADHD and going through menopause and my three kids aren’t old and neither am I. They are 13, 7 and 4 and I am almost 45. I like to cook. I can never find what I’m looking for. I’m a borderline hoarder because I am walking around living with unmedicated adhd and can’t find things because…the loop continues. My only goal was to be an actress when I was little and I have not achieved that because I’m not very good at it. I am good at decorating cakes. I think no one will ever see this because it’s three weeks later and we have all moved on to other things. Like baking birthday cakes for my daughter who turns 13 tomorrow. So. I think that about covers it.
Hi, I'm Aubry from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. While working in a community center in NYC on the UES, an older woman became confused and needed help. So I walked her around to find her home, helped her get into her apartment, and made some tea. She was in her 80's and a self-proclaimed witch from Chile. She told me her life story and a few personal things about myself that she couldn't have known. Hours later, when I realized I should probably head back to work, she thanked me for helping her and told me to think of 3 things I wanted throughout the upcoming week and that she would grant me these wishes. The only rule was that it couldn't be about something as silly as a man. So I spent the rest of my work week thinking about 3 things I wanted and focusing on them. This happened somewhere in 2017, and I forgot about it until my mom randomly asked me, "Hey do you remember that time you met a witch in NYC?" and then I realized that slowly but surely, those things have been happening for me.
Val & Lori (Sangria Sisters) from Calgary here. Our 82-year-old mother had two back surgeries in December, and in true freaky Friday fuckery, we’re now parenting a defiant teenager. “I’m bored” is muttered ten times a day. She talks back, won’t listen to sage advise, and downs drugs like an amateur. Everyone knows how to raise a parent, except the people who have them!
Kayleigh from the suburbs of Chicago. I turned 29 this month and treated myself to a trip to NYC despite it also being finals week for grad school (which ironically I am currently completing my Masters at NYU for professional writing - a remote program) and had the most amazing time. I also ended up with 100% on both of finals and ended the semester with a 4.0 and I am feeling great about what 29 has in store!