23 Comments
Nov 8, 2022Liked by Samantha Childress

Loved your post this week. We missed you terribly at the wedding, and my words were likely influenced by my favorite book The Alchemist, which seems a bit too coincidental based on your other posts lately!

Somehow, the universe is always conspiring to make sure that we are exactly where we are supposed to be.

I love seeing photos of you and your dad, the love pops out of the screen and straight into hearts!

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Fantastic essay, Sam. The part where you imagine your dad’s soul inhabiting the Mustang is very similar (although far less morbidly so) to a short story I read recently, called “Men, Women, and Chainsaws” by Stephen Graham Jones. It’s a great horror story, and provides for some food for thought in the margins as well.

Once again, congrats on the essay. Would love to know more about your trip to Kyoto, as it’s been a dream of mine to visit Japan someday.

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Aw good - a hug across the sea!

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Oct 27, 2022Liked by Samantha Childress

I love the photo of you with your dad! Just look at the blissful smile on his face -- he was sure crazy about you!

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Oct 27, 2022Liked by Samantha Childress

It's surreal to see those vivid pastel walls -- beautiful colors! -- against an otherwise drab, monotonous background.

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Such a beautiful post, Sam. The picture of you with your Dad is so touching, as are your words.

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You are just such a stellar writer - I love reading you, it's all so real but presented so imaginatively. And what a true friend the bride is. Sending warmth your way - and "car guys" are often my favorite!

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Oct 27, 2022Liked by Samantha Childress

Love the photo of you & your dad.

Exploratory runs are what came to mind at your prompt. While on my soul journey in Scotland, I set out one morning just to run. I thought I knew where I was going and promptly realized I didn't, but I refused to check my maps.

That led to random turns and straightaways, kind of letting traffic lights determine where I went. And, I wound up by the water. A dead-end street that met me with this vast gray-green expanse of placid, Sunday-morning sea.

Wandering lost provides so many chances to check in with yourself. :)

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I always slow down and save my favorites for last, because I can only enjoy them for the "first time" once, like this latest piece.

This was a beautiful montage of memories, thank you for putting words to them, accenting the sweetness of your father's passion for restoring his prized chariot. If only we can do with our writing something like what your father did with that Mustang, and then give it all we got and let fly. The tale of Plitvice Lake's "regeneration" is a fitting addition in the links section.

History is what hooks me, including the tale of pumpkin spice latte.

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Oct 25, 2022Liked by Samantha Childress

A very touching remembrance of you father Sam. We missed a connection in Zurich coming home from Berlin in September and were able to spend a day in that charming Swiss city. It was a perfect detour.

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Samantha, this was utterly beautiful.

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