Beautifully written chapter, Ann. I enjoyed the descriptions and imagery and photos especially. This line stands out especially: "The forest is teaching me how grief and beauty are collaborators, each making the other more true."
Interesting also with the fourth photo of the ephemeral art you made. There is something deep to that arrangement. Thank you for sharing and I am really enjoying reading this story of Olli and Annu. I look forward to the next chapter.
Thank you, Neil. I’m glad you liked the natural arrangement. I was hiking down alongside the creek on my retreat weekend and there was not a lot of variety to choose from in that spot, but it was nice and meditative to try and see what I could make with what was on hand.
Kim, I’m so glad you’re enjoying all the layers. I’ve been digging back through old essays here on Microseasons and drawing out some of the ideas that I feel strongly about. At the core of things, I feel that the natural world is sympathetic and nourishing for us on so many levels. I really wish my great-great grandma had someone to take nice long walks with after the death of her husband.
Thank you, Manuela. I’ve tried to break up the different sections with photographs taken while hiking. I’m glad you’re enjoying the structure of it. It means a lot to me that you are reading along.
So beautiful. And Annu’s grief, marrying itself alongside beauty is a visceral remembrance of healing’s mysterious, unexplainable, unmappable way. “The forest is teaching me how grief and beauty are collaborators, each making the other more true.” 🙏
Thank you so much, Kimberly. In the poetry of life, I always think of Pema Chödrön’s advice that we keep some sadness and some brokenness in our hearts, alongside the beauty, to keep our hearts open and empathetic.
Ann - when I see your post in my email, I can’t wait to read it but I make myself wait until there are quiet moments so I won’t be interrupted or distracted. Your writing is beautifully evocative and the images so real and rich for me. You do your ancestors a great honor. I’m certain they know. ♥️
Thank you for making special time to read this Roseanne, and for receiving it in the spirit that it was written. What an honor. You are an ongoing inspiration to me.
I like how the healing and restoration are woven into nature; and the recurrence of 5 days more. Time just messes with us. If we could just see it as a little season. Grateful for many lessons here, Ann.
I don't know how much experience you have writing fiction, Ann (I mostly know you from your beautiful poems and various reflections), but this is a really lovely read -- both as parts and as a whole. It pulls you into its world, its characters, and everything in between.
This is my first try at fiction up until now, and you're giving me courage to keep feeling my way through this project to its completion. Much appreciated, Hasse!
So much goodness in here. Love hearing about your process. This line, among many others, made my heart sing: “The forest is teaching me how grief and beauty are collaborators, each making the other more true.”
Thanks Brian! This story has been rattling around in the back of my brain for a long time. I’m so glad to make it for Greta & Anders. it’s been a lovely summer project. Thanks so much for reading along!
The beauty and poetry of this intertwine with the grief.
"where the grand oaks kept their ancient counsel." -- this really made me smile. I always feel this way about oaks. There's something fantastical, stoic, ancient in their manner.
I'm glad you liked this part, Nathan. We live on the edge of Duke Forest and the land surrounding our house is mostly mature oak trees. Back when we moved in, I thought, "Wow. We now own all these beautiful trees." But as I thought about it some more, I realized we definitely do not "own" them. They are wise and magnificent.
An enchanting read, Ann, thank you.
Thank you so much Portia, for your support!
Beautifully written chapter, Ann. I enjoyed the descriptions and imagery and photos especially. This line stands out especially: "The forest is teaching me how grief and beauty are collaborators, each making the other more true."
Interesting also with the fourth photo of the ephemeral art you made. There is something deep to that arrangement. Thank you for sharing and I am really enjoying reading this story of Olli and Annu. I look forward to the next chapter.
Thank you, Neil. I’m glad you liked the natural arrangement. I was hiking down alongside the creek on my retreat weekend and there was not a lot of variety to choose from in that spot, but it was nice and meditative to try and see what I could make with what was on hand.
One read, two, and still there is more here, waiting to be understood.
Kim, I’m so glad you’re enjoying all the layers. I’ve been digging back through old essays here on Microseasons and drawing out some of the ideas that I feel strongly about. At the core of things, I feel that the natural world is sympathetic and nourishing for us on so many levels. I really wish my great-great grandma had someone to take nice long walks with after the death of her husband.
Beautifully written and structure. Looking forward to next chapter!
Thank you, Manuela. I’ve tried to break up the different sections with photographs taken while hiking. I’m glad you’re enjoying the structure of it. It means a lot to me that you are reading along.
So beautiful. And Annu’s grief, marrying itself alongside beauty is a visceral remembrance of healing’s mysterious, unexplainable, unmappable way. “The forest is teaching me how grief and beauty are collaborators, each making the other more true.” 🙏
Thank you so much, Kimberly. In the poetry of life, I always think of Pema Chödrön’s advice that we keep some sadness and some brokenness in our hearts, alongside the beauty, to keep our hearts open and empathetic.
Ann - when I see your post in my email, I can’t wait to read it but I make myself wait until there are quiet moments so I won’t be interrupted or distracted. Your writing is beautifully evocative and the images so real and rich for me. You do your ancestors a great honor. I’m certain they know. ♥️
Thank you for making special time to read this Roseanne, and for receiving it in the spirit that it was written. What an honor. You are an ongoing inspiration to me.
I like how the healing and restoration are woven into nature; and the recurrence of 5 days more. Time just messes with us. If we could just see it as a little season. Grateful for many lessons here, Ann.
Thanks always for your generous reading, Ron. I try to remember that—on good days or hard days—we always live in an unimaginably small window of time.
And thank you so much for weaving such a magical spell of a story. It proves that silence too has a voice.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying this story, Thomas. Thank you for taking the time to tell me.
This is so magical, Ann.
Thank you, LeeAnn, I'm trying to gesture towards the surreal beauty we are steeped in on every ordinary day. This gorgeous world we are given . . .
The beauty of the world shines through this. Your photos bring this to life.
I don't know how much experience you have writing fiction, Ann (I mostly know you from your beautiful poems and various reflections), but this is a really lovely read -- both as parts and as a whole. It pulls you into its world, its characters, and everything in between.
This is my first try at fiction up until now, and you're giving me courage to keep feeling my way through this project to its completion. Much appreciated, Hasse!
"This tenderness was a beauty that insisted upon itself, even in the hardest places." <3
So much goodness in here. Love hearing about your process. This line, among many others, made my heart sing: “The forest is teaching me how grief and beauty are collaborators, each making the other more true.”
So many great comments, I agreed with so many. thanks Ann.
This was lovely. And thank you for introducing me to the concept of a morning altar!
A beautiful tale!
Thanks Brian! This story has been rattling around in the back of my brain for a long time. I’m so glad to make it for Greta & Anders. it’s been a lovely summer project. Thanks so much for reading along!
The beauty and poetry of this intertwine with the grief.
"where the grand oaks kept their ancient counsel." -- this really made me smile. I always feel this way about oaks. There's something fantastical, stoic, ancient in their manner.
I'm glad you liked this part, Nathan. We live on the edge of Duke Forest and the land surrounding our house is mostly mature oak trees. Back when we moved in, I thought, "Wow. We now own all these beautiful trees." But as I thought about it some more, I realized we definitely do not "own" them. They are wise and magnificent.
😊 They accepted you into their age-old domain. ;)