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E.L. Zeitgeist's avatar

Occam’s razor = clown porn 😳 Now per usual your CotW synchronicity strikes again. This Friday, I was at a resort with my mom and sis. They asked me to read their Tarot at the beach. In the middle of my mom’s, a very young boy—couldn’t have been older than 6 or 7 but also very small—stopped in his tracks and walked over to assess the situation. He just stood there with his head cocked inquisitively. I explained it was Tarot and why I used it. He asked a few astute question, never dropping his befuddled expression. I asked if he’d like to pick a card and gave him the deck. He selected, yes, the 7 of Cups. I read the description that was very lyrical and way over even my head (but I was recently taught to stop infantilizing kids who want to learn). I asked him if he liked to imagine things and he nodded yes. After a few more moments of Q&A, he vanished as quickly as he arrived, no polite words of parting included. Lately I’ve been so torn about what to believe anymore as I struggle to figure out my place (figuratively but also very literally) in this dead end American Dream I was promised. Perhaps this synch sent me FOOLish clowns and a wise little boy to ask me to pick a cup, any cup, and imagine whatever I want from it. It’s time to make my own American dream.

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Nicole's avatar

Dear Caroline, writing to you from faraway Bangkok, on what is now my Monday lunchtime, to say that I absolutely loved this hodgement magpie writing piece. It makes me feel more comfortable to explore my own writing. And, your Cards are always on point! Thank you for sharing how you interpret them yourself. It was quite useful to read through. This is a period of big transition in my life and I wanted to let you know that I look forward to your posts on what are my Monday mornings. You help me start the week on a positive, open, expansive, creative note. Sending love and hugs.

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Samantha Chesler's avatar

Love this comment :) I wholeheartedly agree about Mondays with Caroline. I live in Singapore and so get the same start the week inspiration as you, Nicole.

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Lit de Jour's avatar

Clown Day ranks high on my list of favorite memories with you! What a weird, delightful discovery….

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Maddie Burton's avatar

My grandparents lived in Toledo, Ohio, so we visited every November for Thanksgiving. One year, we passed an abandoned house—boarded-up windows, the works—with a faded sign out front that read "CLOWN FOR HIRE." I have a terrible memory but have never forgotten this chilling moment.

Which is all to say: even though it's only Monday, it's safe to say this newsletter = the highlight of my week 😅

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Charlotte (has) Baby Brain's avatar

It was ABSOLUTELY clown porn, I don't know how you can even question it. What a story 😂

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Hahaha, it’s true, that is the only logical conclusion. 😝

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David Roberts's avatar

I am now going to have nightmares about the Ronald McDonald clown hanging against the wall.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Hahaha, sorry. 😬 The Ronald McDonald in particular should probably come with a warning.

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Oh, this is too good, Caroline, a clown estate and porn, there’s definitely a short-story or novel “lurking” there!

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Jolene! Writing prompts for days. Glad you enjoyed it. 💛

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Evelyn Skye's avatar

Delightful. Thank you for the laughs!

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thanks, Evelyn! Glad you enjoyed it!

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

I’m ready to read an entire novel about the non clown civilian who had to sit there all day. Im thinking he expected a great inheritance and was met with…well, what you saw. His only solace? The porn box to mar Aunt Hilda’s reputation on the way out.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Oh, I love this take. Which makes me wonder if maybe you should write it? 😬 If the non-clown civilian inherited the Brooklyn apartment in addition to the clown bounty, he still did all right! But maybe in the novel it comes with a bizarre contingency. Like the property must be used to support future generations of clowns…

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Kris Jackson's avatar

I don’t have an aversion to clowns but I would certainly have been WIDE EYED at that estate sale waiting for something… unsavory to peek around a corner. Clown motifs were big in the early 70’s - my crib had a red, white, and blue clown on it. But my parents stopped there!!

The 7 of cups is such a hopeful card to me. It’s a “the world is your oyster” feeling. Choose wisely!

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Amelia Wilson's avatar

Pleeeease write a novel about a clown collecting porn star and a mysterious death in his/her/its haunted NY house!! 😸

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Patty Barrett's avatar

"Clowns of ceramic and plastic and clay" is a great start to an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark?

In high school, my mother drove a PT Cruiser and everyone joked that it was a clown car. One day, my friends and I went to the movies and were waiting for my mother to pick us up. We saw the PT Cruiser coming down the street so we inched closer to the curb. Nope... it was a literal car full of clowns. Like, filled to the BRIM. I still don't know how SO MANY CLOWNS fit in that car.

Maybe a cluster of clowns is a good omen.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Oh my goodness, I love this story so much. What an incredible visual!

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Samantha Chesler's avatar

So many thoughts! Clowns! Clown Porn! Over-flowing cups and so much choice... and the wreath-like a beautiful easter egg letting us hear what calls to us, rather than listening to what might work for others.

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Jackie's avatar

Happy summer Caroline. I felt right there with you at the clown porn sale. I would not be able to leave until I got the whole story.( Curiosity killed the cat.). Thank you. And thank you for encouraging me to continue dreaming as my 7 of cups are always full and changing. Curious if the Lady Liberty goers wearing the red hats are MAGA? Greetings from overseas.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Hi Jackie! Thank you for the kind words. I’m glad the 7 of Cups spoke to you. Good question about the red hats — I didn’t see any MAGA hats. In fact, we didn’t see many Americans! Based on the snippets of overheard conversation I caught, it appeared that the majority of visitors were European tourists.

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Meg Wardle's avatar

The clowns 😱 !! Omg.

Appreciated the Gnocchi palate cleanser 💛

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Istiaq Mian's avatar

Makes total sense that as someone who has seen a lot of things in NYC that you’d stumble upon a clown estate sale 😂 the question of whether or not the porn was clown or not is a good one.

Is there anything else on your NYC Bingo card that you have yet to do?!

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