26 Comments
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Hayley's avatar

Thank you for sharing such a beautiful reflection, Caroline.

I so relate to the unanswered questions. For various reasons I'm in quite an intense period of grief for my Nana, who I adored and died in 2013 when I was 20. Because her last years were sadly very impacted by Alzheimer's we didn't really get to know each other as two adults. I know we'd have loved each other just as well as when I was a child, but the shape of that love will forever be unknown.

Sending you love xx

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Hayley. I am touched to hear this spoke to you, and also sorry about your Nana. It’s such a gift to find understanding in others’ stories, especially amid the questions. Sending you love.

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Sweet Irene's avatar

My beloved mother-in-law has been gone 38 years but I've never gotten through November, December and January (our shared birthday month) without days filled with deep grief. She loved everything about Thanksgiving and Christmas. I've tried so hard to keep her joy alive for the family. Does that make my fiction their reality?

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Samantha Chesler's avatar

Raw, honest, and beautiful. I loved this, and I love your appreciation of the fictions and truths that live inside us all and the quest to hear what is unsaid. You have now completed your year of 'firsts.' Sending love as this anniversary comes and goes. x

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you. Appreciate your kindness always. x

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Jenovia 🕸️'s avatar

Sending you a squeeze. 🫂 this was beautiful. Catching up on your newsletters is giving me so much coziness on this cloudy Monday. Thank you ❤️‍🔥

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Jenovia. I missed you! Lovely to have you back.

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Jenovia 🕸️'s avatar

I missed YOU! 🥹

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Kristin's avatar

What a beautiful and sentimental reflection. You are an incredible writer 💚

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you so much 💛

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Francesca Brzezicki's avatar

A beautiful reflection 🩷

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Charlotte (has) Baby Brain's avatar

This is stunning, Caroline, you write about grief so beautifully.

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David Roberts's avatar

Lovely.

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Meg Wardle's avatar

So eloquent and tender. Hope you’re doing okay 💛 Anniversaries can be real rough. Take extra gentle care this week x

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Gabrielle Brown's avatar

Gorgeous.

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Doris Füllgrabe's avatar

Love you, love your wisdom on truth and realness. 💕

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Joyce Ragard's avatar

I loved this post. Sending love. ❤️

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Joyce. ❤️

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Stefie Kan-Andrews's avatar

Thank you so much for these words ♥️ always appreciate the gentle reminder that grief isn’t a straight line (nor should it be) 🙏

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Stefie. ❤️

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E.L. Zeitgeist's avatar

“We are all fiction, as far as I’m concerned, even as we live and breathe…” Woah. Just… yes.

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Stephanie Blount's avatar

This is perfect, my love <3

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, I love you.

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Kris Jackson's avatar

So eloquent. So lovely. Sending you much love this week as you continue to navigate your grief.

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Caroline Cala Donofrio's avatar

Thank you, Kris. I appreciate you.

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