This is a wonderful post Diane. Thank you for sharing your dad with all of us. I especially love hearing how you guys walked to meet him when you knew he was on his way home just so you could get in the car with him for a couple of minutes. That is precious. What a lucky dad. 🩷
You’re so sweet Bria! As kids, we felt like the lucky ones! We had a lot of fun thanks to Dad’s joyful and positive approach to life. Thank you again for reading and for your support and friendship! ❤️
What a beautiful tribute to your dad- he sounds wonderful. How lucky for you to have such a cheerleader in your life! This post is a reminder of why write, even if everything is rejected- because each piece is a reminder of the time we are in, and can bring unexpected comfort and connection in the future. I too understand that pancake feeling and hope it passes soon for you!
Yes, I really was lucky to have such a positive person as a role model and cheerleader! And thank you, my friend, for being such a positive force yourself — I appreciate your support! Hope you aren’t feeling like a pancake these days! xox
Awww that’s so sweet and sounds like a great dad! It’s beautiful to be able to draw on someone else’s strength/optimism when we don’t have our own. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is!
What a lovely sounding dad you had! How lucky 🍀 were you? So sorry you lost him. It’s never easy to lose a parent even as time passes. ❤️ thanks for sharing a glimpse into your memories and your recent weeks. Something good will happen. 🥰🫶🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
Thank you so much, Elaine! I was lucky to have Dad in my corner, that’s for sure! And I know you’re like him — a cheerleader and positive force of the best kind! Thank you for being here! I’m feeling excited and positive for you, too!! ❤️❤️
My favorite post yet, Ms. Roth. Love your Tiny Love Story, too. Here's to your Dad's positivity and love -- may it continue to ping-pong in your head, inspiring you every day.
Thank you so much, Kate! Talk about positivity and love — that’s what you radiate and give every day! Sending a big hug. I’m grateful for your friendship!! ❤️❤️
Awww, what a lovely tribute to your dad. I'm sorry that you don't have his physical presence anymore, but I appreciate you keeping his memory alive and sharing him with us! I think that story is wonderful, too. 💚
Hello Diane. Such a tender, deeply human piece. The way memory turns into motivation is truly beautiful and very moving. Thank you so much for sharing. 🩷🩷🩷
This is such a beautiful post about your father. Realizing how old he would be. I don’t know why, but I found that so gut-wrenching. I lost my dad 13 years ago and hadn’t really done the math until just now.
He sounds like an incredible man. Thank you for sharing this one.
Many thanks for this comment, Ricky. I’m so sorry for your loss. Sometimes, it feels like we just lost Dad. I don’t know if that feeling ever really goes away. But he was a great guy. And he definitely still shows up when we need a lift.
Thank you for reading, and for your support. I’m so grateful!
Diane, this is such a wonderful remembrance of your Dad. He and my late Dad with his approach to "keeping things light" sounds a lot alike in that regard. Although I think your Dad was even more positive than mine. I'm so sorry you lost him especially in such a tough way.
It sounds like he keeps inspiring you and is theer in some way for you always which is wonderful.
I wouldn't let that NYT rejection throw you. What do they know anyway?
Lastly I'm impressed you're keeping up your resistance training, but I hope eventually you enjoy it, or at least its results and it is less "penance."
Keep up the humor and the writing my friend. You're no pancake!
This was a lovely tribute, Diane. My parents have been gone nearly 5 years and I still wish I could tell them all about my rejections, LOL. It's wonderful that you were so close and that you know exactly how he would respond to you. That's a gift you will always carry in your heart.
Thank you so much Lynn. It’s lucky, indeed, to have a Dad who can still advise, even when he’s not here. Sending a hug—in cameraderie and gratitude! ❤️
Lovely tribute! We never stop thinking about our parents. My mom's been gone 14 years, and I'm still writing her into my essays.
I think when we become stuck because of rejection or too much of whatever, it's a natural pause for our minds to regroup our scattered thoughts. I often rediscover that the world doesn't actually end. :-)
This was such a lovely, sweet, heartwarming piece, Diane! I second everything Lindsey said--what a gift to have such a steady hand on your shoulders in one way or another all those years and, basically still! Tom Petty was right: the waiting is the hardest part when it comes to releasing art and finding your own way out of any valley :) Be good to yourself. Ice cream helps. (That's a lost Tom Petty lyric. Swear to Truth). :)
You're so awesome, Sheila! Thank you for reading--and for all of your support as I've worked my way through the blahs! And I'll follow Tom Petty's sage advice about the ice cream. He obviously understood writing challenges, so his remedy must be right, too. Hugs to you, my friend! ❤️
Thank you so much, Maria—for reading and commenting. I hope you have such a person in your life. Everyone needs cheerleaders. I was so lucky that my father happened to be one of mine. ❤️
Oh, Diane, I can feel how much you miss him. I want to give you a hug and pat, pat, pat you on the back. And rejection? I believe it's what makes us strong humans with the capacity to understand. Without it, we would be like jellyfish floating around, stinging others with insensitivity, intolerance, and callousness. You are so cool! And happy birthday to your dad. 🥲❤️🩹🎇
Ah thank you for this, Yuni! You are a wonderful cheerleader yourself! I do miss my father. He was a positive force in my life. And he certainly continues to help me see the good in things, even rejection, because he would agree with you: it creates strength and empathy.
Again, thank you for your wonderful support! I’m so grateful to you! And wishing you so many good things, especially with your writing! xoxo❤️
This is a wonderful post Diane. Thank you for sharing your dad with all of us. I especially love hearing how you guys walked to meet him when you knew he was on his way home just so you could get in the car with him for a couple of minutes. That is precious. What a lucky dad. 🩷
You’re so sweet Bria! As kids, we felt like the lucky ones! We had a lot of fun thanks to Dad’s joyful and positive approach to life. Thank you again for reading and for your support and friendship! ❤️
I'm very grateful for you Diane.
What a beautiful tribute to your dad- he sounds wonderful. How lucky for you to have such a cheerleader in your life! This post is a reminder of why write, even if everything is rejected- because each piece is a reminder of the time we are in, and can bring unexpected comfort and connection in the future. I too understand that pancake feeling and hope it passes soon for you!
Yes, I really was lucky to have such a positive person as a role model and cheerleader! And thank you, my friend, for being such a positive force yourself — I appreciate your support! Hope you aren’t feeling like a pancake these days! xox
Awww that’s so sweet and sounds like a great dad! It’s beautiful to be able to draw on someone else’s strength/optimism when we don’t have our own. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is!
You are so right about this Shira. Thank you for reading and showing your support! I deeply appreciate it!!
What a lovely sounding dad you had! How lucky 🍀 were you? So sorry you lost him. It’s never easy to lose a parent even as time passes. ❤️ thanks for sharing a glimpse into your memories and your recent weeks. Something good will happen. 🥰🫶🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
Thank you so much, Elaine! I was lucky to have Dad in my corner, that’s for sure! And I know you’re like him — a cheerleader and positive force of the best kind! Thank you for being here! I’m feeling excited and positive for you, too!! ❤️❤️
My favorite post yet, Ms. Roth. Love your Tiny Love Story, too. Here's to your Dad's positivity and love -- may it continue to ping-pong in your head, inspiring you every day.
Thank you so much, Kate! Talk about positivity and love — that’s what you radiate and give every day! Sending a big hug. I’m grateful for your friendship!! ❤️❤️
Awww, what a lovely tribute to your dad. I'm sorry that you don't have his physical presence anymore, but I appreciate you keeping his memory alive and sharing him with us! I think that story is wonderful, too. 💚
Thank you so much, Michelle! I'm so grateful for your support here! Sending hugs ❤️
Hello Diane. Such a tender, deeply human piece. The way memory turns into motivation is truly beautiful and very moving. Thank you so much for sharing. 🩷🩷🩷
Thank you so much for that lovely comment, Palabra. I'm lucky to have Dad still motivating me and also to have such warm and gracious readers!! ❤️❤️
This is such a beautiful post about your father. Realizing how old he would be. I don’t know why, but I found that so gut-wrenching. I lost my dad 13 years ago and hadn’t really done the math until just now.
He sounds like an incredible man. Thank you for sharing this one.
Many thanks for this comment, Ricky. I’m so sorry for your loss. Sometimes, it feels like we just lost Dad. I don’t know if that feeling ever really goes away. But he was a great guy. And he definitely still shows up when we need a lift.
Thank you for reading, and for your support. I’m so grateful!
This inspired a small tear and a big smile. Thank you for sharing 💗
Thank you so much for reading, Lisa's Trees! I'm so grateful for your support and your friendship!!❤️❤️
Diane, this is such a wonderful remembrance of your Dad. He and my late Dad with his approach to "keeping things light" sounds a lot alike in that regard. Although I think your Dad was even more positive than mine. I'm so sorry you lost him especially in such a tough way.
It sounds like he keeps inspiring you and is theer in some way for you always which is wonderful.
I wouldn't let that NYT rejection throw you. What do they know anyway?
Lastly I'm impressed you're keeping up your resistance training, but I hope eventually you enjoy it, or at least its results and it is less "penance."
Keep up the humor and the writing my friend. You're no pancake!
Thank you so much, Melanie! Yes, I do feel lucky that Dad continues to inspire me. I hope your dad does the same for you. ❤️
And yes, I still haven’t quite embraced the resistance training, but I’m hoping that will come with more reps. Fingers crossed!
Many many thanks, as always, for your support! I’m so grateful for your friendship❤️❤️
This was a lovely tribute, Diane. My parents have been gone nearly 5 years and I still wish I could tell them all about my rejections, LOL. It's wonderful that you were so close and that you know exactly how he would respond to you. That's a gift you will always carry in your heart.
Thank you so much Lynn. It’s lucky, indeed, to have a Dad who can still advise, even when he’s not here. Sending a hug—in cameraderie and gratitude! ❤️
Lovely tribute! We never stop thinking about our parents. My mom's been gone 14 years, and I'm still writing her into my essays.
I think when we become stuck because of rejection or too much of whatever, it's a natural pause for our minds to regroup our scattered thoughts. I often rediscover that the world doesn't actually end. :-)
Good luck with the querying, and keep smiling! 💜
Thank you so much, Leonora. And yes, sometimes we do need a break! Maybe my blah state is just a mental adjustment. I hope so!
And thank you for reading and commenting! As always, I’m so grateful for your support ❤️
This is so lovely, Diane. I adore this. Hugs to you.
Thanks a million for your support, Sierra, and for reading!. I so appreciate it! Sending loads of hugs right back at you!!
This was such a lovely, sweet, heartwarming piece, Diane! I second everything Lindsey said--what a gift to have such a steady hand on your shoulders in one way or another all those years and, basically still! Tom Petty was right: the waiting is the hardest part when it comes to releasing art and finding your own way out of any valley :) Be good to yourself. Ice cream helps. (That's a lost Tom Petty lyric. Swear to Truth). :)
You're so awesome, Sheila! Thank you for reading--and for all of your support as I've worked my way through the blahs! And I'll follow Tom Petty's sage advice about the ice cream. He obviously understood writing challenges, so his remedy must be right, too. Hugs to you, my friend! ❤️
Hugs back! We all have to protect our energy these days. Sending all the good mojo your way! 💗
This made me teary-eyed. I loved reading the warmth and optimism in how you described your dad.
Thank you so much, Maria—for reading and commenting. I hope you have such a person in your life. Everyone needs cheerleaders. I was so lucky that my father happened to be one of mine. ❤️
Oh, Diane, I can feel how much you miss him. I want to give you a hug and pat, pat, pat you on the back. And rejection? I believe it's what makes us strong humans with the capacity to understand. Without it, we would be like jellyfish floating around, stinging others with insensitivity, intolerance, and callousness. You are so cool! And happy birthday to your dad. 🥲❤️🩹🎇
Ah thank you for this, Yuni! You are a wonderful cheerleader yourself! I do miss my father. He was a positive force in my life. And he certainly continues to help me see the good in things, even rejection, because he would agree with you: it creates strength and empathy.
Again, thank you for your wonderful support! I’m so grateful to you! And wishing you so many good things, especially with your writing! xoxo❤️