18 Comments
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Linda's avatar

Absolutely beautiful!!!

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Kaylor Gretchen's avatar

Oh, Pat…how very timely for me to share with my two roommates our sophomore year at Ohio University. These two dear girls have both lost their spouses in a span of only four months, and both to cancers that only a handful of people ever get, so quite a surprise for each family to learn of the reason for such symptoms as each husband had.

As l have told you before, you write SO well and with such clarity of thought and description. You are truly using your God-given talents to bring Him the glory! Thank you for this!

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Patricia A Branning's avatar

We don’t own our stories. God writes them on our lives, then appoints us to stand up and share them. Our stories matter. We’ve all been blessed with the story we have - and I want all who may be listening to know that story is worth telling.

Stories from the heart penetrate the hidden realities of the world in which we live into the barely known realities of our own life.

“I never really knew myself until I write wrote my story.” Those are the words from a student in my Memoir class last summer at OLLI. Thank you for writing. xo Pat

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Backroad Portfolio's avatar

Such a beautiful tribute to your lost loved one. You have taken a very worthy and righteous path in life to approach it this way. No one can truly understand what it’s like until you’re in the actual situation so reading an essay like this is very educational for the rest of us who are not in this situation. Thank you for sharing such intimate thoughts.

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Patricia A Branning's avatar

The greatest power of Story is to illuminate. From all the emails and notes I have received the past two days, it touched the hearts of readers everywhere. I am grateful.

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Ann Seelye's avatar

Thank you for your open-hearted beautiful clear writing, Pat. I am grateful for you and Andrew, my new neighbors.

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Patricia A Branning's avatar

Thank you, Ann. I am grateful for you, also.

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Felice LaMarca's avatar

Thank you!

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Patricia A Branning's avatar

I don’t know what is going on in your life, but gratitude helps overcome pain. Often our actions will follow our mindset but it takes practice to get the negative thoughts out and replace with positivity. There is always something, somewhere to be thankful for.

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Earthlink's avatar

Dearest Pat, I am happy you wrote this. It is important to share such intimate parts of life without fear of other's response or non-response. It helps us others. I have never been married, but know enough from mother, sister, friends, quick to absorb what I see and hear and integrate into my being. Thank you. Heike

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Patricia A Branning's avatar

Always a good day when I hear from you. I hope you are well and still traveling the world. Especially, Savannah. I feel I will meet up with you some day.

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Beth Blalock's avatar

Beautifully written, as usual 🥰❤️

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Tom Poland's avatar

Heartfelt ... and beautiful.

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loretta gorman's avatar

I am moved and astounded at the emotion and clarity you bring to suffering loss, moving me to tears, and wrapping it in gratitude. You are a beautiful and gifted writer and this essay is worth holding onto.

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Lynn Faulkner's avatar

This is sooo

Poignant and perfect!!

Also Love ur writing and was especially intrigued by ur connection to Pleasant Point Plantation! We moved here December 2024 after 8 years living on St Helena and just love the community!!

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Sherri Corker's avatar

Beautifully written…Oct is my favorite month as well…seems to ignite! Bless you in this season🙏🏻

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Jan Noffsinger's avatar

Just lovely, Pat! Thanks so much for sharing and so beautifully written. I have your cookbook and it too is lovely. Your writing exudes the feeling of the South. It is a gift.

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Sherry Howell's avatar

This is beautiful!

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