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Celia deMayo's avatar

Miss you more than you will ever know, Betty Jo. As a recipient of the beautiful flower arrangements from your garden and the earliest memories of our children’s ‘best friends’, our street and our hearts have kept us supported and connected, through thick and thin.

I try to look forward and see what the future holds, one that may look a bit different, but in all the most important ways, will be the same. Thank you for your thoughts and memories that we share with you— the best thing about our street and that home behind the picket fence!

Much love always,

Celia and Bob deMayo, Jimmy, Aura and Benny

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Eve Van Dyke's avatar

So beautiful.

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Jack's avatar

Incredible piece

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Betty-Jo Tilley's avatar

Thank you, to Adam Zemel and The Opposite of Nihilism, for giving my essay a home. ❤️‍🩹

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Opposite of Nihilism's avatar

Thank you for writing this beautiful essay , Betty-Jo Tilley!

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Lisa Loop's avatar

This moved me to tears. I wish for a speedy recovery for all concerned. So strange how LA looks so green and surging with life right now, while the burn zones remain. Betty-Jo is a wonderful writer.

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Opposite of Nihilism's avatar

Thank you for reading!

For anyone lurking in the comment section, read Lisa's Opposite of Nihilism essay, it's a great read and aging like a fine wine with each passing week: https://www.oppositeofnihilism.com/p/lets-dance-notes-on-joyful-resistance

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Karen G's avatar

This is such a wonderfully written piece that captures our heartache so perfectly. Thank you for sharing! Much love!

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Peggy King's avatar

Your touching, inspired story brought me to tears, Betty-Jo. I'm a tough cry, but you took me back home to the beloved place I, like you, lost last January 7th. I long so much to go home, to be among my beloved neighbors and friends, to have our lives back; and you gave me that joy again here, if only for a short few minutes it was heaven.

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