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Mrs. Miller, or can I call you Elise?

You've been masquerading as an amateur, but I knew better. Nobody writes like you do without having run a few marathons. Seems to me you're going to have to keep writing, the way wild horses keep running. One way or another. At least, I hope you do, because I'm selfish.

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Beeswax yes and thank you and whinny! 🐎

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I wanted fame when I was young, but I never felt the drive to seek it out. And I realized gradually over the years that fame is not all it's cracked up to be. (A classmate of mine in high school with a locally-famous father hammered that truism into my brain, and after that, I saw evidence of it everywhere.)

Simply being yourself--the very best YOU you can be--is, I've found, a happier path.

Can't help thinking of a Scottish saying: "May those who love us, love us. And those who don't love us, may God turn their hearts. And if he doesn't turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles, so we'll know them by their limping.

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lol limping. I love that. It reminds me of a less funny quote by Byron Katie who says, "when I walk into a room everyone there loves me; they just don't realize it yet."

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Hey, now - the Scots stole that from the Irish! Anyway that’s what Granny told me, and she was there, she said.

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> "... may he turn their ankles, so we'll know them by their limping."

🙂 Reminds me of a couplet, author forgotten:

"No memory of having starred, Atones for later, total disregard."

Kind of takes the edge off a desire for fame, something that is quite understandable, quite "human".

Something in the same vein, or vain as the case may be, from Woody Allen:

"I don't want to be immortalized for my works. I want to be 'immortalized' by living forever" ... 😉🙂

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Nice to meet you! I consistently drop everything to read this blog, so I'm not surprised you have experience writing. I'm glad you're continuing to write. :)

I have a preschool grandson who's like your "Stella." He's very tactile, fascinated by the sensation of smushing or licking -- norms be damned. I've often wondered whether that's going to benefit or hurt him later in life (his twin brother has no such inclination and usually comes across as much more "normal").

I'm glad you've moved away from desiring fame, although I think we've all experienced that. I certainly remember accepting awards in front of the bathroom mirror.

But ugh....fame is such an empty achievement, no offense to rock stars like pinstripe David. I spent a few years being a PR girl who handled appearances by a lot of "famous" people (many labeled as such for a very short time). The first well-known person I "handled," I had to tell my knees to stop wobbling. But after awhile, I realized they were all just people, and many were not even particularly remarkable ones.

I also specifically remember that, on one excursion including my family, I noticed that my 3-year-old daughter, when she met Michael Jordan, couldn't care less about him. But everyone around Mr. Jordan did care, quite a lot, to their great detriment. It's pretty bad when the 3-year-old is the most mature person in the room.

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I'd love to hear your PR stories and stick around to hear how your tactile grandson turns out. 🩷

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One of your best, and most revealing pieces to date. Good stuff. Perhaps the time for a new novel is in the horizon.

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Thanks so much Long Enough!

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As long as she didn't see a dancing clown in the sewer...

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Elise! You’re out of the closet! How great. :) And what a fantastic piece.

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Thank you ARG! Out of the closet indeed!

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Shaun Cassidy 🤩

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Haha yeah! Swoon.💜

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I think Byron had the best take on FAME.

“Equal parts obscurity and fame,

The glory and the nothing of a name. “

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Wowee, I did not see this coming—and I love it!😍 I'm so happy you're finally "out" all the way here, and with a helluvan intro. It's so good you figured out the math and cracked your own code because it's given you an incredible voice for speaking truth with a pure, kicking-ass-taking-names energy. You're like an avatar for Gutsiness. Or Vulnerability. (Or both.) And I'm so glad to call you friend—and Elise—publicly!—finally! 😘🥰 What a journey to this moment...😅💃

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Thanks Leah! I also ahem, needed a respite from the current storyline. But we shall return. And you are an integral part! 💖💖💖

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❤️

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I feel validated because you’ve responded to my comments before. I mean, you’re famous!! You wrote two books, and Michael J Fox, for realz? ❤️🤣 Aren’t we all just a tad bit messed up and ain’t it fun?! Anyway, I love reading your essays.

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Hell-to-the-yeah, MM!!!

Reiki and yoga nidra are on my to-do list…let u know how that goes.

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Woohoo! Lmk about reiki. I missed that boat.

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I already want to read this and the other story again! So glad it was not Bono.

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That truly made me laugh out loud. Bono. 😂 I would have though. 🥸

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I think I have an adjacent rock star story that only involves the local boys in punk rock bands playing all ages shows on a Sunday afternoon in Boston.

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Hot ❤️‍🔥

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Beautiful

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Thank you 🙏🏼

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Mrs Miller - dealing with fire after fire BUT I am going to read, read this- life is not a snapshot… it’s a bigger picture— that does not help & not meant to sound stupid or cliche or minimalist— you are not alone ‼️❤️🙏

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