19 Comments
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Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

Oh thank you, thank you.

That piece came from finding an old journal book. shortly after that happened, i jotted down in the journal. it was odd because i had bumped into the photograph my wife took and remembered that moment but couldn't quite remember exactly what she said. and then i found the journal. and there it was. plain as day.

i think it was the journalist in me that wrote it down.

thanks so much for your response.

when it was first published it got something like 350,000 views and gobs of comments, emails and even a few letters. one woman told me she'd named her daughter Lillian because she wanted her daughter to have the life-force of my daughter.

that was a first. and only. jeepers.

g

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Tamy Faierman M.D.'s avatar

As a mom of 5, I feel this one deeply, Geoffrey.

My entire body is smiling.

Thank you , Lilly's dad🥰✨🙏

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Kara Westerman (she/her)'s avatar

I remember this. It is so goddamned beautiful.

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Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

thank you so much.

this story, I think, shows the value of keeping a journal which is something I do on a horribly irregular way.

but I did jot this down. and several years later, going through my journals — which I consider notes more than coherent writing — I came upon this, jotted down the day of.

the story was already done. and the photo, well, my partner says that was the only reason the story went so viral back when it was first posted. she’s right, of course.

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Kara Westerman (she/her)'s avatar

everything about is magical.

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Penrose's avatar

Best gift ever?

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Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

indeed.

she doesn’t remember it, of course.

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Ronnie's avatar

So sweet!

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Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

thanks, ronnie. hope you and j. are doing well.

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John Breneman's avatar

Absolutely beautiful

Great job with the audio and image !!

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Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

thank you john. i published this some time ago in cowbird.com (a fabulous storytelling site that, sadly, has since been shut down). My wife said the story went viral (it did) because of her photo. Hard to argue. :)

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John Breneman's avatar

Yes, Geoffrey

The photo (esp. Lily) feels ethereal, as does the piece.

The audio really lifted too, imo

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Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

thanks, john.

sometimes a photo helps one remember what life was like when your child was young.

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Robin Payes's avatar

Sweetness and light

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Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

thank you.

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Douglas's avatar

Smart kid.

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Luz Marina Villeda's avatar

💖💖

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Sharon Little's avatar

Wow! What a gift!

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Jennifer Granville's avatar

perfect.

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