Such a compelling narrative! Fascinating and so touching...poignant, even. I was deceived by a liar, too, though my story is different. Different, yet so many similarities. (((Hugs)))
I’d suggest a donation to The Trustees, the non-profit conservation + preservation I used to work for when I lived in Massachusetts. It’s a local MA thing, not national, but they do good work.
Thanks, Lara. I continue to love reading your posts. Your honesty and vulnerability and intelligence makes me love who you are and makes my fears and vulnerability easier to bear. I wait for your writings. And now I have to wait another week
Laila thank you so much for reading and your kind words. And for understanding why I am doing this. So many people's stories and vulnerabilities, have been helpful to me, it makes me so proud and and grateful my stories are doing that for you. <3
Thank you so much and you know, I didn't even put it together that the Tracy Ullman songs were thematic with the post until I after I went to bed last night. The mind works in mysterious ways.
Please let me know if/when you watch DDF. I would love to know what you think! It inspired two entries in the Starr Family Phrasebook: "I'm your fella, Isabella" and "I'm PLAYING with my FRIENDS!"
Thank you so much for reading and your encouragement - it means the world <3
I'm thoroughly enjoying reading about this. I heard it in real time, but to see it in black and white feels different. I'm loving how well you have navigated Substack with links and attachments and all the rest. You're doing a great job!
Thank you so much my friend. So grateful you were there for me and stuck with me through all of the dramz. I'm sorry I have to be there for you through your shizz because I'm sorry you have the shizz, but I'm grateful I can return the kindness.
I’m sure other readers, like me, are on the edge of their seats waiting for each installment. Keep going—your writing is thoughtful and engaging—and seriously, it’s not making the editor in me cringe, which seems rarer and rarer these days. Keep sharing your story, please. It’s healing for you and so, so, interesting for us.
Thank you so much Rebekah! That means so much to me. I have to admit the copy editor who is NOT in me is cringing with every re-read of my posts. I see all of the dropped words, sentences I would structure differently and other mistakes that are GLARING now and I didn't see when I wrote and edited.
Someday I hope to get ahead of myself and have the folks who offered to proof before I publish take a stab at it, but until then, I'm grateful folks are reading past them.
Thank you so much for your support and encouragement - it means the world <3
Lara, I have to confess I haven’t been leaving comments here because I was too lazy to sign into Substack after subscribing the first time! (I wish they made it easy to just stay logged in.) It IS so much easier to like and comment on FB. And since you don’t have to sign in to read here, well. . . . (I wonder if a lot of your other readers are like me in this regard?) But I have read and enjoyed every single thing you’ve written here! Charmed by the Jon Hamm stories and love the luck and serendipity that went into all of that. Glued to the C stories, both because I care about what you went through and because it’s parallel to a few podcasts I’ve listened to about toxic relationships — these are scary things and far too common. Keep on writing and sharing as long as you feel it! I’m assuming you took care of the Giving offer, but if not, Depelchin Children’s Center does amazing work for foster and orphaned children: Depelchin.org xoxo, Betsy
Thank you so much Betsy, and yeah, I know Substack doesn't make it as easy as Facebook to engage. It's another *thing* and I appreciate you and everyone who take the extra steps to comment. I know it's a pain and it's so appreciated.
As is your support and encouragement. It means so, so much to me.
And no! Not to late! I'm going to pick a commenter/liker/replier at random and make a donation on Giving Tuesday (next week) to the charity of their choice.
Hi Lara. Happy Thanksgiving week. I’m on the edge of my seat. Happy you got away. Excellent Substack! I’m grateful for freedom, and the health of my family. Xox
Kerry thank you so much for reading, your kind words and support. It means the world to me. Wishing you and your healthy, beautiful family a delicious and joyous Thanksgiving <3
Wow wow wow. All I can say is that I was instantly reminded of the movie Singles where Jim True-Frost says to Campbell Scott, "I live my life like a French movie." I spent a 1/2 hour trying to find a clip for you and it does not seem to exist--hopefully you saw the movie and remember it. You should start writing a screenplay.
Oh Amy thank you so much! Yeah, it definitely felt like I was living in a movie. I joked to my therapist, you can only shout, "How is this my life? I'm a normal person!" so many times before you have to acknowledge your life might *not* be that normal.
Thank you so much for reading and your support and encouragement - it means so much to me <3
Such a compelling narrative! Fascinating and so touching...poignant, even. I was deceived by a liar, too, though my story is different. Different, yet so many similarities. (((Hugs)))
I’d suggest a donation to The Trustees, the non-profit conservation + preservation I used to work for when I lived in Massachusetts. It’s a local MA thing, not national, but they do good work.
Thank you so much for reading and your kind words. I'm so sorry you had to go through what you went through to really get it.
Thanks too for the donation suggestion and your work with them!
Thanks, Lara. I continue to love reading your posts. Your honesty and vulnerability and intelligence makes me love who you are and makes my fears and vulnerability easier to bear. I wait for your writings. And now I have to wait another week
Laila thank you so much for reading and your kind words. And for understanding why I am doing this. So many people's stories and vulnerabilities, have been helpful to me, it makes me so proud and and grateful my stories are doing that for you. <3
Riveted! Your Ullman choices are on point theme-wise, wow what a cast on DDF-- how have I never watched?-- and KAJ is amaze. Keep going!
Thank you so much and you know, I didn't even put it together that the Tracy Ullman songs were thematic with the post until I after I went to bed last night. The mind works in mysterious ways.
Please let me know if/when you watch DDF. I would love to know what you think! It inspired two entries in the Starr Family Phrasebook: "I'm your fella, Isabella" and "I'm PLAYING with my FRIENDS!"
Thank you so much for reading and your encouragement - it means the world <3
I'm thoroughly enjoying reading about this. I heard it in real time, but to see it in black and white feels different. I'm loving how well you have navigated Substack with links and attachments and all the rest. You're doing a great job!
Thank you so much my friend. So grateful you were there for me and stuck with me through all of the dramz. I'm sorry I have to be there for you through your shizz because I'm sorry you have the shizz, but I'm grateful I can return the kindness.
I’m sure other readers, like me, are on the edge of their seats waiting for each installment. Keep going—your writing is thoughtful and engaging—and seriously, it’s not making the editor in me cringe, which seems rarer and rarer these days. Keep sharing your story, please. It’s healing for you and so, so, interesting for us.
Thank you so much Rebekah! That means so much to me. I have to admit the copy editor who is NOT in me is cringing with every re-read of my posts. I see all of the dropped words, sentences I would structure differently and other mistakes that are GLARING now and I didn't see when I wrote and edited.
Someday I hope to get ahead of myself and have the folks who offered to proof before I publish take a stab at it, but until then, I'm grateful folks are reading past them.
Thank you so much for your support and encouragement - it means the world <3
There’s always things to fix! But the fact that your writing captivates enough to not be distracting us is high praise and well deserved :)
Lara, I have to confess I haven’t been leaving comments here because I was too lazy to sign into Substack after subscribing the first time! (I wish they made it easy to just stay logged in.) It IS so much easier to like and comment on FB. And since you don’t have to sign in to read here, well. . . . (I wonder if a lot of your other readers are like me in this regard?) But I have read and enjoyed every single thing you’ve written here! Charmed by the Jon Hamm stories and love the luck and serendipity that went into all of that. Glued to the C stories, both because I care about what you went through and because it’s parallel to a few podcasts I’ve listened to about toxic relationships — these are scary things and far too common. Keep on writing and sharing as long as you feel it! I’m assuming you took care of the Giving offer, but if not, Depelchin Children’s Center does amazing work for foster and orphaned children: Depelchin.org xoxo, Betsy
Thank you so much Betsy, and yeah, I know Substack doesn't make it as easy as Facebook to engage. It's another *thing* and I appreciate you and everyone who take the extra steps to comment. I know it's a pain and it's so appreciated.
As is your support and encouragement. It means so, so much to me.
And no! Not to late! I'm going to pick a commenter/liker/replier at random and make a donation on Giving Tuesday (next week) to the charity of their choice.
Oh, haha. I thought it was yesterday. Right—next week. I do know that. 🙂. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi Lara. Happy Thanksgiving week. I’m on the edge of my seat. Happy you got away. Excellent Substack! I’m grateful for freedom, and the health of my family. Xox
Kerry thank you so much for reading, your kind words and support. It means the world to me. Wishing you and your healthy, beautiful family a delicious and joyous Thanksgiving <3
Wow wow wow. All I can say is that I was instantly reminded of the movie Singles where Jim True-Frost says to Campbell Scott, "I live my life like a French movie." I spent a 1/2 hour trying to find a clip for you and it does not seem to exist--hopefully you saw the movie and remember it. You should start writing a screenplay.
Oh Amy thank you so much! Yeah, it definitely felt like I was living in a movie. I joked to my therapist, you can only shout, "How is this my life? I'm a normal person!" so many times before you have to acknowledge your life might *not* be that normal.
Thank you so much for reading and your support and encouragement - it means so much to me <3