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Carrie Stevens's avatar

So I can share a poem w/ friends over a meal.

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Carrie Stevens's avatar

You are such a gem. I love your poetry and photos. I'm going to start writing them in a book..Poetry by Fran ;-)

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Fran Gardner's avatar

Thank you, Carrie. The poems come so often, I don’t take time to corral them.

I got up in the middle of the night last night and let my pen write a poem for me. I thought it seemed trite but when I dusted it off this morning I really liked it. Even though it’s about winter I’m going to run it this Saturday (April 19).

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Mary Anne Ericson's avatar

I enjoyed reading about those bus drivers. And the new -- for me -- thought that bus interiors can have good or bad feng shui. By the way, I write ideas down in the middle of the night too, because however vivid at the time, they'll have evaporated by morning.

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Fran Gardner's avatar

As I wrote to Carrie above, I wrote a poem in the middle of the night. The first line, “When winter held me in her grip,” came to me as I lay in bed, and I had to swing my legs out and pick up the notebook and write it.

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Richard La France's avatar

Again, it's such a treat to read something pleasant; often sweet. I read your posts beginning to end. Tonight (1:21am Pacific time) the reading made me want to get out of this apartment, away from the TV or SubStack, and the constant need to clean the daily messes in the kitchen. For months the farthest I've gone on a break is in front of the apartment building, sitting on my walker, smoking a cigarette, dumping the lit end on the ground and putting the butt in the pack to be thrown away indoors.

Thank you, Fran.

Richard

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Fran Gardner's avatar

I’m noticing these days that instead of cigarette butts discarded on the street, I’m seeing detritus from vaping. Last week, I noticed an oil slick in a rain puddle and realized you never see that anymore. Cars are engineered better these days.

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Richard La France's avatar

Again, it's such a treat to read something pleasant; often sweet. I read your posts beginning to end. Tonight (1:21am Pacific time) the reading made me want to get out of this apartment, away from the TV or SubStack, and the constant need to clean the daily messes in the kitchen. For months the farthest I've gone on a break is in front of the apartment building, sitting on my walker, smoking a cigarette, dumping the lit end on the ground and putting the butt in the pack to be thrown away indoors.

Thank you, Fran.

Richard

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

It's amazing how sprawling a city Portland is. That bus line seems to go forever. But the buses look comfortable, clean, and safe especially with drivers that are so cognizant of riders' needs. And what's with the skeletons? It's funny and weird, but is this a new decorating trend, or is it specific to Portland. Also, I enjoyed your sonnet a lot. Rings true in every way. At least you get up and write down your thoughts. I just lay in bed tossing about with threads of ideas coming, of course, going.

One question: how does the Paypal tip jar work? I'd like to give people that option, but I don't want to represent a company product in the process or risk someone's personal information.

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Fran Gardner's avatar

I can’t remember how I got Paypal to work. I think I searched in the app. … I remember, I copied someone else’s link, but it was HER tip jar. So then I went in in fixed it. I’m sure you will figure it out. I only get a tip that way occasionally. Lately, I’ve had a spate of paid subscribers!

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

Congratulations! You're hitting the mark with a lot of people. I really enjoy following along your your forays around Portland and all the beauty and funny things you share. It's always a treat to see your post in my email.

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