11 Comments
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Bernie Mortensen's avatar

Thank you Fran. Mary kept her last name of Newcomer. Pro hair dresser all these years we have been together. Thanks. I loved the poem. When I was young and foolish I wrote a short story ending it with “ I’m still Beau Champ”. My father’s name was Bernhardt. And I am Bernie. I like my grandfathers names better. Christopher as in offer. And Mort Mortensen.

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Robin Young's avatar

Robin here, writing another fan note. My mother, a writer and anglophile named me, I've assumed, after Christopher Robin. Which really appeals to me. My mother's name was Biloine. Pronounced "Bill O'ween". But everyone called her Billie. We both grew up with gender neutral names. Which I always liked. I think Mom did too.

Thank you again. I sure enjoy walking around the neighborhood and becoming with you.

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Marita Ingalsbe's avatar

Hi Fran, You write about everyday things and make them wondrous! And somehow disconnected things become connected. Thank you!

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Kieran Cannistra's avatar

The Presbyterian church has been sold! http://www.thelantern.org/

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Fran Gardner's avatar

Sorry, can’t confirm that. I did check before I published and I just tried again still cannot find any mention of a sale. The link you shared is a stub.

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Kieran Cannistra's avatar

Wrong link, sorry!!! https://www.thelanternpdx.org/

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

HA! My knitter friends and I were talking about yarn bombing just last week, but nobody mentioned June 11the as the official date for such shenanigans. I'd love to do it sometime, though.

Stephen is a very popular name among my maternal ancestors. I recall having at least five Stephen Hales' all in a row, one right after another. That family wasn't very imaginative in names, but one of those Stephens was a stone mason and carved some sculptured works for the Mormon Temple buildings in SLC.

How on earth do people get on one of those unicycles in the first place? After you're on it, maybe it's easy to ride, but getting on?????

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Fran Gardner's avatar

They stand up. All you have to do is step on. I think they’re crazy.

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Richard La France's avatar

Hi Fran. It's Richard again.

This was really a fun writing by you.

Just a couple of comments:

I took an interest in all the major religions when I was in my twenties. I bought a large coffee table book entitled "The Five Great Religions of the World".

I read all of it and discovered that all the sects were beautiful before being slowly rewritten through the centuries.

The funny thing, I thought, was that they all started with the main characters riding in horse drawn vehicles fighting those who weren't of their faiths.

A most interesting read I had separately was the entire "Bhagavad Gita as it Is". Loved it.

Then, when I discovered Jainism, I determined it to be the most practical and nonintrusive of all the faiths.

...

Steves.

One of my good friends was named Stevem. I don't remember why his Steve ended with an "m", but there it is.

Thank you for another refreshing, relaxing read. You're the best.

Richard

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Shifra Sharlin's avatar

Such a fun meander, Fran. I have thoughts about having an unusual name. :-)

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Fran Gardner's avatar

Please, share your thoughts.

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