18 Comments

"I reclined my seat a few notches." Such details as this in your storytelling make me smile from ear to ear. So much shown instead of told with such a simple line.

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My favorite line is "My voice sounded a bit more like my own"

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That was my no 2 highlight as well.

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Yes, both such excellent lines!

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"There's no atheists in foxholes"... Not sure how that statement fits here but it came to mind so I'm sharing. Maybe because we find our personal relationship with God in many different ways.

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Without a doubt. It's a good saying.

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I really love where this piece ends up, of course, but also the whole sequence before the call... litigating arguments with people you've never met, forming acrostics with license plates. It's a kind of roadtrip, and a kind of luxuriating in having nothing to do that doesn't often happen anymore.

It's all the perfect preamble to the call, which is such an amazing conversation. It's my favorite kind of story, where expectations drop and I'm left pondering something so unexpected and beautiful.

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“My voice sounded a bit more like my own.”

Beautiful.

Loved the elegance and simplicity of the story. You could have made it twice as long, I suspect, and I’m not sure it would have been any better. The compression was excellent. 👏

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Loved this Alex - also amazing on the flip phone

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You drove alone for 2 days without a podcast? Or even local radio stations? I'm not strong enough.

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This is riveting! I love when expectations of a certain experience “sure” to happen give way to something altogether different. I think we need more writing about these wonderful, uplifting encounters that connect us all. Can’t tell you how much I loved this.

Your writing is fabulous.

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Thank you so much Kathy :)

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Can't believe I just came across this piece now! Absolutely love how you portrayed your surprise and slight change in heart towards John Martin so subtly and realistically. Glad our paths crossed in WoP.

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Thanks Janelle, and likewise!

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Loved this one!

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Much appreciated Emma!

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Fun read. I remember those billboards, having grown up and vacationed across various parts of the southeast. There are some hum dingers out there. I never did call one but might the next time I’m back visiting.

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This was so funny. John Martin. Who knew!

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