17 Comments

I was crying in that barn too. (And mine haven't even left the nest yet!) Looking forward to seeing (almost) everyone again!

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Yes! Thank god for the songs that hit me in the heart, I don’t know what I’d do without them. Music is my #1 form of self care, I can’t imagine what kind of a wreck of a human I’d be without it. So thank you for what you do, from the bottom of my heart! My kids are only 10 & 11, so I can only imagine what you are feeling in all that quiet, but hang in there💪🏻

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Such a beautiful song indeed. The kudos are well deserved, Karen! And Rhett, we raise our kids to be strong and independent…and then when they are we’re like, “hey, where are you going?” You will be ok, and it gets fun to love them being adults too.

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I was sitting directly in front of Karen as she introduced the song and I wept like a baby too. Powerful. I don’t recall it sounding like this version- but songs change. Thx Karen!

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Great song by Karen - well done! I'm in the same boat and pre-grieving. Here's a song I wrote for my first one when she left. https://youtu.be/zmtzlMbdptw?si=B5YML02Z_HngJNMM

No songs have spilled out for the second and final bird to flee the nest . . . perhaps they'll come between primal scream therapy sessions :)

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Rhett! Thank you for this, your response to this song made all the difference in my decision to record and release it! I’m so excited for every student that will have the good fortune to be in your classroom. Camp was truly magical and we’re thrilled to be coming back. Also, I can tell you there is much delight in being the parent of adult children. 🩷

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This one hits me hard. My eldest son passed away last Nov from an accidental fentanyl overdose at age 24. Not a moment passes that I'm not thinking about him, every moment of his life, holding him as a child, holding him as a teenager, as a young adult. His beautiful poetic mind, his struggle with addiction. . .Yea: the Sweet Soft of his Cheek.

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I cannot even imagine. 💔

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So very sorry, Nicole❤️

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Oh Nicole, I am deeply sorry for your loss.

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Oh Nicole, I'm so sorry. Sending you hugs and holding you in the light.

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Awww! Karen *is* awesome 👏🏼

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I never had kids so I can't advise you on the empty nest situation. However, it is also kind of neat that you are also going back to school at the same time, just as a teacher. Look forward to hearing what you write about this at the retreat!

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I remember that moment in the barn. There were many teary eyes.

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Books! Andrew McCarthy’s Walking with Sam and Catherine Newman’s Sandwich. Reading is almost as good as music in making you feel connected to others going through the same thing. 😊

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Catherine and I went to college together, she is amazing, isn't she?! Love her writing.

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Yes! I first read an essay of hers in this magazine that doesn’t exist anymore called brain, child. I was so shocked later when I read, we all want impossible things and realized it was the same author.

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