14 Comments

Jenna. As I read what you publish I think that you are a soul of a certain age, one that has been present in years past. One may say that you are “an old soul” yet you are so young. I always enjoy you insightful articles Jenna. Thank you.

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Thank you, Donald. I often joke (at least halfway joke) that I was born in the correct country, just the wrong time. My hope is to preserve a few of these things for my kids when they're old enough to appreciate them. Thank you for reading and for your lovely comments.

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Jenna, beautiful writing as I come to expect from you. It's such fun to journey through your post of searching and exploring America from a time when the fabric of America may have been vast and patterned, but tough and strong like tightly woven wool. I'm not old enough to have experienced the days you describe, but I almost feel as though they are my memories now! Thank you.

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I'm glad you're on this journey with me. The road feels lonely, but there are more out there in the "vast and patterned," as you so eloquently put it, than we realize. Keep the faith, and I'm very humbled and appreciative of your readership and comments.

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This captured my attention immediately and as I am in my mid 80s I will need to save this to read carefully a bit later in the day. It's obvious, at first blush, that you are a talented writer. Thank you.

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I appreciate your very generous compliment, Marlene. Thank you for reading and subscribing! Please come back and let me know your thoughts after you've had a chance to give it another look.

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Oh, what a wonderful history treatise. The year before I was born.

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Thank you, sir! 1956 just moved up on my all-time greats list.

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Oh my!

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Jenna,

Another superb and delightful essay, a literary goldmine of American nostalgic nuggets. Donald expertly described how you write as though you were “present in years past.” And, unlike Reluctance, while young, I remember many of the experiences you described in your essay. I was also intrigued by de Tocqueville’s observations, specifically how Americans “leads him perpetually to change his plans and his abode.” From personal experience, I believe that is still relevant and true today.

I am confident writing this creatively and this thoughtfully takes great care and precious time. We need the pause from the pervasive crowd of experts on everything.

I sincerely thank you — please continue.

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This is so kind of you, and I am thankful for your insight. The best part of writing is in the comments. I consider you and everyone who invests their time and money reading a few ramblings from me gifts, so I try not to waste your precious time. My offering thanks to all of you isn't enough to convey my gratitude.

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Shoot, this is good, Jenna. Like Donald said, as an old soul, you live above time, and like the “tightly woven wool” in Reluctance’s comment, and the era Noah lived through, and his description of the care you obviously employ in making sentences, I too, can see your care. You are a newsreel voice, a commanding sense maker about the horizon. I was born at the end of the 1950s and don’t know anything before JFK and The Beatles, but you conjure up bits of 1955 like you rubbed elbows with those photographers, screeched tired of that car, and hummed along with Maybelline. Your voice is just so reverential and almost dude-like. It’s great to read. Will restack! Keep going. Theo

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Gosh, I don’t know what to say except thanks. You know it’s a labor of love and I appreciate the encouragement, kind words, and butt kicking. Motivates the same sometimes.

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@hotspvrre I have to say that your comment was insightful as well. Thanks to all who take their precious time to remember, dream and think. I’m also a late 50’s dude.

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