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Robin's avatar

What an eloquent and poignantly beautiful essay! I love how your garden in Michigan not only grows flowers, but memories. I also love how you and Gary have been able to nurture seeds and transplants from family gardens, where lovingly tended, they continue to thrive and honor both those living and those who have passed. Thank you for sharing this window into your life. I wish you and Gary a fabulous holiday weekend. And of course, I hope people continue to read and enjoy The Page Turner. It was a tough competition, but it has nudged The Secret of Snow and The Wishing Bridge out of first place for my favorite Viola novel.

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Wade Rouse - Viola Shipman's avatar

TY sooooo much! XOXO!

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Linda Ballew-Johnson's avatar

Tears, raining tears. I had forgotten why my mom, grandmother and I would visit graveyards. Mom died when I was 9. Grandma soon after. So the how and importantly why was lost on me. Thank you for filling in the memories.

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Janet Everette's avatar

This brings back so many memories of visiting cemetaries with both of my grandmas, making for 2 long days. My father's family was mostly buried in rural cemetaries, so Grandma, Dad and I would pack a lunch and head to the country. And, yes, we always brought peonies from Grandma's yard. But she always covered the paper towel with "tin foil"! Now days, the peonies are usually long gone by Memorial Day and my daughters and grandkids don't have interest in visiting the graves of loves ones. So tomorrow Mom and I will make our annual visit, although we have cut way back...the great grandparents, aunt and uncles no longer receive a visit from us.

Thanks for the memories!

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Wade Rouse - Viola Shipman's avatar

Aww, TY for sharing this! Such similar memories! BIG hugs & love to you and your mom! XO!

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Denise's avatar

Beautiful post.

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