26 Comments
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Stefanie Iris Weiss's avatar

This is gorgeous and made me weep. Thank you, you are so brave, so talented, and I'm so proud of you for sharing this vulnerable and incredibly meaningful piece of writing. I'm so sorry you lost your friend. Love you.

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Amanda Guinzburg's avatar

I love you. ❤️

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Sylvia's avatar

It must certainly be a relief for one’s grief, dear Amanda, to be able to put it into words in such a gifted, beautiful, moving way… You should write more and more often. Why not a book on your recollections??

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Rusty Unger's avatar

So beautiful and heartfelt/breaking.

You put the uniquely perfect words to the hum of my discordant feelings.

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Amanda Guinzburg's avatar

I love you.

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Michelle Marslow's avatar

And this is me reaching out to you to say “thank you” for being you and gifting us with your ability to put emotions into validating words. ❤️

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Bridget LeRoy's avatar

This split me open. Thank you, dear Amanda.

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Amanda Guinzburg's avatar

Thank you for being open enough to split, beautiful Bridget. ♥️

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David Burr's avatar

Once again...you've done it once again. So moving, so honest and such a treat to share with you.

I had no idea how important he was to you. You have allowed me to share in your loss in such a

meaningful way. I am sorry, sad for you and once again floored by your talent. Stay the course.

That was his credo which he passed along to you.. Always my love

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Amanda Guinzburg's avatar

I love you so much.

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Blue Moreno's avatar

This is why Jesus invented the word UGGGGGH. I loved this SO MUCH. Mazel T, A-to-G. 💙

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N.L.'s avatar

Beautiful, Guinz. So heartful. And now I am heart full. I knew Benton and Sallie too. I will get in touch with John. Thank you. ❤️

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Saumya's avatar

such gorgeous writing thank you for writing this

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Amanda Guinzburg's avatar

Thank you for taking the time to read it. ❤️

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Whirlwind Whispers's avatar

Really moving. Thank you ❤️

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Chris Hammett's avatar

Thank you for this. Sent a card to old friends that I haven’t seen in a long time today.

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Amanda Guinzburg's avatar

Thank you for *this*.

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Virginia Heffernan's avatar

Needed this. It is perfect. You did it, Kid. <3

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Amanda Guinzburg's avatar

My forever Substack doula. I love you, V.

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Rena-Marie Villano's avatar

Amanda, this is touching and beautiful. What you had with Benton - the effortlessness of your connection - is quite rare. Thank you for sharing, and I’m sorry for his passing. 😔

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Dorothy Dundas's avatar

Oh oh oh. This is so beautiful, Amanda. I am sorry you have lost your sweet,kind friend.

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Amanda Guinzburg's avatar

Thank you, dear Dorothy. ♥️

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Mary Birdsong's avatar

The gifts just keep coming. Amidst an embarrassment of riches, for some reason, "...the sun was bowing down its head..." really got me. I hear my own mother in that little turn of phrase.

Someday I hope I get to read all 441 pages of your 12-years-and-counting project. Every single one of its 163,909 words. Cuz they're YOUR words. I needed to read this today & didn't even know it until -- there it was.

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Amanda Guinzburg's avatar

This makes me wonder which parts of your genius multitudes come directly from your mother…grateful she ushered you into this obscene/beautiful world and for all our years paddling in parallel out in the cyber seas. ♥️

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Jon Lowy's avatar

I was just writing a condolence note yesterday about someone who helped me when I was young. It had been many years since I'd seen him, and I was wondering if I'd ever really thanked him properly, let him know what he meant to me. I love this piece, and you. xo

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Amanda Guinzburg's avatar

No one is a better (literal) old-school handwritten note writer than you!

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