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Claire Tak's avatar

Emily, this is so beautiful. I love the reference to home and questioning its true meaning... and of course, Aidan. (Also love the way you used footnotes here!) I've often grappled with what a home means, for someone like me who doesn't have kids, and have moved around for basically two decades. When I finally bought a place this year, it felt a lot more satisfying than I ever imagined, and I never thought I'd be THIS okay with having a mortgage. :)

I think the idea of a "real-time flash memoir" is fascinating. Can't wait to read more. You're such a talented writer, I miss seeing you in class!

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David Roberts's avatar

Emily,

Writers from Proust to Stephen King believed that places could contain actual images. And that our senses could release those images, make them come alive. In the case of Proust as the most vivid of memories, in the case of King in the form of evil phantoms.

I thought of this theme as I was reading your post about moving. And how you may be leaving a physical house, but that the home you're leaving will live on in your memories, some happy some not.

Anyway, your post succeeded in striking an emotional chord with me and led me to think of some of my family'sprior homes and what happened in them. Thank you.

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