14 Comments
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Emily Grosvenor's avatar

Such a joy to have all of the object essays gathered here! Thank you for including me. We truly live in the Age of Stuff and it's maddening.

Vincent O'Keefe's avatar

Such a powerful essay, which I'm sure will help some readers in their own healing processes. Thanks for writing it.

Katrina Donham's avatar

Thank you, Vincent! I hope it does.

Sherryl's avatar

yes, it is this love of our family that is the only pure selfless love that exists in this world and needs to be cherished and nurtured.

Michele Peters's avatar

It's such a beautiful thing when an item of seemingly little monetary value holds so much emotional significance. The true treasures that matter most. Thank you for sharing your heart, Katrina.

Katrina Donham's avatar

Yes. I hadn't even realized until I took the plunge (opened a blank Google doc). Thank you so much for reading and appreciating my words, Michele.

Rose Saltman's avatar

This is beautiful and sad at the same time. Thank you for your honesty and the poetic way you communicate life's important messages.

Katrina Donham's avatar

Ah, thank you so much, Rose. You've touched my soul tonight. Thank you.

Amanda Kernahan's avatar

I read this several days ago and have been meaning to come back to it and comment. Thank you for sharing your essay, it is hauntingly beautiful. It resonated with me on several levels, the loss of a brother, the shattering of a family, and the way we carry those things with us even as we try to build our own little families into happy and whole units.

Katrina Donham's avatar

Amanda, thank you so much for coming back to comment! That warms my heart. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your brother and the subsequent shattering of your family. It's tough stuff, particularly when we are in the middle of finding our own way as parents and building our families. Sending loads of love to you!

Dianne Moritz's avatar

Your essay is brilliant. I love how you compare life experiences to the sea. Suicide is tragic. I'm so sorry you experienced this especially in someone so young. My sister overdosed on pain meds and morphine. While she was much older, and it was accidental, it was no less heartbreaking.

Katrina Donham's avatar

I'm so sorry about your sister, Dianne. Heartbreaking, indeed. The loss of a sibling does something to your makeup--it rearranges things, helps you prioritize your focus, and lends you unwelcomed yet new perspective. Thank you for reading my words.

Amy Martin's avatar

Fabulous piece. Riveting, sad, joyful, deeply human.

Katrina Donham's avatar

Thank you, Amy!