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Linda Clark-Borre's avatar

“Reverence. Resentment. How easily and quietly one sometimes gives way to the other over time.” Beautiful. Also-you have laid bare the ferocity & occasional magnificence of the post-traumatic stress injured mind. It knows the world as it really is, and has so much to offer as it “sees the work, does the work, and (mostly) stays out of misery.” Or at least doesn’t drown in it.

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Thank you. I get so frustrated with my PTSD mind sometimes. It can be really hard to remember to treat it gently, like the injured animal it is.

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Julie C's avatar

What an amazing loving tribute to your sweet friend.

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Thank you.

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Francesca SingHer's avatar

Damn Spike. This was a hell of a lot. I hope our fellow traveler Pascal is happily coursing along on her return trip into the unknown. I hope our little gun-toting delinquent finds his way into more wholesome company. But most of all, I am grateful for your recounting of this slice of life and how nourishing it was to read.

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Rachael Sage's avatar

Dear Spike, I’ve been reading and re-reading this for almost three days and I still don’t have the words to tell you how profoundly moving it is. It’s absolutely beautiful, wild, raw, tender, gutting, and the most soaring and human testament to your friendship with Pascal.

My heart is with you as you say good-bye to your dear and treasured friend. My prayers are with Pascal in her transition… may it be the sweetest release… the most peace-filled and glorious of “Letting Go’s.”

I am truly humbled and filled with love and gratitude for both of your great teachings on generosity. ✨ T H A N K Y O U ✨

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Thank you so much Rachael. It is so hard. I know you know. Love you! ♥️

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Rachael Sage's avatar

Every loss is its own world of grief and discovery. ❤️‍🩹 Remembering our serendipitous, mutually comforting embrace at Wheatsville after my mom died and sending you that kind of hug 🌈✨ Love you so much, wonderful human.

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

♥️

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Anitra Carol Smith's avatar

Thank you for this, Spike. A friendship like that is a true treasure. I'm so glad that you had each other as friends for so long.

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Thank you Anitra.

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Bonnie Durrance's avatar

Reading your prose is like I imagine it would be to munch through all the gorgeous baked goods pictured on this post. So rich and beautiful. So heartbreakingly brief, the taste, but still, it lasts in the mind. I attended, by FaceTime, yesterday morning, a memorial for a longtime friend on the east coast. When it was over, I read your post and felt all over the beauty and anguish of a lost friend, who will always be there in stories and memory, but not to sit with, and make laughter with. I send you much sympathy as your dear Pascal passes away. May you bake many goodies and shed many tears and just be loved and loved, anyway!

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Thank you so much.

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Sandra Murzin's avatar

Wow...beautiful,powerful,heart-wrenching;also makes you pause,think,and be grateful for certain things. Thank you so much for sharing this piece...

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Thank you.

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Sandra Murzin's avatar

You're welcome...

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Lisa Kamuf's avatar

This was stunning, truly you are a beautiful writer.

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Thank you

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Sasha Kerkmann Hood's avatar

wow thank you for writing this. I treasure her so much. Very grateful to be connected through your writing.

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Thank you.

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Janna Garza's avatar

... the baking of it. ... to the heavens. What a beautiful piece/peace.

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

♥️

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BrendaP's avatar

I've been feeling the loss of my mom (who passed last year) a lot lately. Thank you for the release of tears this morning as I read your beautiful tribute to your dear friend.

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

I’m so sorry about your mom. It’s so hard. ♥️

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Ali Ronder's avatar

and thank you Spike for being such a good friend!

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Love you. Thank YOU for being such a goof friend to Pascal and me and all your friends. Such hard times. I’m glad we can hold each other. ♥️

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Cmcl's avatar

Your words painted a beautiful picture in my heart. It helped me have more compassion for my Jack-in-the-box emotions that, lately, were popping out intensely different every hour. Much love to you as your friend passes on to the next plane of existence.

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

I totally, totally understand the jack-in-the-box emotions. Never heard it put like that but wow, that is precisely right. Thank you for the good words. ♥️

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Dolly Gillespie's avatar

I lost Kathi seven years ago, and not a day goes by when something reminds me of our friendship. I am sorry for your loss.🥲

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Thanks Dolly. I’m so sorry about Kathi. It really is so hard. ♥️

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Mlshukers's avatar

✨❤️🥐❤️✨

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

♥️

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Stori Walker's avatar

❤️

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Spike Gillespie's avatar

Flap. ♥️

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