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Renee Schafer Horton's avatar

This is beautiful, Fitz. I'm so used to seeing you as a comic editorialist that this blue me away. It reads as poetry ... A painting. Thank you.

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Jude Johnson's avatar

I found Navalny's memoir surprisingly uplifting. As he says, "You do not get to give up. There is no shame in doing little. There is great shame in doing nothing."

Thank you for a beautiful walk in your desert garden this morning. My potted torch cactuses all bloomed overnight in a gorgeous display of variegated hot pinks, peach, and orange. Down the street, a huge ironwood tree has blessed the street with lavender blossoms. This is a wondrous season.

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Beth Allen's avatar

Loved 💕 your Substack today and needed the uplift! I’ve added Navalny’s book to my reads thank you.

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Barbara Quijada's avatar

Thank you for this beautiful meditation on the beauty of the desert and the inspiration of a hero. It moved me to tears.

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Dave Gallagher's avatar

Nice! Very nice. I savored every carefully chosen word and breathed easier upon completion. Keep writing.

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Monica Manning's avatar

David -- This is one of your best, right up there with Christmas in the Desert. Thank you so much for sharing your reflections that can move us deeply.

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Jefferson Carter's avatar

From my new poetry collection "Free Hugs":

HERE COMES THE SUN

The sun rose

at three a.m., blistering

the succulents

& what’s left

of our garden. When



an apex predator

confronts you,

don’t run. Assume

the submissive posture:


bow your head

to protect your throat

& avoid direct eye contact.



Head bowed, eyes

lowered, I slowly

backed away into

some shade.

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