15 Comments
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Jan Marie Cannon's avatar

Leslie, this is so good. Thank you so much❤️

Leslie Waugh's avatar

Thanks so much, Jan Marie, that really means a lot to me! Thanks for taking the time to read it and let me know. Miss you, hope all's well. xxoo

Kellie U's avatar

What a beautiful phrase ‘to be liberated from my job’…

Leslie Waugh's avatar

That's the best way I can think about it! With gratitude for the experience and no qualms about leaving behind the things I definitely won't miss. xo

DAVID ANDERSON's avatar

Wow. Your writing inspires and puts my brain to work. Thank you. Thanks also for the Handley poem. Sorry to have missed you at the reunion.

Leslie Waugh's avatar

Why, thank you, kind sir! I really appreciate your taking the time to read it (I do go on ... ) and to comment. And I have kept your "high moments" poem close over the years as well, in a file with my (many) favorites. Was also sorry to have missed you, hope you're doing well.

Ellen Rowland's avatar

Leslie, I'll echo that I love how you've woven all the tattered and beautiful bits of life together in this thoughtful piece of writing. Here's to your next becoming. May it be rich in spirit and meaning. I'm grateful to be in community with you ❤️

Leslie Waugh's avatar

Thanks so much, Ellen, that really means a lot to me! I am grateful to be in community with you as well, I really appreciate your offerings and wisdom.

Debora Tremont's avatar

Leslie, such brilliant writing, full of favorite quotes and poems -Kierkegaard, Elizabeth Bishop’s One Art, and oh! Praise Song, which knocked me flat in Ellen’s workshop. Thank you for quilting it all together! ❤️

Leslie Waugh's avatar

Thanks so much, Debora, that's very kind of you! "One Art" is crazy good, right? As is "Praise Song," so many parts of that poem also knocked me flat. Great to share the poetry space with you!

Debora Tremont's avatar

Yes, hope to see you out in workshop again soon!

Sam Aureli's avatar

A beautifully woven piece, Leslie, especially with the poem, "Praise Song." I'm sorry to hear about the "letting go" and wish you the best in this next phase of life. One never knows where the road leads, and sometimes, we have to make our own.

Leslie Waugh's avatar

Thanks so much, Sam, I really appreciate it! I just love that poem, kudos to Ellen for sharing it this past Saturday. I shared it with someone, too (besides here). Indeed, we do have to forge our own way in many respects! I've had so many fairy godmothers and godfathers along the way, I've been really lucky, but I think the timing of all this is fortuitous. But I mean, a few folks could use some HR lessons ...

Mary Lunnen's avatar

Thank you for this Leslie, a good read as always.

Here in the UK, I have been ‘made redundant’ (aka ‘let go’) three times. A compassionate manager will say it is the job role that is redundant not the person, others don’t bother.

Leslie Waugh's avatar

Thank you! And I hear you, and I'm sorry that happened to you — I was aware of one instance but not three, I don't think, my goodness. I was really lucky for a long time, and in this case, it appears that it's the job that certain folks no longer care about, which is quite terrifying. We shall see.