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Linda Orlick's avatar

My daughter cancelled my grandson's 2 week summer sleep away camp, hes been going to a local day camp and loves it and she is close by if needed, just couldnt find the heart to send him away. Im heartbroken for everyone child who was lost, for every parent who lost their precious child, for the first responders who had to witness this horrible climate disaster. I send heartfelt prayers and condolences. May they rest in heavenly peace

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

I'm glad they found a solution that works for them both. But oof. Heartbreak indeed.

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Fredda Jaffe's avatar

No words…..

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

I know. It was hard to find mine.

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Pbr's avatar

I have been depressed since the fourth, I live in Texas, many of the women I have grown close to here grew up, lived in the storm ravaged area. The mood is somber and everyone is doing what they can. There are all kinds of food drives, fund raisers for flood victims and people doing the best they can. But it is rough. The death toll is rising and there are still a lot of missing people.

I suppose I could go outside and scream at the unfairness of it all, but my voice would be lost by all the other voices of grief and loss.

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

I'm just so sorry. It's not just close to home, it is home for you. Sending love, strength and all the support. xo

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Heide's avatar

Thanks for your words, Liz. I lived in Houston for 12 years and still have so many friends there -- many who sent their girls to Camp Mystic and boys to Camp La Junta and other camps along the Guadalupe River. It's just so so awful and heartbreaking. Too many lost. So many traumatized. So heartbreaking.

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Heather S's avatar

So beautifully written, thanks for putting into words something that has been on my mind.

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nancy letts's avatar

A reminder to be thankful for every joyful moment in our lives. I want to be trite enough to say that and to not worry about how it sounds.

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

It sounds perfect to me.

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Patty Mooney's avatar

I remember with fondness my own time in a camp in the Ozarks when I was a Brownie. Friendship bracelets and ghost stories with S'mores over a campfire, every star in the Milky Way visible above. The stillness at night when everyone was tucked in to their bunk, summer humidity surrounding us like a hug. They say childhood flies by in the blink of an eye. They say only the good die young. They say live each day to the fullest, for life is short. I say, now is the time to hold your dear ones close and tell them how much you love them. How precious they are to you.

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

So much. ❤️

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Katie Waldron's avatar

So hard to read but important to remember these children and their families. Your opening pargraphs really hit home. When my son is gone for just the day, I miss him and think about him and what he's doing. I can't imagine the emptiness these families feel. Thank you for this piece.

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Mark Kolke's avatar

A substack question for you Liz; I've been trying to get an answer from the SUbstack Bots without success; I've noticed in recent days that the 'unsubscribe' feature is not appearing at the bottom of my email distributions of my publications and - as I see on yours today and others I get , the unsubscribe button/link is gone and I can't see it anywhere or know to to bring it to Substack's attention. The bot, of course, tells me all systems are working fine - but I think is not and I'm seeking an answer. Are you experiencing the same thing?

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Liz Gumbinner's avatar

I'm sorry I don't have that issue. Maybe your email isn't set to display all images?

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