You are not a ghoul. You are human. It’s a heart wrenching story, for sure. She is one of those people who constantly remind us how good we have it.

Whoa, do you do alot of writing for your work? Excuse me I am trying to ask questions without getting to personal or dangerously close to sounding like a stalker.
Your writing style on these last two posts is fascinating, I am going to say this and hope I don’t sound like a butt kissing moron but, have you ever considered writing a book?
I went through your 100 things before asking just to make sure you hadn’t already proclaimed yourself to be a novelist. Anyway, I should shut up now and say thanks for the read, I am glad I found your blog.

this is another lovely portrait, dan.  lovely.

If Jeff’s a butt kissing moron, then so am I. You always manage to wrench the truth out of a thing, be it ugly or beautiful.

A very sad lost soul.

Oh Dan...I’m a butt kissing moron too.  Once again you transported me and I was there on the bus with you feeling uncomfortable and sad and compassionate but still wishing it would all stop.  Wonderfully written.

I read somewhere that God talks to us through children and crazy people because they don’t have the means or the inclination to change the message. 

I’m not sure exactly how that relates here, but it’s all I could think of when I finished reading.

General Alert: This blog has an anti-moron filter; if you are reading it, you presumptively qualify as a certified genius and are entitled to wear a t-shirt so declaring. 

I’m working on the pro-butt-kissing filter but I’m still working out the kinks.  (rim shot.)

I felt pretty weird about that whole experience, even about writing about it - the blog helps me sublimate some of my angst when the world gets really strange in my face.  I appreciate very much, more than you might believe, that you (each of you) are sharing those feelings with me.  And Nikita, I love that adage, I don’t think I’ve heard it before but I will keep it in my mind and my heart.

I’ve heard that before as well (God talking to us through chldren and crazy people). This sounds funny, but I think it was from the book/movie Fried Green Tomatoes. I think there is definitely some semblance of truth to that, as well. I’m reminded of that story about the little girl asking her Grandparent who is dying to tell her what God looks like because she’s starting to forget.

(ooooh, kim, i like that.)

and dan, there’s nothing ghoulish about your reaction.  raw unfiltered emotion sets us all on edge.  it’s uneasy-making.  we appreciate its candor at the same time we want to escape its candor.  and there’s such inspiration in it.  such honesty.  and you’ve done a wonderful job of capturing that, and making us all live it with you.

thank you for katrina, who will stay with me every time i ride the bus here.

amazing, as always. i can’t help but join the chorus singing your praises. you always take me to exactly where you were with your writing.

these surreal encounters with strangers always remind me of how vast the human experience is, and how much closer it is to us than we thought. and the teeth - weird what totems we retain to hold the memory, huh?

We feel so secure in our lives, don’t we?  I’ve shed a few tears for Katrina.  Thank you for sharing her with us.

You live more life in a week than I do in a year.  Actually… lemme step that back.  You recognize that we all live long, very detailed lives with great lessons in them.  We just have to stop and notice what’s going on around us.  The difference is, only a few of us realize this and even fewer of us are able to put it into words as succinct and poetic as yours.

Very real and familiar story.  I think it’s because I’ve been there before, and my reactions were likely very similar to yours.  Feeling like a ghoul is probably natural.