OMG even after all these years that clip just brings tears to my eyes - the majesty of it! And YES - an amazingly inspiring song to hold in your heart every day - an anthem to the power of following your passion and not letting anyone stop you from fulfilling your destiny! You have done it! Brava Nan!
Thanks, Mary Anne. Yes, that song. There are things that I keep close to me, that spark passion and joy and a love of nostalgia (I must be getting old!). Songs like this one, live in my cells. XO
Nan. Your voice came up by surprise . I’ve not seen or listened to any of my Substack writers. You are not “just” a writer. Your story and voice is marvelous. Keep singing.
What a lovely, beautiful story! I, too love this song. I love the possibilities it conjures up in me. I love your bravery, your persistence, your voice. ❤️
We all start by belting Barbra in our bedrooms. But finding your voice—and having the guts to use it, off-key, on-brand, and fully alive—is the whole damn show. :)
Thank you for that, Alisa. It really is, isn't it? I'm having the time of my life! This parade is the best one I've ever been to. And I've seen and marched in a awful lot that were far from satisfying. xo
Oh, my goodness. I was reading and commenting on your post! Talk about synchronicity. That song. That song. Blows my mind every time I play it and watching her sing it, and that amazing scene. Very little compares. Passion and love and fierceness. Loved your piece. I'm singing in the rain, but it's not raining on my song. Oh shit. There I go, mixing musicals again! xo
LOVE you back. Hmmmm. I love that. The Girl with the Golden Voice. I'm considering going back for voice lessons. I did it for a short time at the end of Covid. Me, my teacher, both masked up in a small studio. I LOVED IT. It was a financial strain back then, but now, it wouldn't be as hard. Singing is the best. xo
“Every time I wrote a story I worried I would never again have another good idea” = me, every time I sit down to write anything. Thank you for giving voice— literally, figuratively, musically, spiritually, etc.—to the terror and beauty of becoming a writer, and a damn good one.
Thank you, so much, Irena. I'm not used to hearing that. Taking it in. Trying not to deflect. The truth at the moment is that this process, this practice of consistent creativity is nourishing me in all the ways. It brings so many gifts. I'm gaily unwrapping all of them. They come in the form of insights, joy, and magnificent people who are writers, too. You're one of them for me. Looking forward to reading your post about Bulgakov later. About to teach my Substack 101 workshop.
My god, taking a compliment is a total ordeal for me, so I hear you. But please take this in and relish it because you deserve EVERY. WORD. And I hope the Substack 101 workshop is bursting with people who appreciate you and your many superpowers! xoxo
Thanks, Irena. I'll work on it, but I'm starting to believe it for myself, a little at a time, and it has to come from that place. Internal validation. Because without that, the compliments will be what I hunger for. External validation can't hold the same power as what I know deeply about myself, in the most humble way. Does that make sense? xo
"Ardent." A wonderful, life-giving word that this piece embodies. Keep on proclaiming your joyous ardency. Some people sing in notes, others in stories that amuse, comfort and inspire.
Thanks for this comment, Rona. Ardent. I don't think I've used that word a lot in my life time, but it's wonderfully alive. Such a good word. I'm here. Completely in for the first time in my life. xo
It was a favorite word of George Eliot’s. The characters in Middlemarch who retain a sense of possibility despite their troubles are all described, repeatedly, as ardent.
I've never read Middlemarch but a dear friend of mine, Pamela Erens, recently published a book––a hybrid memoir––that's gotten a lot of great attention, Middlemarch and the Imperfect Life. Might be a fun read for you. She's very intelligent and a wonderful writer. I've read all of her novels, but I feel that unless I commit to reading Eliot first, it won't hold as much meaning. I have it sitting on my bookshelf, but I'm resistant. Not a huge fan of novels from that era, and it's HUGE...xo
Oh, that makes me happy! Thanks, Rona. She'll enjoy knowing that as my former bookseller self (how we first met at one of her book signing events), I made a sale long after retirement. xo
I'm going to be looking for you to sing "Don't Rain on My Parade" at the next class. Funny...I never thought of the song as a love song...always considered it a song of going after things whenever anyone told me, "no." You'd never want to hear me sing it out loud, but I do sing it to myself plenty.
I'll sing if you sing! So, I think it's about that too, going after things that people tell you no about...but it indicates self-love, too, do you agree with my assessment?
OMG even after all these years that clip just brings tears to my eyes - the majesty of it! And YES - an amazingly inspiring song to hold in your heart every day - an anthem to the power of following your passion and not letting anyone stop you from fulfilling your destiny! You have done it! Brava Nan!
Thanks, Mary Anne. Yes, that song. There are things that I keep close to me, that spark passion and joy and a love of nostalgia (I must be getting old!). Songs like this one, live in my cells. XO
Yay to being in love with life and self!
Holly!!! I miss you. Let's catch up soon? xo
Nan. Your voice came up by surprise . I’ve not seen or listened to any of my Substack writers. You are not “just” a writer. Your story and voice is marvelous. Keep singing.
Thank you, Jennifer! I love recording my essays. I have so much fun with it. xo
Love this piece, Nan!
Thanks, Allison! xo
What a lovely, beautiful story! I, too love this song. I love the possibilities it conjures up in me. I love your bravery, your persistence, your voice. ❤️
And I LOVE you, my Joy. xo
We all start by belting Barbra in our bedrooms. But finding your voice—and having the guts to use it, off-key, on-brand, and fully alive—is the whole damn show. :)
Thank you for that, Alisa. It really is, isn't it? I'm having the time of my life! This parade is the best one I've ever been to. And I've seen and marched in a awful lot that were far from satisfying. xo
I love this one Nan. Yes, a love song to one's self. Yay for you.
Thanks, Nancy! LOVE you. xo
That song, and that scene, in that musical, gives me goosebumps every time. She's amazing, and the message is worth singing at the top of our lungs!
I love that we both wrote about knowing who we are this week, Nan. Maybe it was in the water...or the rain. 💦
Oh, my goodness. I was reading and commenting on your post! Talk about synchronicity. That song. That song. Blows my mind every time I play it and watching her sing it, and that amazing scene. Very little compares. Passion and love and fierceness. Loved your piece. I'm singing in the rain, but it's not raining on my song. Oh shit. There I go, mixing musicals again! xo
Ha! Mix away, m'dear. Maybe you can find a way to emulate this guy with muscial scores! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEqiVbXvaZB/
I have to run now. Gotta go watch Barbra so I dream of all that's possible! 😅
OHMYGOODNESS. That reel was fabulous, and that guy has one thing I don't have. A great voice and a great ear. But yes, that would be fun to do! xo
Keep on declaring yourself to the universe, Nan. We're here for it.
Thanks, my dear Eileen. xo
Nan, you are a writer and a fantastic storyteller.
I love Barbra and Fanny. My mother used to sing this song, almost as good as you.
Thank you
Thank you! So, your mother wasn't that good either? But it doesn't matter, because it's the singing that comes from our hearts. It's real. xo
Absolutely. I was joking with you. I loved my mothers carefree singing, she sang what she couldn’t speak…
I was joking back...xo
Nan, you are now and forever The Girl With the Golden Voice. Love you.💛
LOVE you back. Hmmmm. I love that. The Girl with the Golden Voice. I'm considering going back for voice lessons. I did it for a short time at the end of Covid. Me, my teacher, both masked up in a small studio. I LOVED IT. It was a financial strain back then, but now, it wouldn't be as hard. Singing is the best. xo
“Every time I wrote a story I worried I would never again have another good idea” = me, every time I sit down to write anything. Thank you for giving voice— literally, figuratively, musically, spiritually, etc.—to the terror and beauty of becoming a writer, and a damn good one.
Thank you, so much, Irena. I'm not used to hearing that. Taking it in. Trying not to deflect. The truth at the moment is that this process, this practice of consistent creativity is nourishing me in all the ways. It brings so many gifts. I'm gaily unwrapping all of them. They come in the form of insights, joy, and magnificent people who are writers, too. You're one of them for me. Looking forward to reading your post about Bulgakov later. About to teach my Substack 101 workshop.
My god, taking a compliment is a total ordeal for me, so I hear you. But please take this in and relish it because you deserve EVERY. WORD. And I hope the Substack 101 workshop is bursting with people who appreciate you and your many superpowers! xoxo
Thanks, Irena. I'll work on it, but I'm starting to believe it for myself, a little at a time, and it has to come from that place. Internal validation. Because without that, the compliments will be what I hunger for. External validation can't hold the same power as what I know deeply about myself, in the most humble way. Does that make sense? xo
Sing in that car!!
Regularly, these days. xo
🚗🎵
MWAH!
"Ardent." A wonderful, life-giving word that this piece embodies. Keep on proclaiming your joyous ardency. Some people sing in notes, others in stories that amuse, comfort and inspire.
Thanks for this comment, Rona. Ardent. I don't think I've used that word a lot in my life time, but it's wonderfully alive. Such a good word. I'm here. Completely in for the first time in my life. xo
It was a favorite word of George Eliot’s. The characters in Middlemarch who retain a sense of possibility despite their troubles are all described, repeatedly, as ardent.
I've never read Middlemarch but a dear friend of mine, Pamela Erens, recently published a book––a hybrid memoir––that's gotten a lot of great attention, Middlemarch and the Imperfect Life. Might be a fun read for you. She's very intelligent and a wonderful writer. I've read all of her novels, but I feel that unless I commit to reading Eliot first, it won't hold as much meaning. I have it sitting on my bookshelf, but I'm resistant. Not a huge fan of novels from that era, and it's HUGE...xo
I just read the preview online. Excellent. Since the library doesn’t have a print copy, Pamela will make a sale.
Oh, that makes me happy! Thanks, Rona. She'll enjoy knowing that as my former bookseller self (how we first met at one of her book signing events), I made a sale long after retirement. xo
You have such a gift and voice!
Thank you so much, Kelly. You've supported me from the very beginning, and I'm very grateful! xo
I'm going to be looking for you to sing "Don't Rain on My Parade" at the next class. Funny...I never thought of the song as a love song...always considered it a song of going after things whenever anyone told me, "no." You'd never want to hear me sing it out loud, but I do sing it to myself plenty.
I'll sing if you sing! So, I think it's about that too, going after things that people tell you no about...but it indicates self-love, too, do you agree with my assessment?