Oh, Natalie - my heart hurt when I learned how young you were when you lost your dad. I’m so sorry. It’s incomprehensible at that age, and for so many years I’m sure. I lost mine at 17 but at least I had words for it.
I have a soft spot for Aunt Gayle. Show up the way you can. She definitely left an impact on you. Do you still hear from her?
its just a permanent loss, isnt it? I grieve more for baby me than me now, almost as if baby me was a different person, if that makes sense? We do still hear from her but its so hard when you are far away sometimes to keep those close connections 🤍🖤
Thank you for sharing your connection to The Halloween Tree. This story was a formative part of my childhood too. My dad and I watched the animated film together every Halloween. The movie is wonderfully atmospheric with narration by Ray Bradbury and Leonard Nemoy voices Moundshroud. Looking back it was so dark for kids but I loved it! At the end they don’t skirt around the issue of giving up a year of their lives at all. I read the book as an adult and it was great too. It is so magical and celebrates the wonder of childhood (Pip being the embodiment of childhood adventure) alongside the reality of death. My dad passed away last year, and revisiting the book and movie this Halloween has brought back a lot of memories.
I had an Aunt Polly who was my everything when I was little. She was VERY into Bible stuff, which is not my thing, but I remember lying in bed with her when she visited, and she would read to me from her Bible which had perfectly crinkly onion-paper pages. That sound is still one of my favorites. The content didn't matter; it was the loving sharing of what was important to her that did. And that sound! How lovely that you have your Aunt Gayle book collection.
Thank you for sharing this essay. I read it aloud to my husband, propped against the pillows in bed last night. There were no crinkly pages, but the vibe was the same.
I think I would have loved your Aunt.
she's one of a kind!!
This essay when originally posted is how I first came across your work & your substack 💗 grateful to Aunt Gayle who opened our worlds to your voice
thank you so much Chloe 😊🖤
Oh, Natalie - my heart hurt when I learned how young you were when you lost your dad. I’m so sorry. It’s incomprehensible at that age, and for so many years I’m sure. I lost mine at 17 but at least I had words for it.
I have a soft spot for Aunt Gayle. Show up the way you can. She definitely left an impact on you. Do you still hear from her?
its just a permanent loss, isnt it? I grieve more for baby me than me now, almost as if baby me was a different person, if that makes sense? We do still hear from her but its so hard when you are far away sometimes to keep those close connections 🤍🖤
Makes total sense. The time when I lost my father feels like another life entirely.
Want to hear something really spooky? I'd never even heard of this book until you posted about it. I'll have to find a neat secondhand copy.
yes there are so many cool copies! its the best
Huge fan & very grateful that I got to see Bradbury speak 3 or so years before he died.
Ah that’s so cool!!!!
This was such a bittersweet memory -- thank you for sharing it! What a serendipitous moment when a book makes you feel so seen, less alone.
Thank you for sharing my Substack post as well! <3 Sending you love
thank you Charlotte for reading 🖤👻
One of my favorite essays of yours. I loved reading it again. AUNT GAYLE FOREVER 😍
I hope you had the coziest Halloween!!!!
we had a lovely time, hope everyone loved Mildred!!!!!!
The older kids did but the littles ran past 😂😂😂
Thank you for sharing your connection to The Halloween Tree. This story was a formative part of my childhood too. My dad and I watched the animated film together every Halloween. The movie is wonderfully atmospheric with narration by Ray Bradbury and Leonard Nemoy voices Moundshroud. Looking back it was so dark for kids but I loved it! At the end they don’t skirt around the issue of giving up a year of their lives at all. I read the book as an adult and it was great too. It is so magical and celebrates the wonder of childhood (Pip being the embodiment of childhood adventure) alongside the reality of death. My dad passed away last year, and revisiting the book and movie this Halloween has brought back a lot of memories.
sorry for your loss. the memories are all we have after all, how lovely to have them still with us in those shared things!
love The Halloween Tree & your love for it! Dandelion Wine is my yearly (summertime) Bradbury reread
Ray Bradbury lovers unite!
Your Aunt Gayle sounds amazing. What a gift!
I had an Aunt Polly who was my everything when I was little. She was VERY into Bible stuff, which is not my thing, but I remember lying in bed with her when she visited, and she would read to me from her Bible which had perfectly crinkly onion-paper pages. That sound is still one of my favorites. The content didn't matter; it was the loving sharing of what was important to her that did. And that sound! How lovely that you have your Aunt Gayle book collection.
Thank you for sharing this essay. I read it aloud to my husband, propped against the pillows in bed last night. There were no crinkly pages, but the vibe was the same.