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Debbie Dale Blackwell's avatar

Just found you. Great to meet you- Im Debbie- also a cancer survivor- and definitely an optimist-

I really enjoyed the airbnb story-It reminded me of my 8 months stay in the US after not being able to come back to Spain during covid- literally lived out of a suitcase for 8 months- went through seasons-where I had to shop to for clothes! Wr had retired here the year prior- Hope your all settled somewhere you love- take care. D

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Emma Vivian's avatar

Hi Debbie! Great to meet you and thanks so much for reading 🧡

Congratulations on your cancer survival. That’s amazing! Did you also have breast cancer?

Thanks so much for your kind words on this piece. It sounds like your experience of living out of suitcases for 8 months was very similar! Did you find it also challenged your sense of identity?

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Tom Selby Edge's avatar

What would I miss the most if put it into storage???

Well at first, I thought it must be the corkscrew to open the wine...

... then I was like, well no silly, I need the glasses to drink the wine from...

... but it finally dawned on me that both of those things were useless without the wine!

So as I always tell myself, wine solves all (well most) problems! ;)

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Emma Vivian's avatar

Haha! Yes… wine really does help! It’s so funny you mention this, because one thing I did really miss was a cute wine stopper I bought. Makes life so much easier!

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Candy Kennedy's avatar

I can’t imagine living as you are and, yet, you have each other and enough to keep you going. That being said it is hard not to have the “things of life” that give you joy and comfort. No wonder you feel detachment and sadness. Enjoyed your story.

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Emma Vivian's avatar

Thank you so much, Candy. I really appreciate your reading and commenting! 🥲

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Quin Halloway's avatar

This is beautiful. Even when we know others may be doing it tougher, it doesn’t make our own challenges less real. It’s okay to feel frustrated and sad. You’ve been living in limbo for months, of course that takes a toll. I hope things improve for you soon.

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Emma Vivian's avatar

Thank you so much, Quin! What a kind comment!

I’m thrilled to say we have just moved into our new home and are currently unpacking all our boxes! It’s been a bizarre experience being reunited with all the things we put into storage 8 months ago. Almost like Christmas presents!

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Chris Keller's avatar

I am helping friends who lost their house in the PP fire and am amazed by the brave face they put on every day. Only occasionally, without thinking, one might mention that she “only has one purse,” when discussing an outfit or he casually mentions that the pod coffee maker I bought for them isn’t the exact kind he liked, but as he is 93 I appreciate his preferences and return it to Target, because god knows I don’t need a pod coffee maker with all of the plastic waste. Sometimes the smallest things are big misses. (I celebrated him when he bought the coffee maker he had before, without my help, “which is almost as good as (the) old one.” I wish you the absolute most success in rebuilding and finding non-temporary housing.

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Emma Vivian's avatar

Goodness, I can’t imagine how devastating and frightening it must be to lose your house at that age. I’m glad they have friends like you to offer support.

And thank you! We just moved into our new home on Friday and are currently working our way though a ridiculous amount of boxes!

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