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Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

Oh Joan, the seagrass! This made me smile so big. What a beautiful love story. I am so happy you wrote this. And! I see you in the carousel! yay! You've stayed too :) Sending you much love. oxox

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Joan Stommen's avatar

Thanks kiddo! 🥰😘He just pulled it out and wrapped it around my finger… we went looking at rings days later. I get confused with carousel, leader board, Explore/Substack Reads… I just call it the square logos! 😃🤷‍♀️

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Deborah T. Hewitt's avatar

That is so beautiful and romantic!

💘

..and I know! all the silly names! I asked one too many times what's going on and I believe I've been permanently removed. Going back in my mind to pre-(January) when I joined Notes and was writing and sending out to email for a year and a half, with no community to talk to. I love the community of Notes but it got to me a bit that things changed and I need my mind in the right place. I'm used to this big media control and it took far less time, this go around, for their hand to evaporate me. God says "just write." Sometimes weird staring at the exact same people for weeks up on the leaderboard 😅 Same people, varying size stacks, varying writing times (once in awhile to daily writing) since January. A dear friend just left Notes yesterday over the problems. Substack's engines have been involuntarily removing subscribers from people's stacks and involuntarily blocking people from people's stacks too!!

Sending you much love!! Keep writing! ox

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Anonymous
May 13, 2024

Joanie , only you could have made Jim nervous. I remember that spring and summer well. We were Kullenberg's Class of '65 at The Gazette.

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Joan Stommen's avatar

Now this makes me cry…thanks George! You knew him best, and recalling Kullenberg’s crea…lifelong friends, so many gone now. Your comment means a lot dear friend, thank you so much.

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Carole Roseland's avatar

Say his name often! Thanks for sharing this moment—brought tears to my eyes. Saugatuck is a magical place, and I hope you get back there soon.

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Joan Stommen's avatar

Thanks for reading me, Carole…for getting this, understanding. Love you know Saugatuck too…it is indeed a special place! Hugs! 🤗😊😊

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Carole Roseland's avatar

I had a Jim, too. Our first summer was my commute from Grand Rapids to him in Muskegon, where we spent many days at the beach.

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Charlotte Pendragon's avatar

I agree with Deborah Hewitt, this is a wonderful, sweet story. Happy she shared it so I could read it. Have a beautiful day✨💖✨

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Joan Stommen's avatar

Awww… what I love about notes… and dear friends! 🥰😊Thanks Deb…and thank you Charlotte for taking time to read me. Means a lot coming from both of you! 💕❤️😊

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Charlotte Pendragon's avatar

Our little community and I am so happy I found you here on Substack Joan. Bless you! 🤗

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Sally French Wessely's avatar

You told this story perfectly. I loved it. It made me remember my own stories from those days. Those madras shorts! Weren’t they just the thing back in those days? I’m so glad you had that wonderful, tender proposal. He was a gem for sure.

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Joan Stommen's avatar

Thanks Sally…pretty neat it took you back to those days when cool was the thing! 😅 I was so clueless till the last minute, glad I said yes! 💕❤️ Finding this from my old diary ( torn out) made me miss him more…. Writing helps! 🤗🥰💕

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Donald Johnston's avatar

Beautiful piece and a wonderful photo of Jim—smokin’ his pipe and sippin’ a 🍷 at the lake. 😎

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Joan Stommen's avatar

Oh Don, thank you for this, sweet man! He thought pipe was cool those early years. 😅 Appreciate you taking time to read and comment. 😊🙌🥰

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Monica P.'s avatar

You made this story come to life. So thankful for memories. Thanks for sharing.

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Joan Stommen's avatar

Thanks for reading, Monica…love feedback like this! Hugs! 😊😊😊

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Joyce's avatar

Oh my word, Joan, that is just beautiful. Remembering what is precious… Love Never Dies 💙🙏

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Joan Stommen's avatar

Love never dies…I like that! This was the beginning of us…do we really know love so young? Forty seven years proved it was absolutely precious love. Thanks for your sweet words! Hugs! 🤗😊💕

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Cherie Lee's avatar

What a sweet memory, Joan! Thank you for sharing it with us!

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Joan Stommen's avatar

Thanks for reading and commenting new grandma!💙🤗Can you share a picture ….or DM me one? So happy for you all! 💕

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Anne's avatar

"The lightbulb finally flashed on.

Forever meant he wanted to marry me!

He was proposing and tied a little blade of sea grass around my finger."

What a sweet story. Thank you, Joan. I loved it.

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Joan Stommen's avatar

Awww, thanks Anne! I’ve never shared it before (from my old diary) but getting better and pouring my whole self into pieces rather than too carefully! Thanks for getting it! 😉🤗💕

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Susan Niemann's avatar

A beautiful memory-I felt like I was there. ❤️❤️❤️

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Joan Stommen's avatar

Thanks Susan…great feedback for me that you can feel it… feel how I was back then! Glad I wrote most details in my little 1965 diary! 😃

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Bob Hoebeke's avatar

Down here in Texas, my family always teases me about Saugatuck. When I was a kid I went to a Presbyterian camp there - they think the name is funny. BUT, I finally found someone who actually knows the place, has been there, and did something more significant than church camp there! The place sounds rich in memories for you. I'm happy for you and those memories of Saugatuck!

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Joan Stommen's avatar

So interesting you’ve heard of it, canoed there years ago! It is the classic beach and always full of tourists and beach goers. Thanks for sharing this with me…makes me smile someone else has heard of it! Appreciate you reading and commenting, Bob! 😊

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Diane’s Blue Forum 👩‍💻's avatar

The name. It’s so important to remember. When you love someone, that name brings joy❤️

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Thomas D’Arcy O’Donnell's avatar

.. WoW .. ! 🦎🏴‍☠️❤️

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Joan Stommen's avatar

😊Thanks for reading Thomas!

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Rona Maynard's avatar

Tender and vivid. I loved reliving this life-changing moment with you.

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Joan Stommen's avatar

I had some of this in my diary…grandma sent me one of those little book-like ones with a key every year! 😅 When I started writing, so much came back. It really matters that we keep saying the names of loved ones who’ve passed. Thanks for reading dear Rona! Means a lot from a great writer like you!💕😊

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Rona Maynard's avatar

Took me years to learn that the bereaved need to hear that precious name.

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Joan Stommen's avatar

At first, no one wanted to mention for fear of upsetting me. Now, after ten years, it means so much that they remember, ask/tell stories about him…newsroom or softball stories, but still fun to hear!

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Dwana Bush, M.D.'s avatar

Nicely written. Thanks.

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