35 Comments
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Simone Senisin's avatar

I really enjoyed this, I could picture it, so thank your for the description and for sharing. We had one of those windows too, though it was my mother who got stuck trying to get in the house.🤣

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

Ha! Now, there's another story, possibly worth telling? Hmmm? 🤣

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Simone Senisin's avatar

Definitely 🤣

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Milena's avatar

I was so captivated by this story, beautiful writing, Lani! Can't wait to see what happens next!

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

Thanks, Milena! xo

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Jean's avatar

A wonderful valuable photo. :)

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

They’re all so precious. Thanks.

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Shondra Bowie's avatar

I look forward to reading more! I love the gecko's eggs hatching and how you mentioned Gilligan's Island, The Little Rascals and Leave It to Beaver. We are the re-run generation.

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

Absolutely. I was thinking of Remmington Steele the other day! Thanks, Shondra, xo

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Shondra Bowie's avatar

I loves me some Remington Steele. I loved Pierce Brosnan until he sang in Mama Mia!

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

Brutal! 😂😂😂

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Shondra Bowie's avatar

It was! It was an assault on my ears 😂😂😂

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Heather's avatar

Well done for doing this, Lani! I may someday do the same thing with my (long-neglected) memoir. I enjoyed listening to the audio, too -- looking forward to the rest!

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

Thanks for letting me know you listened to the audio! Thanks for the cheer, too. Yes, please do. I can already tell I will feel immensely better to put it out there, and put it to rest. xo

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Jean's avatar

Beautiful portrait photo of baby you and mom. I'm sure you treasure the photo. Sorry, that was the major thing I glommed on!

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

Well, they do say a picture is worth a thousand words!

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Sarah Best's avatar

Happy New Year Lani, I love how you channelled shows like Gilligan's Island in your attempts to get in the house!

Looking forward to the next instalment :)

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

Thanks, Sarah, xo

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Veronika Bond's avatar

Necessity is the mother of invention, (as Frank Zappa knew well)... Your mom obviously set up the necessity and you got to practice your inventiveness and creativity from an early age... along with added responsibility for a younger brother! You handled the key situation with an inherent aplomb unflappability...

And so well written, Lani!! Wonderful read 💗🙏

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

Thanks, Veronika. 🙏 And may I add, my opinion of you has risen, not because of your support, but because of your Frank Zappa reference. 😀 I think children are naturally self-confident or unaware of consequences 😉 until it gets knocked out of them. At the same time, it’s fun to look back at the things we did!

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Veronika Bond's avatar

😀

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Sue Sutherland-Wood's avatar

Wow, Lani - you do such a good job of elevating the ordinary. The reader is right there with you, wincing as you remove those glass plates. (I even worried briefly how you were going to get them back into their slots!) Most interesting to me is the aura of sadness you manage to convey, a kind of "no big deal-ness" - that actually is. Well done you! Publishing as a serial here is a great idea for 2025!

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

And you, as I mentioned in your zippy restack, have a way with words! My ego is ballooning! Watch out! And thanks for catching that melancholy, which I feel, was childhood in a peanut shell. Thanks, Sue. You really know how to make my day! 💗💗💗

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Hajee Sun's avatar

Really love your stories and the way you tell them, Lani. Your storytelling is so captivating, it truly fascinates me. Can't wait to read the next 34 stories. And Happy New Year!

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

Thanks, Hajee. I like your substack description, about it being a visa-free place. Now, here’s someone who understands the hell of visas! 😅 I appreciate your kind and encouraging words 💓 HNY to you, too!

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Hajee Sun's avatar

Haha yes I do understand visa hell, so the flip side of it is a worth emphasizing lol. Also, I really like your writing, after reading your Are You China piece last year I was thinking that piece should be included in a memoir and I'm glad that actually happened✌

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

Yaayyyy!

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Rachel Ooi's avatar

This is such a good read, I'm transported back then with you and your brother. I can even imagine what I would do if I were you!

I once forgot my house keys and had to fish it out with a makeshift rod because it lays right there on the table, seen but unreachable.

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Yi Xue's avatar

Happy New Year, Lani!

Looking forward to reading the next one!

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

Happy New Year, Yi! Thanks so much! 🙏🙏🙏

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Rebecca Moon Ruark's avatar

AHHHHHHHHH, I'm loving this already!

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

Thanks, Rebecca! 😍 I removed it and changed it for other ideas many times over. Sometimes, you just have to hit commit.

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Sodak's avatar

Glad you committed… this is good 👍

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Lani V. Cox's avatar

Thanks, Steve. I appreciate it 😊

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Jan 2
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Lani V. Cox's avatar

Wow, thanks, Maureen. I'll take that! 🥰 Happy 2025!

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