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The Radical Individualist's avatar

These are the moments that make a marriage and family.

If I am permitted to make a distinction between men and women, I think you've perfectly delineated it here.

Let the schlock writers write their blockbusters about super heroes and super events. It takes a real artist to depict everyday life and show it's meaning and depth.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you for the inspiring comment, brother. Everyday life and everyday people are what I'm most interested in writing about. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Jim is a master at illuminating the depth of day to day reality.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

My kind friend.

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Jim J Wilsky's avatar

Great job Jimbo. A slice of real life and how dreams or plans collide with it. Beautiful, bittersweet and just real. Enjoyed it very much. - Jim

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Thanks,Jim. I appreciate your support always.

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M.E. Proctor's avatar

You have the touch, Jim. Catching the little moments in life where yearning and reality collide. Can't really call the birth of a baby a missing opportunity but how many slip by like that when there is no baby, just the pot roast? It's sweet and sad ... yet hopeful too. Pinch in my heart.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you Martine. I'm always interested to read your reactions.

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Liz Zimmers's avatar

Just beautiful, a little sad, a little hilarious, a little sweet-all of life. Loved this.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you so much Liz. I appreciate your kind comment.

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Kyle Leonard's avatar

I'm late to reading this, but I know I'd love the Harbor House. Your description made it feel like I'd been there.

The line "why do I get myself in a Friday mood when I have to work Saturdays anyway" — that line rang clear as a bell in this beautiful life story.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you Kyle, appreciate the comment. I could see you, me and Wilsky meeting up for a couple of beers at the Harbor House someday (If there is such a place)

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Kyle Leonard's avatar

Love that idea...

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Nathan Slake's avatar

This was a delight, Jim. Very real, very (as Jim W notes) slice of life, but also just exquisite in the way the words flow. There's an almost tidal pull to some paragraphs, where the words sweep you along because of the long sentences. They really work. I've been reading a lot of Bolano lately, and he's a master of these kind of continuous sentences.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you Nathan. I enjoy writing about everyday life and everyday people and when I do, the structure seems to give-way to cadence and train-of-thought. I love your analogy to "tidal pull." So appropriate to this piece. Thanks again for reading and for your thoughtful comment.

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Wonderful story Jim, it brought a bigger perspective to me and a smile to my face.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you Mark. It's good to know this gave you a smile. You deserve a smile.

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Jimmy Doom's avatar

Yeah man. Quick little throat grabber. Beautiful.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you, Jimmy. Appreciate your comment very much.

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Justin Deming's avatar

I loved everything about this story, Jim. The details, the storytelling…you knocked it out of the park!

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you so much Justin for your very generous comment. I'm just dipping my writing foot back in here and encouragement like this may lead me to jump back in with both feet.

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Tim Connolly's avatar

I loved the run on structure of sentences that give the sense of excitement and how it turns on a dime to a diferent but not hopeless ending changing our sympathy that he's not getting his dinn er at a favorite spot to a time yet to come with his grandchild. Beautiful Jim!

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Yes, Tim. I feel like you caught what I was pitching. And I do love me some run-on sentences once in a while. Thank you for reading and for your kind comment. Great to have have you here.

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just mud by Ron's avatar

Yeah Jim, I'd be heading for Portugal even if I had to work tomorrow! Have had those horizons readjusted for sure; at least temporarily! Thanks for this one, Jim.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

I sympathize, Ron. We may never get to Portugal but we can look through that railroad trestle and imagine what it's like. Thank you for reading and commenting, my brother.

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Sunny Hochberg's avatar

This is wonderful writing, Jim! I especially like how you wove in the part about sharing the light in some future time with the little boy.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

So good to hear from you, Shielagh. I appreciate your wonderful comment, neighbor. Hope all is well with you.

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Sunny Hochberg's avatar

Thank you, Jim. I’m doing great, albeit in the midst of a respiratory thing that has slowed me down briefly. It gives me opportunity to show up for life differently. Your writing reminds that I enjoy writing. I just haven’t done anything creative in that vein for a while. Instead I’ve been trying watercolors with some happy results. I’ll write again.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Feel better soon. The watercolor painting sounds like a great creative outlet.

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James Ron's avatar

So good, Jim! And I hope little Curtis will be fascinated by the thought of another land out there beyond that trestle and light.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you cowboy. I have the feeling that Curtis will catch the vibe from Grandpa. Appreciate you, brother.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Such is married life. Well done.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you Mark. Yup, give and take.

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

I guess Charlotte wouldn't be interested in seeing the light blink through the gap in the trestle and imagine the big wide world beyond it.

Good story, Jim. Thank you.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Charlotte will have her time at the trestle with grandpa when she is old enough to understand, rest assured. I have four granddaughters who never cease to amaze me.

Thank you for reading and commenting, Sue. I love the interaction here.

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Sue Cauhape's avatar

I enjoy the conversations here on Substack too. It's so much more rewarding and fun than other platforms.

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K.C. Knouse's avatar

The husband doesn't give up, but the wife just isn't in the mood to go out. You do a great job with the back and forth. Neither trys to gain leverage by employing guilt. That is where I see the love and respect. In the end, the phone call decides the matter, but he doesn't give up and imagines taking his grandson to that special place to view the ocean. You have to love him for that. Great job, Jim.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

Thank you for reading and commenting, KC. I'm glad the love and respect was apparent. Always appreciate your kind and considered comments, my friend.

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