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Rose Campbell's avatar

I really enjoyed this goosebump-generating recount of an extraordinary event! Truth or fiction?? Either way, “never complain, never whine, never blame, never reproach, and never point fingers at someone who has done something wrong” is excellent advice!

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Fiction, Rose. Although the ghost of my best friend really exists! And he did pass away forty-five years ago. Thank you for reading!

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Rose Campbell's avatar

How very interesting! And does he drop in to visit from time to time?! I keep hearing that ‘the veil’ is growing ever thinner…

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Rose. He does. Not physically, though. That one time was special. :)

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Boustan Hirji's avatar

Dear Silvio

One can simply enjoy your writing without feeling compelled to make specific remarks about it's form, or quote passages to illustrate emotions your words evoke.

Maybe, just maybe, there are some readers,who await your writings with great anticipation and relish each word...savour the unwritten, without the desire to be a literary deconstructionist!

So, don't discredit some of us silent ones.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Indeed, Boustan. Your words resonate: no pressure to come comment or restack or what have you. Just enjoy it in silence. And no discredit whatsoever! But thank you for always being here and delighting me with your beautiful words.

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Claudia Befu's avatar

I wonder what conversation I would have with someone visiting from the other side. Don’t complain is sound advice. It doesn’t bring anything.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

You haven't had any so far? Not even in a dream? I bet you have. :) Thank you so much, Claudia!

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Claudia Befu's avatar

In a dream yeah but no conversations. Just being next to each other in silence. The last one was my grandfather from my mother’s side.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

I guess you know that dreaming of dead people is generally good luck. Or at least a premonition of something.

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Claudia Befu's avatar

I didn’t know that but the dream was very pleasant.

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Rick Lewis's avatar

“old friends can take all the time in the world before speaking.“ yes, definitely. Though I wonder if there is a corrollary, that sometimes allowing silence between ourselves and a new friend allows that relationship to mature and deepen more quickly.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

I think so. It is always a test, as far as I'm concerned, for the relationship to be considered a true one: if the silences feel as comfortable as the words then the test is passed. :)

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

“we're blanketed by the past, everything that no longer exists or exists only in memory or conjecture is here now, embracing all from above, shining on the black night water of the sea and on this terrace and on us, and we can't do anything to stop it.” Embraced by the past. My bio-dad’s public tv show was called Long Ago is All Around. Same idea. And then to take it further, everything everyone we cherish is made from death, death of life, death of atoms, death of stars. So we are blanketed and nurtured by the past, all that is old, and by death, and yet we still are so afraid of both. Strange creatures we are.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Beautiful reflection, Kimberly! Thank you for sharing it. Writing itself is a past occurrence projected into the future -- potentially -- forever. And yes, we are indeed strage creatures. I often reflect on the common fear of death. Fear of what, exactly? I guess, fear of the unknown. We must be in control. :)

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

This is wonderful, Silvio - I often think about our perception of time, seeing the past in the stars, the vastness of space - and have no idea what to do with it. And you went ahead and did it. Well done.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you so much, Troy! Time and the vastness of space occupy so much of my thinking, too, with no end in sight. :)

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Profound, Silvio. Another beautiful story that is blanketed by words of truth.

"that last enough for them to enjoy the limpidity of truth" -- a lovely use of limpid.

My favourite line (in addition to the one I restacked about the stars) is this: "It’s always like this, an immutable law of the universe: there is no joy or happiness that isn’t balanced by its loss."

And equally, loss is balanced (somewhere, somewhen) by happiness.

This one will have a lasting impact as I continue to think on the words.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you so much, Nathan! Yes, limpid! I remember it was one of the words you and Jamie wrote about some time ago. Limpido in Italian means (very) clear, and limpidezza (clearness) translates to limpidity. I agree with your reflection on the inversion of causality between happiness and its loss. In the end, I see it as a circularity. It's so kind of you to share these thoughts. :)

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Wonderful words. Thanks for including these variants here.

Circulatory is a perfect way to think of it.

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Jill CampbellMason's avatar

Not my thing==oh, but it balances!

So yes I feel the magic and the ethereal.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you so much, Jill! (you nailed that one)

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