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Nancy's avatar

Thank you for this, so transporting and moving. I was spellbound.

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Alexander Chee's avatar

Thank you very much, Nancy.

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Jules Fitz Gerald's avatar

Gorgeous piece—thank you for sharing it. The third person journal concept also rocks my world. I will carry this line with me: “Each pool to him is like a portal to this place below and each is imperfect for the way it never offers him a way to stay.”

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Gunnar Lundberg's avatar

This reminds me a lot of Katie Ledecky describing how swimming has helped in her struggle with POTS!

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Tamara Fox's avatar

Beautiful on so many levels 🙂

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Meg Maker's avatar

I live near you and know those pools, those places, the disappointments of the former, the freedoms of the latter. Also, I grew up in Central Maine and know those parental words, those admonishments. I never did learn to swim. I wish I had. I'm now a member of that aquatic center but do dry land training instead. You've encouraged me to dip a toe, or more, into the competition pool when the filter project completes.

Thank you for this notion of third-person memoir. It's affecting in a way I had not anticipated.

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Alexander Chee's avatar

Thanks so much. It’s a beautiful thing to swim—I hope you do.

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Victoria Olsen's avatar

Beautiful. I like that it takes so long to get to your father, even though he’s in the subtitle. You trust us to wait for it and we do and it’s worth it.

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Alexander Chee's avatar

Thanks Victoria

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Kiki Georgiou's avatar

I can recommend the Culver City public pool for when you're here in LA if you fancy swimming laps in the sunshine!

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Alexander Chee's avatar

It looks glorious and is nearish to my hotel—thanks!

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Kit's avatar

How tender your writing becomes when you write about childhood and familial bonds. This project is wonderful. I'm so glad you've taken it on.

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Alexander Chee's avatar

Thank you so much for that observation especially.

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DMHardc's avatar

The way you write. You have written how it is to live in a mixed race body better than anyone and it has helped me feel part of this world so thank you for that, and for all the other wonderful writing that goes directly into my soul. What a joy you are 💫💫

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Alexander Chee's avatar

Well thank you, thanks very much.

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S Biro's avatar

Thank you for this. Gorgeous. It makes me cry.

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Alexander Chee's avatar

Thank you so much.

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Ellen Wallace's avatar

Purely wonderful, thank you, and it reminds me to bump “go swimming” up on my “to do“ list or better yet scrap the list and just go swimming. In case you don’t know it a bit of swimming joy in music is an old McGarriglesisters song:This summer I went swimming. It will lift your spirits and make you want to get right back in the pool.

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Alexander Chee's avatar

Thanks! I will look for it!

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Pia Hinckle's avatar

Gut punch reveal. Let me know if you find a good pool near AWP. 💙

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