tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post3751934919319463197..comments2024-03-21T23:14:27.787+00:00Comments on Middle of Nowhere: Now we are fortyGretelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399585879728373265noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-42211212745378643102007-08-21T07:28:00.000+01:002007-08-21T07:28:00.000+01:00i'm even later than cait! and hope you see this s...i'm even later than cait! and hope you see this some time. Sorry i missed it in july.<BR/><BR/>Happy 40th.<BR/>you are great and i hope to meet you sometime in RL.lettucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13872380339261609060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-34585135336618755012007-08-19T09:54:00.000+01:002007-08-19T09:54:00.000+01:00I am very late but just wanted to say I am so glad...I am very late but just wanted to say I am so glad I found your blog via purplecoo. So much to read, wonderful photos and art work to look at and I do identify with your experiences. You have worked very hard.Cait O'Connorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04569760764766505179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-69698525557260001442007-07-17T19:05:00.000+01:002007-07-17T19:05:00.000+01:00Gretel,Happiest birthday to a fellow Cancerian - m...Gretel,<BR/><BR/>Happiest birthday to a fellow Cancerian - mine was 26th June, and I'm three years older than you. Don't worry, life still rocks along after the big 40. :-D<BR/><BR/>What an incredible story your life is. Moving and awesinpiring. But remember the biggest thing, inspite of all of the painful 'stuff': you were born of love, and have come home to love. The rest has built your character with gentle tensile threads of steel. I could fill a page with words telling you so, but I think you know what I mean. :-) Continue to be happy in your lovely corner of the wondrous natural world, and congratulations on the interview. Age be damned! Cavort and dance with glee all you want - it shows you're alive. :-D<BR/><BR/>Blessed be<BR/>MarianneMariannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10349984152592814003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-68339375309023626242007-07-16T11:28:00.000+01:002007-07-16T11:28:00.000+01:00Happy belated birthday Gretel!I'm so glad I came a...Happy belated birthday Gretel!<BR/><BR/>I'm so glad I came across your blog. It is a joy to read and I felt really moved by this entry. You are such an inspiring lady and an extremely talented illustrator!<BR/><BR/>All the best,<BR/><BR/>Helen<BR/>x<BR/><BR/>Ps - the sad little rabbit has settled in well to his new home :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-68582794123984071372007-07-16T04:58:00.000+01:002007-07-16T04:58:00.000+01:00I was sitting here sobbing as I read your birthday...I was sitting here sobbing as I read your birthday post...not because I was sad, but because I was so moved by your braveheart story and picturing the hurt child in you blossoming gradually over the years into one of the greatest writers and artists that I've had the privilege to meet through blogging. You inspire, teach and share such a zest for living and I wish you a new birth year filled to the brim with continuing joy, love and laughter. Jump up and down forever!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-26574272059504417822007-07-15T18:58:00.000+01:002007-07-15T18:58:00.000+01:00You are a beautiful person, Gretel. Your mom and d...You are a beautiful person, Gretel. Your mom and dad would have been so proud of the 40 year old that you have become.Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06470714707654140096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-16198476539521472952007-07-14T15:43:00.000+01:002007-07-14T15:43:00.000+01:00That's a sad life's story... especially the part w...That's a sad life's story... especially the part where both your parents died. I only lost my mom at an early age, when my parents broke up and things got crazy. Being a step child is a real bummer. <BR/><BR/>But you found your own bootstraps and that's the most important thing in life. <BR/><BR/>40 is still 'babyhood' by the way... lol!<BR/>Thanks for sharing your story. I think it makes everyone better to share like that.<BR/><BR/>Happy Birthday!<BR/>(those are SUCH gorgeous photos... I wanna move there)<BR/><BR/>:0)<BR/><BR/>jnJohn Nezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13428052549806632272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-70012361444308859442007-07-14T02:00:00.000+01:002007-07-14T02:00:00.000+01:00May your celebration never end! Happy 40th birthda...May your celebration never end! Happy 40th birthday, many happy ones to come. <BR/>Every day lived is such a blessing, having lost my sister at 38, I appreciate every day I am getting older and I am happy for you that your life has taken a much better turn, you seem like a person who truly earned it. So good to know you!<BR/>A big hug from Vienna,<BR/>MerisiMerisihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16781937797213521146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-9305543969076175642007-07-12T16:28:00.000+01:002007-07-12T16:28:00.000+01:00You have obviously been blessed with 'fairy' toys ...You have obviously been blessed with 'fairy' toys and 'angel' Andy's! HAPPY BIRTHDAY - a week late! Your strength and self-preservation shines through your work! What a blessing to be 40 at last! (p.s. I loved turning 40, and can barely wait till 50... like good wine - they say - age makes us that much better!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-54610190726900532472007-07-11T14:04:00.000+01:002007-07-11T14:04:00.000+01:00Hey - happy 4-0... I'll be joining you next week o...Hey - happy 4-0... I'll be joining you next week on that side of things! It does feel like time to take a bit of a life-stocktake, and I feel like "I've been here this long, better get down and on with 'it'"!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-43729459153914227632007-07-11T07:39:00.000+01:002007-07-11T07:39:00.000+01:00Please forgive me for having a huge lump in my thr...Please forgive me for having a huge lump in my throat as I read this. I know full well you didn't tell this compelling and heart breaking story for sympathy - that much I do know about you. Yet I cannot help but be moved and feel badly(and yes sorry) for the childhood lost.<BR/>I also must tell you that I feel a rather large amount of respect for the adult. I realize it's been a hard fought battle to reach this pinnacle in your life and yet you mastered it. You have enormous talent, a giving heart and damn the things you can't do with road killed pheasant(lol). There are some who would be on a very different path (even at 40)right now and that includes those with a seemingly "normal" childhood. So let me say after this long winded comment, I wish you(albeit late) the happiest of birthdays...AND great success for this London "thing".<BR/>I am happy we've "met" and no matter if I knew this story or not will always celebrate that.<BR/>XOXO<BR/>Love,<BR/>LisaLisa Oceandreamer Swifkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10447207923190618328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-71409313099986970952007-07-10T16:42:00.000+01:002007-07-10T16:42:00.000+01:00I love coming here. You're such a great person to...I love coming here. You're such a great person to "know", Ms.Parker.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for this entry.Aaron Paquettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07401418598802746504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-71208655519947691242007-07-10T15:51:00.000+01:002007-07-10T15:51:00.000+01:00Haaapppyyy Birrrthday tooooo yooooo! You'll love y...Haaapppyyy Birrrthday tooooo yooooo! You'll love your 40's; I did, so much I wish I was still there, ha ha ha!<BR/>Seriously, I want to add my best wishes and my thanks too; it was your blog that got me back into printmaking. Thanks Gretel, you're an inspiration!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-36480094401034183552007-07-10T07:10:00.000+01:002007-07-10T07:10:00.000+01:00Happy belated birthday! You've come such a long wa...Happy belated birthday! You've come such a long way and should feel very proud, I'm sure your parents would be too. Good luck with the interview too xxKaren Jinkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17792571313738007440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-8439315401486911812007-07-09T23:35:00.000+01:002007-07-09T23:35:00.000+01:00Heres wishing you the very best of birthdays, that...Heres wishing you the very best of birthdays, that you have found the strength to rise from your childhood saddness says a lot about about your parents and you. I am so glad you and Andy found each other. I have a glass of wine next to me and I am toasting you. Happy birthday Gretel. XXX<BR/>ps Good luck with the London interview.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-80350920191710728212007-07-09T23:14:00.000+01:002007-07-09T23:14:00.000+01:00Happy belated birthday Gretel! I always enjoy visi...Happy belated birthday Gretel! I always enjoy visiting here, your honesty and creativity. 40 does get better and better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-11681722075601370882007-07-09T22:29:00.000+01:002007-07-09T22:29:00.000+01:00Oh, Gretel, I was up on the top of a mountain the ...Oh, Gretel, I was up on the top of a mountain the week of your birthday and didn't have Internet access--but even if it's belated, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You're a lovely and marvelous person, even more so considering the challenges life has thrown at you. I'm pleased and honored to know you.<BR/><BR/>P.S. If forty-year-olds don't jump up and down yet, that obviously needs fixing. Congratulations on starting a trend. :)Soozcathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12549632685008663664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-34832764277282902522007-07-09T21:27:00.000+01:002007-07-09T21:27:00.000+01:00Happy Birthday !!!!Your mother looks so beautiful ...Happy Birthday !!!!<BR/>Your mother looks so beautiful in the photograph, and I love the photo of you as a teenager. It's definately a proper teenage photo !<BR/>Your parents would be so proud I'm sure of their daughter at 40. Who did you get your arty side from ?weirdbunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14955841382032017678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-14409014453104793772007-07-09T02:17:00.000+01:002007-07-09T02:17:00.000+01:00Oh, happy, happy birthday to you, Gretel!Oh, happy, happy birthday to you, Gretel!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-43634826382661870012007-07-08T22:49:00.000+01:002007-07-08T22:49:00.000+01:00Gretel..you are a true trooper and a fantastic rem...Gretel..you are a true trooper and a fantastic remarkable and unforgettable person to boot. Happy Birthday honey and remember that life just keeps opening up from now on in. ...I truly wish you all the happiness, contentment and HUGE commissions from here on in.xxSueChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17485396254133631330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-15684720886395793052007-07-08T20:05:00.000+01:002007-07-08T20:05:00.000+01:00Just wanted to add to the general belated birthday...Just wanted to add to the general belated birthday good wishes. And best of luck with the exciting meeting in smelly London.Dave Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03265971917147812508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-76687195008160361912007-07-08T15:01:00.000+01:002007-07-08T15:01:00.000+01:00Happy birthday!Sending you a virtual 'Tiramisu des...Happy birthday!<BR/>Sending you a virtual 'Tiramisu dessert'<BR/>All the best.<BR/>MaryMaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04026339797935200450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-68999264127611210132007-07-08T14:42:00.000+01:002007-07-08T14:42:00.000+01:00Oh my God the honesty of this post makes me feel q...Oh my God the honesty of this post makes me feel quite humble - that you feel free to share such memoirs with us, your blogging pals. Life really can begin at 40 and having got a little further than that I can tell you that things just get better and better - more acceptance of self, circumstance and less angst. Hip hip hoorah for less angst heh? So Happy happy birthday to you and the very very best of luck in LOndon.<BR/>Carolyn xAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-57105497111703760382007-07-08T12:07:00.000+01:002007-07-08T12:07:00.000+01:00Happy Birthday!!!! Thank you for sharing your stor...Happy Birthday!!!! Thank you for sharing your story. I think it`s all up-hill from here on out :)<BR/>Best of luck with your wonderful art!!<BR/><BR/>tea<BR/>xoTeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07198693392569881087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-57136492363196924362007-07-08T04:35:00.000+01:002007-07-08T04:35:00.000+01:00Happy Birthday, Gretel -- You've come an amazingly...Happy Birthday, Gretel -- You've come an amazingly long way, Baby! Most of us come from tattered beginnings -- even if it all looks pretty and nice. Do enjoy 40; in my opinion it's entirely the best. (Every year when my birthday comes round, I celebrate the whole month.)<BR/><BR/>JennyOldBagNewTrickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18169579521843787157noreply@blogger.com