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Jennifer Ruth Keller's avatar

love this one-sentence practice/expression….going to try it out in my life

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Chris La Tray's avatar

Report back on how it goes, please!

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Jill Swenson's avatar

"A relished opportunity to be the barbarian at the gate." April 2, 2025. Made me grin. Turn up the volume.

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Nancy Menning's avatar

My sentence from 2025_0419: If it hadn't been for Raven, imitating Northern Harrier's low hunting flight across the wetlands, I never would have stopped, lifted my binoculars, and then spotted Coyote moving away, glancing back at me, then moving away again on the far side of the water.

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Chris La Tray's avatar

🐦‍⬛

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lucy's avatar

Loved 22: "That’s not memorization, that’s winging it." I will now be telling myself this when I am overconfident and underprepared!

A few from mine:

Apr 6 - While I don't regret a long-overdue phone call, I do think that's when the day's to-do list became irrelevant.

Apr 10 - I might be able to subsist indefinitely on pastries and breakfast burritos.

Apr 11 - Alas, the little line on the overlooked test explains the past few days unfortunately well.

Apr 13 - Sometimes the vibes are just off, and only some time sweating in the garden will do.

Apr 14 - Too long squinting at the glowing rectangle today.

Apr 18 - Sometimes (usually) the best medicine is good company at an old haunt.

Apr 22 - The adrenaline and endorphins kick in careening down a hill in a wheeled chair for the first time.

Apr 26 - April showers bring April flowers, much to May's chagrin.

Apr 30 - Unfortunately, it can take a very long time to say what we mean, even when we mean well.

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Chris La Tray's avatar

I always love it when you share yours!

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Sunday Dutro's avatar

THIS!: "2025_0415: Trying to find the balance between the presumed importance of science and the absolute imperative of stories."

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Chris La Tray's avatar

💚

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Lori Ball's avatar

voted!

and your sentences - delightful brave beautiful surprising - so much in each one- thank you for sharing these i look forward to every month!

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Sarah Wahrer's avatar

Thought of a question if it feels ok to talk about. Do the Métis have certain traditions for birthdays or different ways of noting the passage of time through life? I was talking with my partner about how everyone became a year older in Korea at the new year and loved learning a different way to think about this. Wondered what other practices are out there. Happy April birthday!

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Chris La Tray's avatar

It kind of depends on the community because much of that was denied our people for so long. I will say that New Years is a big deal to Métis folks, though I think that is a tradition that came a little later.

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Sarah Wahrer's avatar

Beautiful and I love reading the comments too! You have built a wonderful community here and I feel joyful to be a part of it. Thank you. Voted!!

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Chris La Tray's avatar

It makes me joyful too.

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Catherine Hanson's avatar

Voted! Loved the “barbarian at the gate” and you’re too young to”stagger around the sun.”

I love these.

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Chris La Tray's avatar

I stagger around everything.

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Jean Barash's avatar

A treasure, as always

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Chris La Tray's avatar

💚

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Marion's avatar

Voted. And these sentences mark your birthday, yes? All good wishes for the year to come.

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Chris La Tray's avatar

My birthday was on the 4th, yes. 🎂

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Nigel Waterton's avatar

I feel that pang of loss after each class concludes each term. (Mostly - I teach a lot:) It’s honestly still bittersweet after 30 years.

I so enjoyed your event in Bend at the High Desert Museum. Delighted to see you in analog!

Cheers,

(Thee) Nigel

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Chris La Tray's avatar

Was good to see you there, Nigel!

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Priscilla Stuckey's avatar

Happy April birthday, Chris!

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Chris La Tray's avatar

I appreciate that!

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Mistress of Doom's avatar

Congrats on the Montana Heritage Awards! Definitely voted for Becoming Little Shell and found a bunch of books to add to my list!

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Chris La Tray's avatar

The tide of interesting books is ENDLESS!

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Amanda Wald Rachie's avatar

2025_0411: River sounds and river rocks and river-polished old snags.

2025_0430: Is that six, seven, or eight fox kits rolling around on the side hill climbing up to the irrigation ditch?

Thank you for everything! I voted for Becoming Little Shell.

Cat sleeps peacefully on his side with front paws crossed while all the birds sing under an overcast sky.

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Chris La Tray's avatar

Perfect, and thank you!

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Greg Leichner's avatar

You have put my current goal into words with... "heart and spirit stripped bare and refocused..." /// My sentence from April 30: "Note to the Jackal: Absolutely no one on planet Earth will miss Elon Musk."

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Chris La Tray's avatar

Nope, not a person will. What a legacy! 😂

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