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lovely words. I didn't know Julie at all, but I think we can all learn from loss that kindness and generosity are always the right answer, whether or not we identify with someone's writing, their persona, or the persona the world attached to them. And as I know you, you are both kind and generous to writers and people, trying/failing/succeeding at writing, and life. x

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Wow. Thank you for this post and showing the good in people. I agree about Julia Child. She was too classy to diss someone younger who was simply working hard. The tight knit protectors, perhaps.

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Don't get me wrong: she could bristle with the best of us. But when it came to younger food writers who were truly dedicated to the work, she was incredibly supportive and kind.

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Yes she was. As a young writer she let me come to her Cambridge home and cook lunch with her for a story in advance of her 80th birthday. She was wise in that she spent more time asking me about me and wanted to deflect the questions about her. I know now being 30 years older that she had heard all the questions before. What interested Julia was staying in the know of what others were cooking. I wonder with the Julie situation if she or her people felt Julie was taking advantage of Julia’s fame and good nature.

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I have heard many similar stories. Julie was taking advantage of nothing; she was cooking 500+ recipes to save her own heart. And everyone has the right to do that.

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Absolutely!

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What a thoughtful and loving tribute, Elissa. Thank you, as always, for your beautiful words and kind heart.

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Thank you - x

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Nov 3, 2022Liked by Elissa Altman

wonderful tribute,

that I wish feeling is a bugger! hang in there, because you did follow up with others...and good on you

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A lovely tribute, Elissa, recognizing talent, grief, discomfort, disappointment. I take your last words to heart.

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Thank you Nancy-

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Nov 3, 2022Liked by Elissa Altman

I see this all the time now: Someone pours their heart and soul and life and love out on social media, and then is deeply hurt when social media does not love them back. Too much confusion between our real lives and our virtual ones. I am so sad for Julie Powell, whom I did not know, but whom I "loved" from afar.

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I very much agree.

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Nov 8, 2022Liked by Elissa Altman

Professional "protectors" are full of s---. Codswallop for brains.

This essay is a fair and lovely remembrance.

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Very nice and touching history. Thanks for covering it, Elissa.

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This is beautiful and heartbreaking. Thank you.

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I didn't know the real events behind Julie's work, but your tribute shed light of the Julie's life and work and her true story, thank you, Elissa

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Nov 3, 2022Liked by Elissa Altman

Thank you fore this.So important to say aloud.

And, how are you?? m.

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ok. will write. xo

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What a beautiful tribute. I didn’t know Julie but I always read Cleaving as a kind of atonement for public image that was too nice for anyone to live up to. I totally get that. Full sympathies to her and you.

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Thank you --- xox

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Really beautiful, thank you.

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Thank you John -

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Nov 3, 2022Liked by Elissa Altman

A good tribute. There can be all sorts of seen and unseen anguish. We must not let the I Wishes become our own.

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Oh Elissa -- coming to this late. Julie and I were both food blogging back when it wasn't a thing, and then we all watched her take off. My one and only Best Food Writing piece was partially about her project, and grief, and setting oneself goals as a way to survive. I find myself more gutted by her death than I'd expect, especially since she was so open with us all about her demons, and those weren't what got her. It seems so spectacularly unfair somehow. Lovely piece, thank you.

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