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Jan Elisabeth's avatar

Top left for the swatches.

And as for this piece! I'm in tears reading words from a van -- but not just any van -- one brought to life by your heart. It also makes me ache to drive -- never have due to limited eyesight. Just marvellous writing.

And I love Vivian van Gogh :)

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Holly Starley's avatar

Thank you, Jan! I so very much appreciate you.

Vivian is a treat. And the more I'm thinking about changes here and there that will make her mine the more I'm getting ready to get in deep with her too. (At first I was sort of surprised by how little I felt for the new van, given she's quite an upgrade and, frankly, the most expensive purchase I've ever made by far. Then I realized it's just how much I love Ruby and that I need to put my own touches into the space and have adventures with her and sleep in her belly. :)

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Rona Maynard's avatar

Dear Holly and Viv,

What fun to start my day with you two seekers and magic-makers. Oh, the places you’ll go, taking your readers with you.

It’s going to be a beautiful ride.

Rona

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Holly Starley's avatar

And how lucky we are to have you starting your day with us, my friend.

I'm still clearing up a few things medically, so my initial ventures are going to be quite short and not too far-flung. But I'm gearing for longer and farther come fall. Fingers crossed!

Thank you.

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Heather R's avatar

All of them! But #2 on my phone if that helps identify which one is my fav. Enjoy the new adventure!

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Holly Starley's avatar

That one started out as my favorite, too. And has risen back to the top. I'm pretty dang sure it'll be the one. Gotta have the swatches in my hands. I think it looks a bit like stained glass. And it feels open and airy.

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Sara Siegler's avatar

I love #2 also… but all of them add joy and tactile hues of joy… en-joy your new rolling home and desk Holly. 🩵

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Holly Starley's avatar

Thank you, thank you, Sara. I love #2 too. To me, it feels like stained glass and feels airy and open.

I much appreciate you!!

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Dr. Wendy Pabich's avatar

To the wise and wonderful Ruby van Jangles! What generous words she shares with Viv, who must be vibrating with excitement and anticipation of all the wild nomading you'll do together. To the magic. xo

P.S. I vote top right.

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Holly Starley's avatar

Yes!! That one's my fav too. I'll go with it if it looks as good in person. (Swatches just arrived. Woot woot.)

To the magic indeed! Magic you know well.

Thank you, my friend, for your support!

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Dr. Wendy Pabich's avatar

Yay! So fun to add your own flair to your new home. You are so welcome--right back at you! 🩵

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Holly Starley's avatar

💕

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Susan J Tweit's avatar

I love this letter from Ruby to Vivian. What a beautiful tribute to your time with Ruby and all of the knowledge and experiences you two shared! Thank you, Holly, for the reminder to stop and savor our transitions--where we've been is so much a part of who we are at any moment.

As for the swatches, I love them all, but I'm going to vote for bottom left. Blessings and a hug to you!

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Holly Starley's avatar

Bottom left is in my top two. Great minds. ;)

Thank you, Susan. It's so true that where we've been informs who we are. And transitions, even good ones, can be touch on us humans. I like how you said this. I will keep that--stop and savor--with me over the coming weeks and months as I know doubt experience moments of transition anxiety.

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Eileen Dougharty's avatar

What a love letter/owner's manual Ruby wrote for Viv. Looking forward to seeing you transform together. ❤️

Bottom right for me but honestly they are all gorgeous. Bring on the splashes of color!

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Holly Starley's avatar

Owner's manual!!! Ha. I love this. I'm going to add it as a subtitle right now. Fantastic.

Yes! The swatches have just arrived in the mail, and I took them into Vivian. And I can't say enough how much I adore the fresh color in there--even before it's been put up.

Thank you, thank you, my friend!

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Ramona Grigg's avatar

I'm so glad Ruby is going to be all right! And who knew she was a writer herself? Maybe that's her calling and she'll become your competition. 😏

Vivian has her work cut out for her. She'll never be better, but she can be as good. I hope she knows that.

As for the wallpaper, I'm instantly drawn to the one at upper right. It's not only beautiful, it feels wild and free. Like Vivvy and her new travel companion. ❤️

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Holly Starley's avatar

I'd collaborate with Ruby any day!

I love the upper right swatch too. And yes, I agree. Wild and free. Plus it feels like stained glass, open and airy.

And yes, Vivian has her work cut out for her. I can be exacting. But I'm also willing to put in the work to transform what needs transforming.

Thank you, Mona! ♥️

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Tina Hedin's avatar

Oh Holly I love this letter so much! And I can relate to the metamorphosis that can happen inside a rolling home. It's totally different than any other kind of home. (Or house – I too find myself calling my trailer and even my truck "the house" haha!)

You have a beautiful way of distilling these big experiences and feelings into words that take us places, and take us inside your beautiful heart.

Thank you and congrats on Vivvy. I love the swatches but esp. the one on the top right.

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Holly Starley's avatar

Yes you do know this metamorphosis well, Tina. It's such a treat to swap experiences with people who know what it's like to live in a rolling home. It's such a gorgeous way to live. And I'm so deeply grateful to have come to it and to have the mark of the road on my heart.

Thank you, my friend. I'm grateful for you.

Me too! The top right is, I'm pretty sure, gonna be the winner. So airy and bright. Like stained glass I think.

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Jeanine Kitchel's avatar

Love the ode from Ruby to Vivian. Sweet, sweet, sweet. So many miles, smiles, tears, and living shared. Flower faves? Lower left and Top right. Carry on Holly, Viv and Ruby, in your own new way.

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Holly Starley's avatar

You picked my top two, Jeanine. Great minds. ;)

Yes--miles, smiles, tears, and living shared. You know a little about these things too.

Thank you. ♥️

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JenniferWritten's avatar

Dear Ruby van Jangles, thank you for sharing with us! I certainly see the woman you're talking about in your wonderful words, laid out like a road trip. I find myself tearing up at the shift and understand the challenges of separation, change, and even growth. Scratches, dents, stretch marks. Groans and giggles. Love to you all, Ruby, Vivian, and Holly.

Oh, and, are these color schemes/templates or actual swatches? If the latter, my likes are more toward to top right and bottom left.

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Holly Starley's avatar

Photos of swatches. Both of which have arrived. And of course you picked my two favs. And now they're here, it's top right for sure. Love it! Like stained glass.

Thank you, dear friend. I know you've seen these transitions and challenges and scars up close and personal. And I'm beyond grateful to be sharing the path--and SO MANY giggles and groans with you. ♥️♥️♥️

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Margaret Gacki's avatar

Naawhh, you brought Ruby Van Jangles to life... not just some inanimate object. A moving piece... I'm sure she'll make her next travelling companion very happy. 🙂

On my 50th birthday a few years ago, I treated myself to a "new" car - a 2003 original British made (Rover) MG TF (it's a two-seat convertible and being European, everything is inversed, so the engine is at the rear, near the boot 😁🤔). I named her "Silver Girl" after the lyrics in Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water". Luckily, she happens to be silver. 😉😎

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Holly Starley's avatar

Oh! Silver Girl is SUCH a perfect name. I had to look the 2003 British made MG TF up. What a sleek little car. I can see why she was a treat. And of all the photos I saw, the silver is the best!! May she treat you well and take you safely over any troubled water far into the future.

And thank you, Margaret. I very much appreciate you. ♥️

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Amanda Jaffe's avatar

I just loved this, Holly. Ruby's words of wisdom to Viv made my day. #3 speaks to me most, BTW, but I suspect Viv may enjoy them all.

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Holly Starley's avatar

Gahhhh! Thank you, Amanda. This comment made MY day. ♥️

#3's in my top two. To me, it feels like watercolor. And yes, I do think Viv will enjoy all of them.

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Matt Smythe's avatar

Oh man, I love (love!) this, Holly.

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Holly Starley's avatar

Thank you! I had fun with it.

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

This letter from Ruby to Vivian is a delight! Just goes to show that loving, growthful, nurturing relationships can happen anywhere, if we’re open. Why stop with the human realm?

I got so invested in Ruby reading this that I found myself worrying toward the end that she’s become scrap metal. But sounds like you’ve found her a new, brilliant adventure partner!?

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Holly Starley's avatar

Why stop with the human realm, indeed! Maybe an in defense of? Nurturing relationships outside of the human realm? ;)

Oh my goodness, that would be sad! No new partner yet. But I’ve now spent the last few days emptying and cleaning her out and getting her to look all shiny and bright and ready to be listed. Wish us luck. ;)

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Kendall Lamb's avatar

I read this and then attempted to explain what I just read to my mom over coffee and promptly burst into tears. I can’t yet name why. It has to do with grief and hope and magic. All I can name now is gratitude. 🙏

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Holly Starley's avatar

I’m slower than slow to get to these replies. But thank you, Kendall. What an honor and treat that this letter prompted in you such emotion. Like I said in a comment to you elsewhere, I am tremendously grateful for the conversation that is facilitated among writers here on this platform—what it does for our work and for our hearts.

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