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Valerie Monroe's avatar

Lovely story and such beautiful skin (on you). Today is my dad's birthday. He would've been 110 and might've sung me the first song I think he taught me, especially important on your 110th birthday: You can forget to buckle your shoes, you can forget to tie your tie, but don't forget to breathe or you'll die. xo

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Laura Lippman's avatar

Well, I follow the GREAT advice I get from your Substack.

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Matt s's avatar

The nest egg scene in LIA is priceless! I have quoted those lines at least several thousand times. And, yes, it is indeed the little things in life that mostly go unnoticed by those of us not living them. One of the greatest gifts you can give someone is to notice the highs and the lows and the in-betweens of their life. Your Dad was a fine writer, as are you, and his column was spot on.

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Kathy Bryan's avatar

Thank you for sharing your Dad and sparing your kid. Love those boundaries. Happy holidays to you too.

VCR’s were life changing.

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Callie Palmer's avatar

Best thing I've read today. Your dad's piece was a nice rebuke to those who presume to know what the big deals are. I'm working on a satirical rendering of the Misfits song from Rudolph for my 11 yo grandsons. That's the real deal.

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Denise's avatar

Happy Holidays!

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Jim Lynn's avatar

When will Lady in the Lake appear on TV?

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Laura Lippman's avatar

In 2024, I just don't know when. The strikes (the VERY NECESSARY strikes) created a lot of confusion.

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Beth Ann Fennelly's avatar

Your father sounds wonderful. ❤️

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Sari Botton's avatar

Merry and happy to you, Laura! I love this. 💕

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Kris Jackson's avatar

Laura, I’m going to ask the MOST Baltimore of questions: Where did you go to high school? IIRC, you were across town from where I grew up - Arbutus. I am very much of SW Baltimore. My parents grew up in the city, Yale Heights and Bentalou Street (by St. Benedict’s) respectively. I managed a scholarship for high school and drove halfway around the Beltway every day to Maryvale.

Your dad’s article was beautiful. So true that the news is wholly subjective to our lived experiences. I find the timing of deaths in families very interesting. Three significant family members all died within Holy Week - Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday - obviously on different years. Easter being that darned moveable feast essentially gives them all two death dates.

Your selfie is great - what a great dress!

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Laura Lippman's avatar

Western High, but only one year -- in 1974, my parents decided to rent our house and take an apartment in Columbia, in order to enroll my sister and me in the then "experimental" Wilde Lake.

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Kris Jackson's avatar

Oooh, you lived in Columbia when it was new and exciting! I worked on the lake at Clyde’s when I was in college, and the job I lost this summer and had had for 15 years was a block over from the mall in Columbia. So much has changed in that area recently. They’ve built some tall buildings recently.

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Sharon Buchbinder, PhD's avatar

Lost in America is one of my favorites, too. I love that scene where he goes crazy. I also love the scene where he asks the woman at the employment agency where the $100,000 jobs are "in that box". And the scene where Julie Hagerty reaches for a KENO card and he threatens to kill her. Now I have to go watch it again! LOL!

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Laura Lippman's avatar

Sharon, do you understand the concept of the nest egg?

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Sharon Buchbinder, PhD's avatar

LOL!! I did but poor Julie didn’t 🤣🤣

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VC's avatar

I loved this.

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kimberly standiford's avatar

what an awesome article written by your dad--- i really enjoyed it💜 and yes, it’s true that the real news is what happens to us✨we are celebrating the 14th yartzeit of zanders death this week, and while reading your Substack, I was reminded of our time together at Writers in Paradise last year when les read Zander‘s children’s book on stage--- we had a warm exchange following that --- and i recently came across a note you wrote to us when zander had passed away-- grateful for the kind memorable moments ❌⭕️

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Laura Lippman's avatar

Kimberly, I think of Zander often, despite never knowing him, much in the same way I often think of Ann's Grace. Tearing up a little right now, thinking about Zander's book, and I so appreciate the way you and Les keep his memory alive. Very happy to be part of the extended family created by Dennis and Sterling , excited to see everyone next month.

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Jim Lynn's avatar

I thought that was the issue. I was an extra in two scenes that hopefully get included. I was a white nationalist at the race "confrontation" in Patterson Park. I hope I was cast against type. Then I was a cop walking around a small holiday festival in front of the small hotel. A fun experience.

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