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deletedApr 23, 2023Liked by Rebecca Holden
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Oh my goodness, your poor precious eight- year-old self! My heart raced for you!

As far as dogs go, I'm not sure about the getting lost, but I do wonder how they feel about our constantly hurling things away from us, then insisting that they retrieve the things, only to repeat the same vigorous rejection, even employing cunningly contrived arm extensions to distance ourselves further from these objects that we then instantly demand back.

I wonder if they say to each other, "The amazing thing is, they never tire of it." ?

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Rebecca, I too share a keen sense of misdirection. Hey, they made GPSs for a reason! 🙂

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Apr 22, 2023Liked by Rebecca Holden

Happy to hold your lead anytime ET . Much love xx

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Oh gosh - I almost cried with you, Rebecca. You portrayed your 8 year old self so truthfully. And music is often a trigger.

As to dogs - ours can be off-leash on a deserted beach he knows well and he will trot or canter off, sniff around and then will look to make sure we're following. Our dog trainer calls it 'checking in' and it's about confidence, but it's also a trait that we reward because if he got onto a scent and kept going, heavens knows where he'd end up. Some dogs, (we read about them and they make movies about them), get lost by accident and then find their way across country, back home. Our dog would be broken-hearted if he wasn't in his familiar space with familiar faces. I suspect 'Lost' might be his worst nightmare.

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I remember this post when it was first published, and I love how you've topped and tailed it.

I did find in LA that sometimes I would turn a corner into a different street and the hairs would go up on the back of my neck (and I was nearly 30) so I can understand how an 8 year old would find the experience of being lost in a horrible abandoned staircase etc would be scary.

Dogs are very protective of their owners and have an amazing sense of smell. So perhaps the dog in the letter was sensing a potential danger that the owner was unable to perceive.

Finally, make a note to yourself not to watch ET again if the music triggers you -- it's not fair on Jim 😂🎶🎼🎻

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Wonderfully written. It’s amazing how the soundtrack took you right back to that feeling.

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Thanks for such a nice story. Great job with the mind of an 8 year old.

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You might have inspired Home Alone 2: Lost in New York!

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Apr 22, 2023Liked by Rebecca Holden

I also recall getting lost as a child - a very scary experience! Shudder. (Although I have an excellent sense of direction these days.)

And I often walk dogs for other people. I took one to the dog park one day and let it off the lead. It looked at me like I was nuts then pushed against me until I put the lead back on, then bounded off as fast as it could, looking absolutely thrilled to be there. I’m sure some dogs think we’d be lost without them to show us the way!

Another emotional, heartfelt, terrific read. Thanks so much. 🤗😘🥰

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When I was about the same age I left a social function at the huge downtown church where we went when I was a kid, to have an explore. This was a posh old gothic built on five floors, and it had a rickety elevator that was enticing and terrifying to me--a Tim Burton creation from the steampunk hall of fame. I hopped aboard, managed to pull the gate closed and punched a button. Up up up I creaked to the top floor of the church, and then...I couldn’t open the gate. Then the lights went off. I thought I was trapped forever, and collapsed sobbing on the floor. After interminable lonely time passed, I heard footsteps, and then the elevator door opened. It was my mom, who missed me at the church meeting went looking for me. She must have followed the sound of my tears to rescue me from the elevator of doom. I still think of her ability to find me as proof of the supernatural powers of motherhood. I was so relieved to see her! I still am, just thinking of that moment when the door swung open and it wasn’t a monster, but my mom!

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I loved the ET story the first time around and it was just as lovely.

I’ve not spent much time with dogs, really. Just my partner’s family dog, and my sibling’s dog, both of whom died some time ago. But I do remember both of them looking back at me when we’d be out in the yard, off-leash, and making sure I was following along properly.

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Apr 22, 2023Liked by Rebecca Holden

Thank you for sharing 'Lost in space aged eight' again! I enjoyed all of this!

It sounds like a visceral memory!

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Wow, how scary! Reminds me of the time when as a child, I followed our dog who’d escaped the yard. I just wandered around the neighborhood with her until I suddenly didn’t recognize where I was and got scared. Eventually my older brother showed up on his bike and I rode home with him. Rescued by a Mike in shining armor!

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That must have been terrifying. A good cry was probably therapeutic. When my son was 8 he was in a play and instead of being on stage he went thru the wrong door, ended up in an alley, also in the rain, but luckily ran around to the front of the theatre and was able to enter. He still gave a hilarious performance.

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Apr 22, 2023Liked by Rebecca Holden

I love your NYC adventure. And, isn’t it amazing how music has the ability totally transport us?!

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