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A beautiful piece of writing, Cori. Thanks for sharing it.

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Thanks Ann...appreciate you taking the time to read. And excited about this Substack thing and the quickly evolving community of women writers...

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An exquisite essay, deeply considered and artfully written. The idea of a fifth season is both original and compelling. I loved this!

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The jellyfish metaphor is an interesting one! We need a band, made up of middle-aged women, called The Fifth Season. I'll play keyboards!

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Yes - I'd join that band!

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I love this! So much resonated with me, as I'm in year two of an empty-ish nest (my boys are in college), and year one-and-a-half after cancer diagnosis and (successful) treatment. Calling this a fifth season is just the perfect, perfect metaphor. Going to be thinking about this a while!

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Thanks so much, Denise. That is a lot to carry. I am glad you are being treated successfully. I am still trying to figure out what I mean by the fifth season ... writing about it helps...but it just all feels like such unknown, undiscussed territory!

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Oh, that jellyfish metaphor was beautiful! As someone who is about to send her first-born to college next fall, this gives me a lot to think about!

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Thanks Erin...appreciate you taking the time to read. Good luck with your transition...it's not easy!

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Love your depiction of The Fifth Season Cori. Hopefully the weather gets more clement in this season in which all us 50 to 70 year olds struggle. Unlike jellyfish we do have hearts that determine our every emotion. Thank the gods that be for dear dear friends and long long walks!

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