dunhaven; ic community.

I have an idea. And maybe the first part of the idea is to admit to you that I'm sharing memories with someone I thought was fictional. Lily Evans Potter lives in my head. I think by now it's probably a reality that most of us on the network (and maybe in the town?) have these memories. It isn't up to me to understand why. That's not my thing.

What I'd like to do is give you a spot to tell your story. I'm a writer -- honestly, I'm just a really bad unpublished poet -- but I spend my day taking care of my parents. We've got a really big living room. There's space out back. What I'm proposing is something akin to a writer's salon. You could come over, no questions asked. We'd have set times where we could gather.

You can talk to people? But most of all, you can write down your experiences. We can collect them physically or on GoogleDocs. I'm a democratic soul and am happy to take a straight up vote. But what I really want to get down to is by telling our stories, we might help other people. We might make it easier for them to live with these memories and emotions inside them. What I'm thinking (and hoping) is that this is meant to connect us. So, instead of living with trauma and I don't know ... shame? We can work it out together.

Would anyone be interested? Or should I shut up forever?

EDITED TO ADD:
Anonymous thoughts and commenters welcome!

Some advice from this relationship expert (lol) that was stolen from the internet: ( Cut for image! )

FRIENDS & FAMILY:

Has anyone else thought about not living in Dunhaven? Could be wrong, but from what I can tell, living here is what we all have in common. It didn't happen to me before I moved back, so there's that. I know we all have our lives here, jobs, all that, but... I don't know. That's all stuff we could change. I don't really get why we keep doing this to ourselves. I don't get why I keep doing this to myself. And I think it's getting more dangerous, what with people getting different abilities. If there's a way I can be sure I won't hurt someone -- I have to consider that.

( insta from shyviolet )

All right, fellow parents, I've got a serious inquiry for you. How do you put a pause on the whole growing up thing? Just temporarily until I can both process the fact that Jonas is growing up way too fast and also wonder where all the time went.

So uh [...] Any chance any of those people who were talking about having weird powers on that anon post a few weeks ago might want to talk to me about their powers? You can stay anon, that's cool. And, you know, not saying I'm having anything like that happening or whatever. Just [...] asking for a friend.

My own dreams have made me particularly introspective recently, so I decided it's time for another anonymous post. This one isn't for any academic purpose (though each post is inherently good data for academic purposes despite their individual intentions), but it seems that a lot of us have found them cathartic. So, as usual, feel free to comment below--you will be anonymous unless you choose to be unmasked.

What lesson(s) have you learned from yourself the person you've been dreaming about?

My greatest lesson has been learning to truly value the people in my life who care about me. I already did, but there's something to be said for consciously recognizing that value each time I think of them.

I'm not a big social network sort of guy, outside of my pages for my business (check out Sparks Custom Homes, we're on facebook, instagram and twitter), but does anyone else follow the Iditarod? Yeah, I didn't follow it either, not until the other day. One of the mushers posted brief profiles of her dogs on twitter, along with photos, and I've been hooked ever since. You can see it here. (She posted another thread here after she narrowed it down to her final 14, but it's worth reading the first thread first.) Suddenly I'm rooting for a dogsled team.

Almost makes me want a dog.

WHO: Quincy & Violet
WHEN: hmm let's say today
WHERE: Their cabin
SUMMARY: Q & V get a little more in touch with their inhuman sides
WARNINGS: Umm, there will be a mild earthquake in the Dunhaven area today. ;)

( 'I'll be here every step of the way.' )

VIOLET:

Hopefully it'll look like this when we're there.

I bet you all were thinking, "Oh, good. Charlie is going to stop asking random questions about our dream lives because it's an uncomfortable and awkward topic most of the time." HA HA. No, not quite. I'm too curious for my own good and I think, eventually, all of this information will be of use to us. So here's the next topic for discussion for all you second-life dreamers out there!

What is the best part about your dream life? What is the worst?

You can answer anonymously, or not. Totally up to you.

[TEXT MESSAGE TO ⚡💗 Q 💗⚡]

- HELLO BEEFCAKE.
- Please give me details on your Saturday.
- I need a) your muscles b) your smiles c) you in a suit.
- Mmmmkay.

ALEX, ANNIE, MIKHAIL, LUCY, EVAN, CASSIA, JILLIAN, ZOYA, ELIAS, LYRA, NICK, OCEANA (please lmk if I forgot anyone!!)

I know this is extremely late notice, but Bash and I would like to invite you to join us on Saturday, October 20 at Northwind Stables to celebrate the two of us getting married with dinner at Bash's our house afterward. You're welcome to bring a plus one, if you'd like, but we are intending to keep this very, very small, so we just ask that you let us know before you extend the invitation. We hope each of you can be there!

ALEX & ANNIE

Alex, we were wondering if maybe you could do one of those online certificate things where you get ordained and can marry us? If you're up for it.

And, Annie, we were hoping that you might be willing to make a bundt cake for our wedding cake? Again, I know it's last moment, so of course I'll help however I can, if you're willing to do it.

CASSIA & JILLIAN

I hope this is okay. I know we're still getting there, but the only dream I've really had about my wedding since before I even knew Bash existed was that I wanted you both there. Wherever we are with each other right now, I don't want to look back on the day and have any regrets. I'd regret it if I didn't tell you both that I want you there.

VIOLET

Hi! I was wondering if, perhaps, you'd be interested in and able to provide a couple of simple flower arrangements for a very, very small wedding (less than 20 people) on Saturday? And, regardless of the answer, you should come and bring your husband. If you want. It'll be at Northwind Stables.

EVAN

Don't be mad.

This is about to be a certified Dad Post. Just a little forewarning.

First of all, Zoe has decided that she wants to be a dinosaur princess for Halloween, so that's a thing I need to figure out.

Second, she has a fascination with pumpkins last year that I think stems entirely from having gotten to carve a record number of pumpkins between our house and with her grandparents on both sides. Every time we go somewhere that has pumpkins for sale, which seems to be everywhere in this town (I genuinely would not be surprised if you get one at the dentist with your cleaning), we somehow end up adding more to our porch. She really wants to carve them now and isn't all that impressed with my explanation of how vegetables rot quickly when they're hollowed out and have big holes in them, but I have a feeling that someone (me) will relent and at least one will have a toothy grin by the end of this weekend.

A few years ago, I wouldn’t have thought I’d be where I am now. Business is growing enough that I’ll be able to branch off on my own, I convinced someone to marry me... hell, even just a year ago I wouldn’t have been able to picture this. I’d met Violet by then, but I didn’t think we’d be here already. It’s wild, how much can change in such a short time.

Happy two months & two days, V. My life is brighter with you in it. And I’m really glad I didn’t call the cops on you the day we met.

There are so many of us who are hurting and dealing with things we feel like we don’t own or understand. But one thing I noticed is that there really isn’t a place for everybody to talk about it besides this network. And the network is great ... but when it’s not enough, or when you need people, I’m going to throw out a standing invite.

Come see me (and whoever) at the flower farm every last Saturday of the month starting at 6:00 pm. We will just talk or listen, or you know? Whatever. No expectations. I’m thinking it will be good, knowing you’re not alone.

First time is this week, ok?

( insta from shyviolet )

I don’t talk a whole lot about deeply personal stuff here, but others have been talking about their dreams openly, and so I guess I'm wondering if anyone's in the same boat I've found myself in. Not hoping for it, because I wouldn't wish this on other people, but wondering --

Has anyone else dreamt about dying? Not in the surreal sort of way that dreams take on sometimes, but with some sort of finality? Like you knew it really was the end of the line?

OLIVER:

When you really start to dread sleeping.

WHO: Quincy and Violet
WHEN: The early hours of this morning.
WHERE: Their place.
SUMMARY: Quincy and Violet dream in a cadenced tragedy, then deal with it together.
WARNINGS: N/A

( You're the one I want. )

This week’s playlist will be all Aretha. These kids need to know soul.

If anyone else wants a link, let me know and I’ll send when I’m done.