19 Comments
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Jeff Greenwald's avatar

You have such a beautiful, clear narrative style. It brings every scene and character to life. And I was charmed by the pictures of you through your storied life. You've been remarkably lucky to have so much love and support from your family - what a fascinating, complex intersection of personalities.

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Thank you so much, dear Jeff. I so appreciate your words! ❤️

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Sarah Wilcher's avatar

Tanya, I'm so grateful you shared this story. What a wrought day for both you and your dad.

I'll never forget the beautiful energy he held as a 4th grader listening to him share at Broken Arrow elementary, in the music room. Then years later, sitting in his lecture hall at KU. I enjoy your writing so much.

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Thanks so much, Sarah! I don't even remember that he came to our class. That's so cool you remember that. And that you took his class at KU! Thank you for remembering him. ❤️❤️

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Sharon Diotte's avatar

I love this story, Tanya. Really impacting. I connected to being parentified at a tender age. And I love your Vati.

I finally finished my book, "Te'ora, from Vulnerability and Wounding to Wisdom and Freedom." Published through Amazon KDP and InragmSpark.

I'm thankful for the early work I did with you that supported the development of my book. Hugs.

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Thanks so much, Sharon, and congratulations on your book! That's wonderful that you completed it!! I remember your powerful storytelling so vividly.

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Jean Schiffman's avatar

So lovely, Tanya.

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Thank you, Jean! ❤️

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Laia's avatar

Oof, Tanya, so good 💜

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Thanks so much, Laia! ❤️❤️

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Marjana Ababovic's avatar

Love it! Now we need more! You can not let us hanging

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Thanks so much!! More will definitely be coming!

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Brendan Milburn's avatar

I think my favorite thing about this is your compassion for your surprisingly cruel younger self. I've been doing a bunch of deep diving into my teenage years in order to unearth stuff for my friend Max' appearance on a live-in-front-of-an-audience podcast called "Mortified," and I've had to reckon with that younger me who was so foolhardy, so confident, so gung-ho, so ignorant, and so fearless, and who did such embarrassing things with lasting repercussions - and also paved the way for the life and the career I have now, helping people with music. Anyways, I loved this, I love your writing, and thank you again for sharing so much of yourself in print.

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Thank you so much, Brendan. And I hear you: It's hard to look honestly at that teenage self. And it makes me more compassionate towards my own teenager to remember the way I treated my parents at that age.

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hans lehmann's avatar

Dear Tanya, Absolutely beautiful. Warm, exhilarating and personal. And so alive and rich. And I love your photos. Amazing that you could find them. Anyway, good for you. KEEP IT UP. Much Love, Hans

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Thank you so much, Hans! ❤️ I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I have zillions of pictures—I wish they were better quality. The shots of Florence I actually took more recently, in 2018.

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Cynthia Winton-Henry's avatar

I so enjoyed this read. The hidden element in it all is your equanimity, so elemental to the humanity you embrace. Grateful!

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Thank you so much, Cynthia. Much appreciated!

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Stephanie's avatar

Tanya, such an engaging story. I want to read this entire memoir. Thank you for this.

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