37 Comments
User's avatar
Susan J Tweit's avatar

That last paragraph is the one that hit me right in the heart: "Don’t give up on love. Don’t give in to power. Don’t worry your hair, your clothes, your name. Do not go silent. Do what you must to save each other. That is how you save yourself." Thank you, Beth, for returning Grace to us this way. You gave me what I needed to read today. xoxo

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

We have to keep finding our how, Susan. And there is Grace, cheering us on. Thank you. xoxo

Expand full comment
Abigail Thomas's avatar

Loved her and loved that.

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

I was thinking about you when I wrote this, my friend. xo

Expand full comment
jen shields's avatar

Thank you for sharing. I will always remember that halo of hair. She was a force and her words, some of the best I’ve read.

Expand full comment
Lilian Nattel 📚♀🌏's avatar

Beautiful Beth! And how wonderful that you met her.

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

a brief, brief moment. thank you, my friend.

Expand full comment
Cindy Ruscitti's avatar

You know what you do with her writing? I do it with yours. Thank you for this beautiful piece.

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

Cindy, well, my goodness. THIS. I will have to take a walk now and live with your kind words. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Deb Lund's avatar

A perfect gift and reminder for these times. And all times.

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

sometimes the words we need are just sitting there on our shelves, dear Deb. and so we find them.

Expand full comment
Deb Lund's avatar

So true...

Expand full comment
Peggy Mandell's avatar

John Pollock: It sounds like what we all believed and practiced in the sixties. It sounds like Stanford, it sounds like Swarthmore at that time. It's all still true.

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

LOVE this. And yes. All the same, all still true, and now even moreso. Man, we Americans have a lot of work to do. Can't wait to see you both (?) Monday!

Expand full comment
Phyllis Brotherton's avatar

The plumber’s snake…geez. Grabbed me by the throat. Really enjoyed this post! Thanks, Beth.

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

Isn't that just — incredible — Phyllis? Love her. Love her ferocity. And here she is with us.

Expand full comment
Janice Gary's avatar

Thank you, Beth. And rediscovering Paley through you and finding joy, encouraging her words.

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

She is just what we all needed. Completely honored to bring her to this page, to us, today.

Expand full comment
Leora Skolkin-Smith's avatar

Yes exactly I miss her so much

Expand full comment
Audrey Riddle's avatar

Grace and Faith. Needed now more than ever. Thank you, Beth, for putting this in front of us today.

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

So grateful, Audrey, that you are near. Standing tall. xo

Expand full comment
Judy Goldman's avatar

Oh, yes. Grace Paley. Thank you for the reminder, Beth.

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

always!

Expand full comment
Not The Enemy's avatar

"Don’t give up on love. Don’t give in to power. Don’t worry your hair, your clothes, your name. Do not go silent. Do what you must to save each other. That is how you save yourself." Yes.

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

xoxoxo

Expand full comment
Rona Maynard's avatar

In this short post you get to the heart of her enduring power and relevance. I must have read those quotes before, and they hit me all over again.

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

I'd been re-reading Grace for a week or more. Suddenly, every single line in this precious book said something more to me, something right now. xo

Expand full comment
Paul Crenshaw's avatar

Enjoyed reading this. Thanks for writing it.

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

Paul, thank you so much. We all thank Grace, for being Grace.

Expand full comment
Char Wilkins's avatar

Oh my, a plumber’s snake. So good!!!

And I know there is this that you share in common with Grace Paley —“You just think you don’t have anyone to say it to. Say it to me.”—because I’ve experienced it. We must not go silent.

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

Hearts, Char. Hearts.

Expand full comment
Char Wilkins's avatar

Oh my, the plumber’s snake. So good!!!

And I know there is this that you share in common with Grace Paley —“You just think you don’t have anyone to say it to. Say it to me.”—because I’ve experienced it. Do not go silent, Beth.

Expand full comment