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Queery: Natalie Moss

The CAMP Rehoboth volunteer answers 20 gay questions

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Natalie Moss (Photo courtesy Natalie Moss)

Natalie Moss says moving to Rehoboth Beach, Del., was ā€œalways in my master plan.ā€ It just ended up happening a little sooner than she originally thought. And thatā€™s fine by her.

The D.C. native and longtime resident had spent summers at the beach for decades and had her accounting clients ā€” sheā€™s a CPA ā€” established enough that she no longer needed face time with them in Washington. Shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, she made the move.

ā€œIā€™m so glad I did because if Iā€™d waited, with the housing market the way it was, I never could have afforded it,ā€ she says. ā€œEverything worked out just right.ā€

The 64-year-old lesbian spent years as a buyer for womenā€™s clothing stores and running an ice cream shop in Rockville. Business was slow in the winter months, so she did taxes and went back to school. Now she spends a lot of her time as a ā€œfull-time volunteerā€ as treasurer for CAMP Rehoboth. Sheā€™s been working feverishly again this year as co-chair of its annual Sundance event.

This yearā€™s incarnation ā€” dubbed ā€œLegend of the Silver Rainbowā€ ā€” is this weekend and features an auction, cocktails and party over two nights (Saturday and Sunday) at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center (229 Rehoboth Ave.). Tickets are $80 for both nights or $45 for one. As always, proceeds benefit CAMP Rehoboth Community Center. Details are at camprehoboth.com.

ā€œWe could never do it without the help of the entire team,ā€ she says. ā€œIā€™ve been helping for about 20 years and itā€™s amazing, we get most of the same people back each year and everybody just kind of falls into a rhythm and knows exactly what needs to be done. They just fall into place and they get it. The whole thing is totally mind blowing.ā€

Moss and her partner of 20 years, Evelyn, live with their dog Lucilu at the beach. She enjoys spending time at the beach and great food when sheā€™s not volunteering.

How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?

I have been out since I was around 27. I really did not have a hard time telling anyone, once I decided to come out. Being gay just became a part of me, like having brown eyes. I never actually told my parents, although my brother did. My mother passed away before we had a real discussion.

Who’s your LGBT hero?

Ellen as a public figure.Ā  Steve Elkins and Murray Archibald for what they have achieved in founding and running CAMP Rehoboth.

What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?Ā 

Coming out in D.C. I loved going to the bars and dancing.Ā  The best was the Grand Central, soon followed by The Other Side. I do not know too much about D.C. now since I have been in Rehoboth for the last 10 years, but in Rehoboth we always loved happy hour at Cloud 9 and the margaritas at Dos Locos.

Describe your dream wedding.

On the beach, perfect weather, tented catered delicious food and drink, surrounded by friends, great music and dancing.

What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?

Finding a cure for cancer.Ā  I am a cancer survivor and know so many who are touched by the disease.

What historical outcome would you change? Ā 

Not going to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our economy would be in much better shape without our dollars going to support wars.

What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?

I have 65 years to choose from! Ellen coming out on TV. And disco, love disco. And Disney World.

On what do you insist?

Honesty

What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?

Invited everyone to Sundance 25th anniversary on Labor Day weekend.

If your life were a book, what would the title be?

ā€œWine, Women and Songā€

If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?

Stay the way I am. But I wish they would discover the perfect diet pill.

What do you believe in beyond the physical world?Ā 

I am spiritual enough to ā€œthank godā€ for things, but not sure I believe there is one.

What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?

Concentrate on getting the right people representing the states in Congress. No matter who the president is, he cannot get anything done without Congressā€™s support. Get the bigoted homophobic people out.

What would you walk across hot coals for?

My lovely girlfriend.

What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?

Overly swishy boys and extreme tattooed dykes.

What’s your favorite LGBT movie?

The movie ā€œThe Childrenā€™s Hourā€ changed my life. That is when it really hit me that I was a lesbian ā€” I was around 13 years old. We have a great film festival here in Rehoboth and we get to see many good LGBT movies every year so I have many current favorites.

What’s the most overrated social custom?

Small talk

What trophy or prize do you most covet?

I do not really covet any prize.Ā  I just want to be known as a giving, generous and nice person.

What do you wish you’d known at 18?

I wish I had come out sooner.Ā  I wasted almost 10 years being in the closet.

Why Rehoboth?

I could go on and on, but the most important thing to me is the gay community and the work that we do at CAMP Rehoboth. If you know about the demographics that have recently been published by the Huffington Postā€™s ā€œAmericaā€™s Gayest Neighborhoods,ā€ Rehoboth is ninth most popular for gay men and fifth most popular for lesbians. We have worked very hard to make this a welcoming community where gay and straight work, live and play together.

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Calendar

Calendar: April 4-10

LGBTQ events in the days to come

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Friday, April 4

ā€œCenter Aging Friday Tea Timeā€ will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].Ā 

Go Gay DC will host ā€œLGBTQ+ Community Social in the Cityā€ at 7 p.m. at P.F. Changā€™s. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.Ā 

Saturday, April 5

Go Gay DC will host ā€œLGBTQ+ Community Brunchā€ at 11 a.m. at Freddieā€™s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including Allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space the strives to be safe and judgement free. There are all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more information and events for LGBTQ People of Color, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.Ā 

ā€œSpark Sapphic Socialā€ will be at 8 p.m. at Spark Social House. This weekly sapphic social is an opportunity to mix and mingle with other sapphics in DC’s newest LGBTQ+ bar. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.Ā 

Sunday, April 6

Go Gay DC will host ā€œLGBTQ+ Community Sunday Funday Social and Gamesā€ at 4 p.m. at Moxy. About 20 LGBTQ folk are expected. It’s free to attend. More details are available on Eventbrite.

ā€œThe Chateau Drag Brunchā€ will be at 12 p.m. at Chicatana. This event will be hosted by Charlemagne Chateau. There will also be fabulous Mexican food and cocktails andĀ  entertainment from a rotating cast of the DMV’s best drag performers. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.Ā 

Monday, April 7 

ā€œCenter Aging Monday Coffee & Conversationā€ will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].Ā 

Tuesday, April 8

Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans* people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. It also welcomes all who identify under the trans* umbrella or are unsure, and seek to continually reinforce our principles of respect, acceptance, and protection through ongoing input from our attendees. For more information, email [email protected].Ā 

Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-facilitated discussion group and a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so. For more details, visit the groupā€™s Facebook.Ā 

ā€œGay Sip and Paintā€ will be at 7 p.m. at Green Lantern. To celebrate three years of these events, event organizers encourage guests to get in their sexiest fit and paint together! Thereā€™ll be a live model, drinks, and all the supplies ready for a risque, creative time. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.Ā 

Wednesday, April 9

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking ā€” allowing participants to move away from being merely ā€œapplicantsā€ toward being ā€œcandidates.ā€ For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

Thursday, April 10

The DC Centerā€™s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.Ā 

Virtual Yoga with Charles M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breathwork, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Communityā€™s website.

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Books

New book helps vulnerable people to stay safe

Tips for overcoming crippling effects of fear

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(Book cover image courtesy of Beacon Press)

ā€˜The Cost of Fearā€™
By Meg Stone
c.2025, Beacon Press
$26.95/232 pages

The footsteps fell behind you, keeping pace.

TheyĀ wereĀ loud as an airplane, a few decibelsĀ belowĀ the beat of your heart. Yes, someone was following you,Ā and you shouldnā€™tĀ have letĀ itĀ happen.Ā Youā€™re no dummy. Youā€™re no wimp.Ā Read the new book,Ā ā€œThe Cost of Fearā€ by Meg Stone,Ā and youā€™re no statistic. Ask around.

Query young women, older women, grandmothers, and teenagers. Ask gay men, lesbians, and trans individuals, and chances are that every one of them has a story of being scared of another person in a public place. Scared ā€“ or worse.

Says author Meg Stone, nearly half of the women in a recent survey reported having ā€œexperienced… unwanted sexual contactā€ of some sort. Almost a quarter of the men surveyed said the same. Nearly 30 percent of men in another survey admitted to having ā€œperpetrated some form of sexual assault.ā€

We focus on these statistics, says Stone, but we advise ineffectual safety measures.

ā€œVictim blame is rampant,ā€ she says, and women and LGBTQ individuals are taught avoidance methods that may not work. If someoneā€™s in the ā€œearly stages of their careers,ā€ perpetrators may still hold all the cards through threats and career blackmail. Stone cites cases in which someone who was assaulted reported the crime, but police dropped the ball. Old tropes still exist and repeating or relying on them may be downright dangerous.

As a result of such ineffectiveness, fear keeps frightened individuals from normal activities, leaving the house, shopping, going out with friends for an evening.

So how can you stay safe?

Says Stone, learn how to fight back by using your whole body, not just your hands. Be willing to record whatā€™s happening. Donā€™t abandon your activism, she says; in fact, join a group that helps give people tools to protect themselves. Learn the right way to stand up for someone whoā€™s uncomfortable or endangered. Remember that you canā€™t be blamed for another personā€™s bad behavior, and it shouldnā€™t mean you canā€™t react.

If you pick up ā€œThe Cost of Fear,ā€ hoping to learn ways to protect yourself, there are two things to keep in mind.

First, though most of this book is written for women, it doesnā€™t take much of a leap to see how its advice could translate to any other world. Author Stone, in fact, includes people of all ages, genders, and all races in her case studies and lessons, and she clearly explains a bit of what she teaches in her classes. That width is helpful, and welcome.

Secondly, she asks readers to do something potentially controversial: she requests changes in sentencing laws for certain former and rehabilitated abusers, particularly for offenders who were teens when sentenced. Stone lays out her reasoning and begs for understanding; still, some readers may be resistant and some may be triggered.

Keep that in mind, and ā€œThe Cost of Fearā€ is a great book for a young adult or anyone who needs to increase alertness, adopt careful practices, and stay safe. Take steps to have it soon.

The Blade may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via this post.

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a&e features

Creator Max Mutchnick on inspirations for ā€˜Mid-Century Modernā€™

Real-life friendships and loss inform plot of new Hulu show

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Max Mutchnick, one of the creators of ā€˜Will & Graceā€™ is back with his new show ā€˜Mid-Century Modern.ā€™ (Photo by Luke Fontana)

Itā€™s been a long time ā€“ maybe 25 years when ā€œWill & Graceā€ debuted ā€“ since thereā€™s been so much excitement about a new, queer sitcom premiering. ā€œMid-Century Modern,ā€ which debuted on Hulu last week, is the creation of Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, the gay men who were also behind ā€œWill & Grace.ā€ 

Set in Palm Springs, Calif., following the death of the one of their closest friends, three gay men gather to mourn. Swept up in the emotions of the moment, Bunny (Nathan Lane) suggests that Atlanta-based flight attendant Jerry (Matt Bomer) and New York-based fashion editor Arthur (Nathan Lee Graham) move into the mid-century modern home he shares with his mother Sybil (the late Linda Lavin). Over the course of the first seasonā€™s 10 episodes, hilarity ensues. That is, except for the episode in which they address Sybilā€™s passing. The three male leads are all fabulous, and the ensemble cast, including Pamela Adlon as Bunnyā€™s sister Mindy, and the stellar line-up of guest stars, such as Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Vanessa Bayer, Richard Kind, and Cheri Oteri, keep humor buzzing. Shortly before the premiere of ā€œMid-Century Modern,ā€ Mutchnick made time for an interview with the Blade.

BLADE: Iā€™d like to begin by saying itā€™s always a delight to speak to a fellow Emerson College alum. In ways would you say that Emerson impacted your professional and creative life?

MAX MUTCHNICK: I think Emerson was the first place that reflected back to me that my voice, my thoughts were good, and they were worth listening to. I developed a confidence at Emerson that did not exist in my body and soul. It was a collection of a lot of things that took place in Boston, but I mean we can just put it all under the Emerson umbrella.

BLADE: Before ā€œWill & Grace,ā€ you co-created the NBC sitcom ā€œBoston Common,ā€ which starred fellow Emerson alum Anthony Clark. Is it important for you to maintain those kinds of alumni relationships?

MUTCHNICK: Because Emersonians are such scrappy little monkeys and they end up being everywhere in the world, you can’t help but work with someone from Emerson at some point in your career. I’m certainly more inclined to engage with someone from Emerson once I learn that they went to my alma mater. For me, it has much more to do with history and loyalty. I don’t think of myself as one of those guys that says, ā€œLoyalty means a lot to me. I’m someone that really leans into history.ā€ It’s just what my life and career turned out to be. The longer I worked with people and the more often I worked with them, the safer that I felt, which means that I was more creative and that’s the name of the game. I’ve got to be as comfortable as possible so I can be as creative as possible. If that means that a person from Emerson is in the room, so be it. (Costume designer) Lori Eskowitz would be the Emerson version. And then (writer and actor) Dan Bucatinsky would be another version. When I’m around them for a long time, that’s when the best stuff comes.

BLADE: Relationships are important. On that subject, your new Hulu sitcom ā€œMid-Century Modernā€ is about the longstanding friendship among three friends, Bunny (Nathan Lane), Jerry (Matt Bomer), and Arthur (Nathan Lee Graham). Do you have a friendship like the one shared by these three men?

MUTCHNICK: Iā€™m absolutely engaged in a real version of what we’re projecting on the show. I have that in my life. I cannot say that I’m Jerry in any way, but the one thing that we do have in common is that in my group, I’m the young one. But I think that that’s very common in these families that we create. There’s usually a young one. Our culture is built on learning from our elders. I didn’t have a father growing up, so maybe that made me that much more inclined to seek out older, wiser, funnier, meaner friends. I mean the reason why you’re looking at a mouthful of straight, white teeth is because one of those old bitches sat across from me about 25 years ago at a diner and said, ā€œGirl, your teeth are a disaster, and you need to get that fixed immediately.ā€ What did I know? I was just a kid from Chicago with two nickels in my pocket. But I found three nickels and I went and had new teeth put in my head. But that came from one of my dearest in the group.

BLADE: Do you think that calling ā€œMid-Century Modernā€ a gay ā€œGolden Girlsā€ is a fair description?

MUTCHNICK: No. I think the gay ā€œGolden Girlsā€ was really just used as a tool to pitch the show quickly. We have an expression in town, which is ā€œgive me the elevator pitch,ā€ because nobody has an attention span. The fastest way you can tell someone what David (Kohan) and I wanted to write, was to say, ā€œIt’s gay Golden Girls.ā€ When you say that to somebody, then they say, ā€œOK, sit down now, tell me more.ā€ We did that and then we started to dive into the show and realized pretty quickly that it’s not the gay ā€œGolden Girls.ā€ No disrespect to the ā€œGolden Girls.ā€ It’s a masterpiece.

BLADE: ā€œMid-Century Modernā€ is set in Palm Springs. Iā€™m based in Fort Lauderdale, a few blocks south of Wilton Manors, and I was wondering if that gay enclave was ever in consideration for the setting, or was it always going to be in Palm Springs?

MUTCHNICK: You just asked a really incredible question! Because, during COVID, Matt Bomer and I used to walk, because we live close by. We had a little walking group of a few gay gentlemen. On one of those walks, Matt proposed a comedy set in Wilton Manors. He said it would be great to title the show ā€œWilton Manors.ā€ I will tell you that in the building blocks of what got us to ā€œMid-Century Modern,ā€ Wilton Manors, and that suggestion from Matt Bomer on our COVID walks, was part of it.

BLADE: Is Sybil, played by the late Linda Lavin, modeled after a mother you know?

MUTCHNICK: Rhea Kohan (mother of David and Jenji). When we met with Linda for the first time over Zoom, when she was abroad, David and I explained to her that this was all based on Rhea Kohan. In fact, some of the lines that she (Sybil) speaks in the pilot are the words that Jenji Kohan spoke about her mother in her eulogy at the funeral because it really summed up what the character was all about. Yes, itā€™s very much based on someone.

BLADE: The Donny Osmond jokes in the second episode of ā€œMid-Century Modernā€ reminded me of the Barry Manilow ā€œfanilowsā€ on ā€œWill & Grace.ā€ Do you know if Donny is aware that heā€™s featured in the show?

MUTCHNICK: I don’t. To tell you the truth, the ā€œfanilowā€ episode was written when I was not on the show. I was on a forced hiatus, thanks to Jeff Zucker. That was a show that I was not part of. We don’t really work that way. The Donny Osmond thing came more from Mattā€™s character being a Mormon, and also one of the writers. It’s very important to mention that the writing room at ā€œMid-Century Modern,ā€ is (made up of) wonderful and diverse and colorful incredible humans ā€“ one of them is an old, white, Irish guy named Don Roos who’s brilliantā€¦

BLADE: ā€¦he’s Dan Bucatinskyā€™s husband.

MUTCHNICK: Right! Dan is also part of the writing room. But I believe it was Don who had a thing for Donny, and that’s where it comes from. I don’t know if Donny has any awareness. The only thing I care about when we turn in an episode like that is I just want to hear from legal that weā€™re approved.

BLADE: ā€œMid-Century Modernā€ also includes opportunities for the singers in the cast. Linda Lavin sang the Jerome Kern/Ira Gershwin tune ā€œLong Ago (And Far Away)ā€ and Nathan Lane and the guys sang ā€œHe Had It Comingā€ from ā€œChicago.ā€ Was it important to give them the chance to exercise those muscles?

MUTCHNICK: I don’t think it was. I think it really is just the managersā€™ choice. David Kohan and I like that kind of stuff, so we write that kind of stuff. But by no means was there an edict to write that. We know what our cast is capable of, and we will absolutely exploit that if we’re lucky enough to have a second season. I have a funky relationship with the song ā€œLong Ago (And Far Away).ā€ It doesn’t float my boat, but everybody else loved it. We run a meritocracy, and the best idea will out. Thatā€™s how that song ended up being in the show. I far prefer the recording of Linda singing ā€œIā€™ll Be Seeing Youā€ over her montage in episode eight, ā€œHereā€™s To You, Mrs. Schneiderman.ā€ We were just lucky that Linda had recorded that. That recording was something that she had done and sent to somebody during COVID because she was held up in her apartment. That’s what motivated her to make that video and send it. Thatā€™s how we were able to use that audio.

BLADE: Being on a streaming service like Hulu allows for characters to say things they might not get away with on network TV, including a foreskin joke, as well as Sybilā€™s propensity for cursing.

MUTCHNICK: And the third line in the show is about him looking like a ā€œreluctant bottom.ā€ I don’t think that’s something you’re going to see on ABC anytime soon. David and I liked the opportunity to open up the language of this show because it might possibly open the door to bringing peopleā€¦I’m going to mix metaphorsā€¦into the tent that have never been there before. A generation that writes off a sitcom because that language and that type of comedy isn’t the way that they sound. One of the gifts of doing this show on Hulu is that we get to write dialogue that sounds a little bit more like you and I sound. As always, we don’t want to do anything just to do it.

BLADE: It didn’t feel that way.

MUTCHNICK: It’s there when it’s right. [Laughs] I want to have a shirt made with Lindaā€™s line, as her mother always used to say, ā€œTime is a cunt.ā€

BLADE: ā€œMid-Century Modernā€ also utilizes a lot of Jewish humor. How important is it for you to include that at this time when there is a measurable rise in anti-Semitism?

MUTCHNICK: I think it’s important, but I don’t think it’s the reason why we did it. We tried very hard to not write from a place of teaching or preaching. We really are just writing about the stuff that makes us laugh. One of the things that makes something better and something that you can invest in is if it’s more specific. We’re creating a character whose name is Bunny Schneiderman and his mother’s name is Sybil and they made their money in a family-run business, it gets Jewy, and we’re not going to shy away from it. But we’re definitely not going to address what’s going on in the world. That doesn’t mean I don’t find it very upsetting, but I’m writing always from the point of view of entertaining the largest number of people that I can every week.

BLADE: ā€œMid-Century Modernā€ has a fantastic roster of guest stars including Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Vanessa Bayer, Billie Lourd, Cheri Oteri, Richard Kind, Rhea Perlman, and Judd Hirsch. Are there plans to continue that in future seasons?

MUTCHNICK: Yes. As I keep saying, if we’re so lucky that we get to continue, I don’t want to do ā€œThe Love Boat.ā€ Those are fine comic actors, so I don’t think it feels like that. But if we get to keep going, what I want to do is broaden the world because that gives us more to write about. I want to start to introduce characters that are auxiliary to the individuals. I want to start to meet Arthur’s family, so we can return to people. I want to introduce other neighbors, and different types of gay men because we come in so many different flavors. I think that we should do that only because I’m sure itā€™s what your life is and it’s what my life is. I’ve got a lot of different types. So, yes, we will be doing more.

BLADE: Finally, Linda Lavin passed away in December 2024, and in a later episode, the subject of her character Sybilā€™s passing is handled sensitively, including the humorous parts.

MUTCHNICK: We knew we had a tall order. We suffered an incredible loss in the middle of making this comedy. One of the reasons why I think this show works is because we are surrounded by a lot of really talented people. Jim Burrows and Ryan Murphy, to name two. Ryan played a very big role in telling us that it was important that we address this, that we address it immediately. That we show the world and the show goes on. That wasn’t my instinct because I was so inside the grief of losing a friend, because she really was. It wasn’t like one of those showbizzy-type relationships. And this is who she was, by the way, to everybody at the show. It was the way that we decided to go. Let’s write this now. Let’s not put this at the end of the season. Let’s not satellite her in. Letā€™s not ā€œDarren Stevensā€ the character, which is something we would never do. The other thing that Jim Burrows made very clear to us was the import of the comedy. You have to write something that starts exactly in the place that these shows start. A set comedy piece that takes place in the kitchen. Because for David and me, as writers, we said we just want to tell the truth. That’s what we want to do with this episode and that’s the way that this will probably go best for us. The way that we’ve dealt with grief in our lives is with humor. That is the way that we framed writing this episode. We wanted it to be a chapter from our lives, and how we experience this loss and how we recover and move on.

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