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Bob Merrick's avatar

This was really fantastic! I took four useless years of German starting in middle school because I was so in crush with my German Teacher. I met him for coffee last year in San Diego for the first time in over 30 years and he was lovely and of course nothing like I remembered. But it's amazing how burned into our memories those infatuations get!

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Michael Narkunski's avatar

Thanks, Bob. And you're right, It is quite amazing/alarming!

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Rachel Cohn's avatar

yes, this burning and inexplicable desire is so real and true—thank you for capturing it in writing

it’s taken many diary entries and poems and so much time to get over my unrequited love, and I really appreciate the title of this piece and the evolution and hope it portrays

these feelings can be so consuming…and it’s only with self-acceptance around age 28 that I can envision and write the love story of mutual love I crave—but it’s definitely still shaped by these earliest forms of love and recognition I saw and received in the classroom from the first women I crushed on

thank you again for writing this 🫶🏻

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Michael Narkunski's avatar

Thanks, Rachel! So glad it resonated. And I hope you consider submitting a piece, too! We seem to be on an "early crush" jag here at The Queer Love Project... :-)

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Davie Elderqueer, PhD's avatar

God, what a beautiful, and beautifully written piece.

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Michael Narkunski's avatar

Thank you, Davie!!

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Dave King's avatar

I really admired this piece once I got over the dismaying realization that it wasn't about me.

Seriously, what a great evocation of high school and of how much oversize credit we give to other people's assessments. Really nicely done, and I'm enjoying the project too.

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Michael Narkunski's avatar

ha sorry to disappoint! but thanks for sticking with it, king. :P means a lot.

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Jerry Portwood's avatar

Thanks for reading and supporting! Ya know, relating to a piece (and imagining its about "me") is one of the highest compliments you can pay a writer...

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Kurt's avatar

great piece.

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Michael Narkunski's avatar

thanks!

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