23 Comments
User's avatar
Tamara Agarwal's avatar

Daniel’s stories and accompanying photographs are powerful, beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking.

Kim Cross's avatar

I agree. You see them but also feel them.

Jan Hickel's avatar

Thank you for so beautifully highlighting our friend’s immense creativity and even bigger heart.

Kim Cross's avatar

His work shows his gifts in both heart and creativity of expression.

Kristi Lamont Ellis's avatar

Wow. What an incredible piece, Kim.

Kim Cross's avatar

Thanks to your editing, I think about every word.

How to Be an Artist: A Memoir's avatar

You’ve knocked me out again for so many reasons. One: my notebooks, a witness to my own life. Two: Daniel’s experience and process. Three: At 78, fear for my own future. I’d rather die than put my kids through caring for me like that, but you made me think about the day I had to cut what had been my mother’s magnificent hair. No protest, and I knew she was ready to go.

Kim Cross's avatar

That story of cutting your mother’s hair… without protest… I feel that. It’s another example of the power of specificity to capture something universal.

Kimberly Bachmeier Anderson's avatar

This is a stunning tribute to a truly rare soul! 🌸 As Daniel’s cousin, I’ve watched him move through these different seasons of life, and you’ve captured his essence perfectly. in addition to being an incredible artist of many modalities, Danny has a beautiful way of magnifying the soul within others…whether he’s giving dignity to the homeless on the streets of Atlanta or documenting the tender, raw reality of caregiving. Thank you, Kim, for giving his unique view of life the recognition it deserves!

Kim Cross's avatar

Thanks for reading and sharing, Kimberly. He is unique indeed and I’m glad his family appreciates and supports his uniqueness! It’s been fun “meeting” y’all here in the comments and seeing other facets of his life.

Brenda Salivia Istorico's avatar

I’ve also known and loved Daniel since the Doubletake days. He puts so much heart in all he does. His short stories are filled with brutal honesty, compassion and tenderness. I always look forward to what he’s going to share next. Thank you for featuring him. It’s well deserved ❤️

Kim Cross's avatar

Well said, Brenda. Also, glad you got to visit Doubletake. It was such a great shop! (With a very skilled stylist.)

Brenda Salivia Istorico's avatar

Omg, what a time it was. I miss it so much! Less about the clothes than just being there with Daniel . We had so much fun!

Brenda Salivia Istorico's avatar

Although I really miss the vintage😕

Art Benedetti's avatar

What an amazing feel-good story . . . for Daniel to be able to take a loss and make it such a powerful uplifting moment is truly a gift. An amazing article bringing Daniel's compassion and art to life! Thanks for sharing this beautiful moment that should - quite frankly - happen so much more often.

Kim Cross's avatar

Thanks for reading and appreciating Daniel’s work, Art. It takes a special kind of person to be present in these moments and document them in the way he does. The story is still unfolding so you can watch it continue in real-time.

Daniel Troppy's avatar

Thank you Kim, thank you for your time & support.

Susan Bruns's avatar

I enjoyed reading this beautiful essay, Kim. Thanks for sharing Daniel’s art and for grappling on the page with the difficult questions memoirists face.

Kim Cross's avatar

Thanks, Susan. I love learning about (and from) the process of other storytellers. It was extra-interesting to me that Daniel isn't a traditional writer, but is instinctively using some advanced skills in a very effective way.

Mona Gable's avatar

Thank you for this, Kim. I've written often about grief, and how being in nature helped heal me. Daniel's piece is stunning.

Barbara Watson's avatar

I too met Daniel through his Doubletake store. We share a love of fashion and quality fabrics and the thrill of thrift shopping and finding hidden treasures. I also assisted him with his YIMBY outreach. Daniel never gives less than 100% and so it is with his caretaking. His little stories reveal, bit by bit, the incredible love he and his parents have for each other and how that love helps to soften the difficult edges of aging and loss. I never met his brother or his parents but his stories make me feel like I have known and loved them for years. Well done, Daniel. Your love shows through in everything you do.

Liz Nixon's avatar

thank you so much for sharing daniel’s work. short stories with big impact.

Kim Cross's avatar

Isn’t it amazing much much he does in so few words?