27 Comments
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Joe Rhodes's avatar

You are not the only one here.

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

Hey Joe!

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Mendy's avatar

Joe took my line. Hesitation kills...

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Rose Marie Holt's avatar

Your self portrait is impressive.

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

Thank you Madame Holt!

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Cyndi Pipes's avatar

I’ve raised and released many opossums. Thank you for helping to let people know they are such beautiful little beings.

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Michele Miles Gardiner's avatar

I read your memoir, "Cool, Calm, and Contentious," and enjoyed your humor. I need to read it again. I remember relating to many aspects of growing up. Now I'm learning you're also a really good artist. Jeez. These drawings are so full of life and your humor. Really good.

Is this animal wildlife center the one near Malibu Park off of Mulholland? I shared on Facebook how I brought a hurt mom opossum there and they saved her and her babies. Maybe I just assumed it was the same place. Doesn't matter. You're doing great work.

I'm on this new platform because of your wit and art... and opossum rescues.

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Jaime's avatar

This was a wonderful way to start the day… a little Merrill Moment! Can’t wait for the next one.

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

Awwww. Thank you SO much.

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Deb's avatar

You did the drawings, too!?!? Wow.

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

Yes. Thank you. I actually have a fancy art degree. I even taught art for a while in my twenties. I wrote/illustrated a graphic novel/memoir a few years ago that you might like. https://www.amazon.com/We-Saw-Scenery-Diaries-Merrill/dp/1616209038

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Nicole's avatar

We Saw Scenery is a MUST READ!

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Katharine Hill's avatar

Glad to have found the beginning.

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Christian L's avatar

Hi Ms. Markoe, I've been such a fan of yours and can't wait to see what you've got in store for your Substack. What a wonderful story! This format suits your style very well, and you get to show off your art skills!

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Dan C @storymapsdan's avatar

Hilarious! Love the cartoon format. Keep up the good work, thank you.

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

Thank YOU!

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Fred Hoffman's avatar

As long as it includes Dylan’s Christmas lights, I’m in.

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

Haa. Since Dylan's groundskeeper or grandchildren or whoever cleaned up his/their Xmas light act, I kind of abandoned that project. But you never know....

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Mendy's avatar

But what about the fans?!

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Georgi de la Torre's avatar

What happens to the possums after they are rescued? Are they doing life with Cally? It could be worse....

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

Most of the wildlife rehabber folks put the animals back from whence they came after they weigh enough to be considered self-reliant. Cally only kept a few that were crippled and wouldn't make it in the wild. Some of the bigger wildlife rescues put them down if they can't care for themselves independently. Not Cally, tho.

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AEA's avatar

Love this. And, you’ve made me realize that, with age I’ve become possum-colored, too!

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

Haaa. Everyone without a hair coloring habit becomes possum colored.

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Skid Maher's avatar

Love this. Welcome to Substack!

Is that really a rule, no baby talk to the possums?

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

At the WIldlife Center they don't want you to baby talk the animals so they don't become adapted to relying on humans. Because once they put them back "into the wild' (which in the case of Los Angeles means somewhere that will be full of humans) they have done the animal no favors if it has been raised to trust humans. Even other humans know that is a risky idea at best.

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Skid Maher's avatar

Ahh okay, makes perfect sense. I think I would have a pretty hard time abiding by that rule personally, glad you're the one doing it!

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Apr 5, 2023
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Merrill Markoe's avatar

Thank you so much.

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