31 Comments
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Justin Deming's avatar

What a sweet story. I think they were meant to find each other! Loved the song parody, too.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Thanks, Justin. I can’t help writing those happy endings. 🤣

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Justin Deming's avatar

Please keep ‘em coming! 😄

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John K Adams's avatar

They lack life experience to tune their BS meter, for one thing. Mily Cyrus' father was on set for her show (and played a character). She is very talented and successful but still has struggles.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

That fame at an early age has to mess you up to varying degrees. You might start believing you are great instead of just famous. I imagine it must be a hassle to be famous at any age. People always want some of your time. Which is why I have remained unknown. 😉🤣

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John K Adams's avatar

Child actors get run through the mill. Look at the lives of all the former Disney child stars. It appears to be institutionalized child abuse. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

I would hope it's better now, but probably not. I don't think humans are designed to handle fame. Especially children.

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David Perlmutter's avatar

There IS life after being famous....

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Mark Starlin's avatar

I would think that would be the best of both worlds. Who wants fame when you get older? What a hassle. Not that I would know. 🤣

Thanks for reading and commenting, David.

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Coleen Theiss's avatar

I guess this is a cliffhanger. We can make it what we want it to be they might’ve gotten married or maybe they didn’t. Maybe she changes his habits from eating junk food to running with her.👍🏻🧐😁

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Yes, I wanted readers to use their imagination. I like to think it worked out. She got him to join her healthy lifestyle and he keeps her entertained with stories about Hollywood.

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Coleen Theiss's avatar

😄👍🏻

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Awwww, Mark, what a sweet sweet story getting past the past. Perfect for Monday morning at six o'clock. The music video? I should have saved that for this afternoon or at least until I had had my coffee. Yeeeooow! Shades of my youth. Thanks for the morning's entertainment. Lovely!

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Yeah. That is not really a morning song. 🤣

I am glad you enjoyed the story. 🤓

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

I never know what mood you are going to be in when I click Mark Starlin. A little bit of everything to keep us a bit off kilter. As my old mom would say, you have fingers in many pies.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Yes! I love variety. So I write a variety of things. Whatever inspires and interests me at the moment. Probably not the best marketing strategy, (you must find a niche!) but it keeps me sane.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Market, schmarket! Do what makes you happy. Sanity is no longer required when you are our age.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Exactly. It's not like I am chasing a writing career at my age. So I can write whatever I want. Within reason, of course. Nobody wants to read my grocery list or journal (I don't journal.)

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

The Grocery List! Now!

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Jack Herlocker's avatar

Wait. I thought The Farmer was *in* The Dell. Which had to be pretty small if there was only room for one farmer. And one cheese. 🤔 Slimline laptop, maybe?

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Always the tech guy. 🤣

Do they still make Dells? (I've been a Mac guy since 1990.)

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Jack Herlocker's avatar

Dells are still a thing, still marketed to consumers and businesses. Deb uses one because she is NOT going to switch to Mac after using Windows the last 2½ decades. (But it’s an old one running Windows 8 because she doesn’t want to deal with the modern version.)

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Jack Herlocker's avatar

We’re streamers also! Every so often someone will reference a TV commercial and Deb & I are clueless. OTOH if we really want to see a commercial we can just search on YouTube.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Okay. They don’t bombard television with commercials anymore so I didn’t know. Although I don’t watch commercials anymore. We just stream everything. 🤣

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John K Adams's avatar

Nice turn-about on life as a former child actor, Mark.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Thanks, John. I would think it must feel like two different lives. Unless you are one of the few who transition into an adult actor.

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Brian Reindel 👾⚔️'s avatar

Mark, the cheese, just like my dad jokes, stand alone. Fun short story with a happy ending. I like those. 👍

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Dad jokes are a unalienable right. And national treasures. They must be told!

Thanks, Brian. 🤓

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Cyn Taylor's avatar

It means that you should never eat Dell's lasagna. Cheese is notoriously self-centered, anti-social, and doesn't melt well with others. On the other hand, true farmers rarely eat Italian food.

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Mark Starlin's avatar

Cheese is so uppity. 🤨 😂

If I was a farmer, I would eat Italian food a lot. And Mexican. 🌮🍝🧀

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