For thirty-two years, a few of us have gathered for Friends Dinner. We didn’t call it that at first, of course. For a long time it was just “dinner.” As time went by and our lives evolved, we realized we’d need to make it a priority if we wanted to continue – so we gave it a title. And thanks to devoted friends and fantastically supportive families, it’s persisted.

This week, we reunited for takeout sandwiches.

Dear ones, may we name our rituals.

May we cherish our loved ones.

May we recognize the glory of a sandwich with friends.

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I was recently part of a terrifically creative podcast, Alien Crash Site, based on the captivating Roadside Picnic by the Strugatsky brothers. Come visit the Zone with me and Caitlin Mc Shea!

https://www.aliencrashsite.org/episodes/012

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A PERFECT “WELCOME BACK” GIFT

If you find yourself wanting to reflect on this past year, or to contemplate better times to come, we hope you might consider turning to Month of Sundays, which can be found at all of your favorite booksellers. One newly vaccinated friend recently mentioned that she’s bought a stack of books to gift as she begins to reconnect with loved ones who have been apart, as a way to say, “welcome back.”

Thank you to those who have supported this endeavor to date, where proceeds have allowed us to give more generously than usual to some of the most vital nonprofits around.  We designed the book to be evergreen, and hope it will bring comfort and connection through times of ease and times of challenge alike.