Darling Ones, Sometimes when I start these letters I feel like I need to confess. Forgive me Darling Ones, for I have sinned. I did not write as much as I could have because I spent most of my time wiggling to Ike Reilly’s “Salesmen & Racists” record numerous times in a row. In fact, the only reason I turned it off is because I just learned today was Katie Crutchfield’s birthday and now I have to listen to “Saint…
Hi Darling Ones, I’m struggling today. It’s alternately pissing me off and leaving me flat on my back staring up the ceiling fan while tears stream from my eyes. First of all, today is Sister #3’s birthday and apparently it’s making me feel some things. Don’t worry, I wont got into it again. Second of all, it’s been eight days since I’ve seen another human and I can’t help but wonder what kind of broken-down monster I am for that…
Hey Darling Ones, Do you remember way back in 2017 when all we had to rage about was this country’s slow descent into fascism? Back when we thought it was gonna be bad after the Fascist Turnip was elected but really we had no fucking clue? I do! At some point in that first year of Turnip’s reign The Black Sheep, my writing group, met. I don’t know the exact context of the conversation but I do know I was…
Dear Darling Ones, I woke up this morning at 4:18 a.m., my entire body so tightly coiled that I was a bit surprised I could make myself so small. If it is possible to sleep anxiously or stressfully, I was doing it. I woke up because I was weeping. At first I thought I drooled all over myself and my pillow, but nope I was weeping in my sleep. I don’t think it was caused by a dream, at least…
Dear Darling Ones, Today is Paul Westerberg’s birthday and I’ve spent a lot of the day thus far contemplating what my life would be like without his music. What if Kelly McKnight hadn’t given me money to play The Cam’s jukebox? What if he hadn’t specifically said, “Play some Replacements?” What if I didn’t listen? What if I had chosen “Someone Take the Wheel” instead of “Merry Go Round?” If any of those things had turned out differently, Marty McFly,…
Hey Darling Ones, Do you like New Year’s Eve? It’s Sister #4’s favorite holiday, but Sister #2 and I hate it with a passion. Sister #2 because she hates big pressure holidays and because her BFF Jill died on New Year’s Eve 1991 so the entire day is soaked in melancholy. Maybe saying I hate it with a passion is a bit of overkill. For the most part, I don’t put a lot of thought into it. I think I’ve…