Achievement Unlocked:

In the last five days, I have:

• Driven 650 miles
• Made and blind-baked four pie crusts
• Roasted and braised a turkey
• Made sides and gravy for 16
• Reserved enough broth to make turkey gravy salted caramels (YES I WILL, MOTHER FUCKERS)
• Waited to hear if my nephew has a brain tumor (he doesn’t, hell yes)
• Hosted family overnight
• Run a frankly absurd number of dishwasher loads
• Hand-washed all the family china
• Done an introvert-month’s worth of socializing
• Invented the unit of measurement known as the introvert-month
• Eaten enough carbs that I feel Confession is warranted, despite my Protestant-bordering-on-Unitarian leanings
• Made my father-in-law cry

Every inch worth it. Tomorrow, I return to work, so that I may rest.

Love and peace to you

It has been a hard and ugly month at the end of a very hard and ugly year. I know some of you are worried. I know others are scared.

For whatever it's worth, know that my family is worrying and afraid for you too. After all, all we have is each other.

We hope that you may, from time to time and however briefly, find a small place in the sun.

Happy Thanksgiving.