Reading your letters feels like the adult version of a visit with my childhood best friend, Fred Rogers.
The way you share what is going on in your heart and in your life and connect it back to the world and history...it's beautiful. Thank you for making each day special just by being you.
How long, O Lord...just how long will it take us to learn that we were created to be in community. Together. To co-exist and trust in the gifts of our differences. As always, I am deeply grateful for you and your writing Jeff.
A lovely, thoughtful piece, as usual. It was just announced that Tulare lake is receeding "due to coordinated action and favorable weather". We didn't get to drive down and see it, but the photos have been amazing. Of course we feel bad for people who lost their homes. The floods were devastating this year! But the return of the lake caused some awe and wonder around these parts. A lot of young locals who live here now had no idea it ever existed.
I'm so glad Fozzie is doing ok. In one of my dreams last night I was walking through what seemed like maybe an undergraduate dorm hallway on my way to a meeting for something. The hall was busy with students coming and going, preparing for something. Maybe the "meeting?" I noticed that some students had written "Bring Fozzie" on the whiteboard of their door. I'm not sure why you guys were going to be hanging out with college kids, or why I was there, but it warmed my heart to see that sign. It made me happy that Fozzie was so loved that the students wanted to make sure you and Tristan brought him along.
I would love to have been at your table for that meal, and I'd love a tutorial on cooking this! As you explained the fish dish I was plotting when I could recreate it. I don't at all understand the mushroom dish (I don't think I've ever had garlic scapes or abalone or blanched lettuce) but I want to try it! Thanks for sharing.
Sending love to Fozzie and his humans from the dog mom of rambunctious puppy and his elderly anxious sister. Gabapentin for anxiety here (and also for my mom's nerve pain when she was fighting pancreatic cancer). <3
Jeff, I've been following the Tulare Lake story, and your deep history filled many gaps in my knowledge. I have a related essay called "A New Word--One I Wish We Didn't Need" on my Substack account at https://pharmer.substack.com/. I hope you'll read it, because I think the word will resonate with you. Best wishes, Phil Baer
I so appreciate your concise history of Tulare Lake - and how you brought us from the big, wide, worldly connection into the intimacy of the banks of the lake. Thank you from a Californian who was raised in the valley.
Jeff,
Reading your letters feels like the adult version of a visit with my childhood best friend, Fred Rogers.
The way you share what is going on in your heart and in your life and connect it back to the world and history...it's beautiful. Thank you for making each day special just by being you.
How long, O Lord...just how long will it take us to learn that we were created to be in community. Together. To co-exist and trust in the gifts of our differences. As always, I am deeply grateful for you and your writing Jeff.
A lovely, thoughtful piece, as usual. It was just announced that Tulare lake is receeding "due to coordinated action and favorable weather". We didn't get to drive down and see it, but the photos have been amazing. Of course we feel bad for people who lost their homes. The floods were devastating this year! But the return of the lake caused some awe and wonder around these parts. A lot of young locals who live here now had no idea it ever existed.
I'm so glad Fozzie is doing ok. In one of my dreams last night I was walking through what seemed like maybe an undergraduate dorm hallway on my way to a meeting for something. The hall was busy with students coming and going, preparing for something. Maybe the "meeting?" I noticed that some students had written "Bring Fozzie" on the whiteboard of their door. I'm not sure why you guys were going to be hanging out with college kids, or why I was there, but it warmed my heart to see that sign. It made me happy that Fozzie was so loved that the students wanted to make sure you and Tristan brought him along.
I would love to have been at your table for that meal, and I'd love a tutorial on cooking this! As you explained the fish dish I was plotting when I could recreate it. I don't at all understand the mushroom dish (I don't think I've ever had garlic scapes or abalone or blanched lettuce) but I want to try it! Thanks for sharing.
Your reflections on Tulare Lake make me think of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book Braiding Sweetgrass.
Sending love to Fozzie and his humans from the dog mom of rambunctious puppy and his elderly anxious sister. Gabapentin for anxiety here (and also for my mom's nerve pain when she was fighting pancreatic cancer). <3
Jeff, I've been following the Tulare Lake story, and your deep history filled many gaps in my knowledge. I have a related essay called "A New Word--One I Wish We Didn't Need" on my Substack account at https://pharmer.substack.com/. I hope you'll read it, because I think the word will resonate with you. Best wishes, Phil Baer
I so appreciate your concise history of Tulare Lake - and how you brought us from the big, wide, worldly connection into the intimacy of the banks of the lake. Thank you from a Californian who was raised in the valley.