It was eleven years ago, around this time of year, that I exchanged the first letter with my friend Joseph as part of a long-distance writing group. Didn’t take us long to figure out that we’d stumbled into something worth hanging onto. Hundreds of letters (not to mention emails) later, we’re still hanging on and I’m grateful every day to have such a friend in my life.

Many happy returns of the day, J. Hope your spring garden is blooming enthusiastically and that you and Jason are throwing a big party in your new house. May there be lots of cake.