Dear Loyal Readers, I sent this letter out to my private list of readers, friends and family yesterday. I’m eager to share it here, too. Dear Friends, Family & Loyal Readers, As I write this, I can smell the sweet wafts of an apple pie bubbling away in the oven and a turkey roasting in a bath of red wine, shallots, garlic and parsley. Last night, as Dan and I toasted a medley of bread ends for our stuffing, we had the windows open. Cold air smelling of the day’s early snow puffed into our hot kitchen and then, like a gift, we heard the brave honking of a flock of Canada geese. We looked at each other and smiled. “Listen,” said Dan. Then, suddenly, our eyes filled with tears; their simple, primal instinct to make a long journey through dark nights and dense cities, over mountains and fields, makes me know that courage is innate to all of us. I hope they get there. For us, it will be a simple Thanksgiving this year; my mother is making her way to our place in Portland as I write this and and Dan’s mom will also join us. Five people





