Here I am, after a wonderful tour with my memoir COMFORT, back at home sweating in the dreadful humidity! Since COMFORT was published in May, I have visited bookstores, knitting stores and grief groups from Portland, OR to Portland, ME. Everyone's stories have touched me in ways that I cannot even find the words to express. I am amazed every day by our resilience, the strength of love we feel, the enormity of our losses, and what a strange and puzzling yet life affirming world we live in.

In July, I had two incredible experiences. The first was teaching in Guatemala with Joyce Maynard. Joyce's generosity and wisdom were gifts to me and to all of our students. Added to that, I got to experience this beautiful country with Lorne and Annabelle. Sam had been in Honduras working on a farm a week earlier, but couldn't join us because his acting camp at Trinity Rep was about to begin. We could have used his Spanish skills! Best of all, perhaps, is that I will return in March to teach again with Joyce in Guatemala. You can check her website, or here, for details.

Then I had the privilege of being the keynote speaker at The National Conference for Compassionate Friends in Nashville. CF is the organization for families who have lost children, and the amount of love and grief, hope and despair in that one place was unforgettable. I met so many lovely families, and heard about so many wonderful children.

In between, I was in Vermont and Cape Cod, Hingham and Narragansett. I am looking forward to more, to meeting more of you, hearing your stories, and knitting with you.

On that front, I am still working on mitered squares for a blanket for my niece who is getting married in September. That blanket might be ready for her first anniversary!!

Coming up for me? Sailing lessons for an article. Teaching in Honolulu with the Maui Writers Conference. Sam opening in Belle's Strategem at 2nd Story Theater. Annabelle's debut as Tinkerbell in Peter Pan. And going to see Hair in Central Park. I can't even choose which makes me the most excited!