Dear Family, Now that all my children are grown and two of them are writing their own monthly missives, it at times occurs to me to wonder what I’m supposed to keep writing about every month. But then I remember that, while many of these letters make at least passing reference to my children’s (and…
Update from Miss BYU: I’m happy, I teach students, and I’m from Maryland
I have recently begun to greatly appreciate the contributions and impacts that teachers have on my life and general state of happiness. You’d think that I would have realized this earlier, given my plan of the past three years to study to become a secondary education teacher, but my motivation to become a teacher really…
On forbidden cupcakes, overstimulated amygdalae, and the underappreciated art of registering one’s dissatisfaction without making a scene (vol. xxvii, no. 9)
Dear Family, Attendees of Carrie’s wedding in Portland earlier this month may have heard something about a boorish (and possibly inebriated) guest who, only seconds after being told for the tenth time in two hours that the dessert table was still off limits, angrily thrust his right paw into the center of a large plate…
Ari’s EPISTOLARIUS — May-Sept 2023
Dear Family, If you are reading this, you may have noticed a couple of things. First and foremost, I have not written a letter since April. I swear I’ve been meaning to, but I only ever manage to find the motivation in the middle of a month, at which point I think, “Well, I should…
SOPHIE UPDATE — Aug 2023
(Image above: Me in a field of flowers on Y Mountain) Dear Family, A few of my Willis relatives expressed a desire to stay updated with my life while I’m away at college. I’m flattered that you all still want something to do with me even when I’ve given you the perfect excuse to forget…
On beautiful vistas, happy reunions, and finding solace around the holes our departing children leave (vol. xxvii, no. 8)
Dear Family, A week or two ago, a fellow member of our neighborhood’s informal cycling club was depositing his only child – a girl of extraordinary academic and athletic achievement whom Grace has known since elementary school – at a certain prestigious university in Pennsylvania. He shared with our group of mostly middle-aged dads (and…
On day-dependent patriotism, Sophie’s exhausting-sounding social life, major awards, and the legend of Gabe Ossi (vol. xxvii, no. 7)
Dear Family, I have a complicated relationship with the Fourth of July. This has nothing to do with patriotic ambivalence. Notwithstanding the insanity of our road system, too many d@mn cars, and the lack of a viable political party where I feel I belong, I feel fortunate to have been born here. I am grateful…
On the virtues of tolerable graduation ceremonies, avoiding Beach Week debauchery, and embracing Taylor Swift (vol. xxvii, no. 6)
Dear Family, Certain relatives (and my old friend Colby Jenkins) might be interested to learn that I just signed up to run the St. George Marathon on October 7. Why would someone travel more than 2,000 miles just to run a marathon? I’m so glad you asked! I have completed 13 marathons in my life…
On Grace’s last everything, ill-fitting suits, and yet another new church job (vol. xxvii, no. 5)
Dear Family, If you would have asked me five years ago whether I planned to show up for Grace’s “clap-out” ceremony – that thing where underclassmen line the the halls and clap in recognition of the seniors as they parade around the school and out the front door on their last day of class —…
Ari’s EPISTOLARIUS — Apr 2023
Dear Family, Today, I learned what color a blue crab is. And no, I do not mean that I just discovered that there is a species of crustacean called the blue crab. I am a Marylander, born and raised, so I have been aware of the existence of these azure arthropods for longer than I…