Do you miss me? I miss you. Writing this book is hard work and taking up all my time. I miss writing the shorter, instant-gratification, essay-length blog posts.

I miss writing about my adventures in rural Iowa, about how when the snow melted and I was so excited about the spring thaw, my Mini got stuck in the mud and my neighbor Don had to tow me out.

I miss describing things like how I had a Girls’ Night Out with the mayor and city clerk of Eldon and how throughout the (alcohol-free — SIGH) evening they talked about getting their new gun licenses, concealed weapons permits, and storm-watcher certifications.

I miss recording life’s little surprises, like how I received a thank-you card from someone at Sheffield’s Bar in Chicago where on National Pie Day we dropped of Baker’s Square pies for the funeral of its owner, and how the card had a hand-written message on the back saying, “The world certainly does need more pie.”