Dale, I so look forward to sharing this explorative journey with you as we join to find grace in the mixture of sorrow and joy that seems more acute in these days of political division, climate change, racial and ethnic strife, and social media overload. I recently heard someone talk about finding our personal “soul food” and being sure to indulge in it with regularity to stay healthy in mind, body, and spirit. For me poetry and music, particularly when shared in community, reach the inner me that seeks acceptance and hope, even celebration of the ugly as well as the beautiful. I feel an acute awareness of the depth of life as I grow older, as I lose people close to me, as I watch the ills of the world compound. And I see how we must keep living, keep thriving, even as the road is strewn with rocks of sorrow and disappointment. So, too, the road is covered by bursts of vibrant wild flowers and good companions. Thank you for offering this gift of shared experience. I plan to eat mindfully, to feed my soul well.