Here.

I spent half of my life in love with stuff, but trying to keep it picked up broke me decades ago. Now, the holiday season throws me into low-level panic. This year, with everything going haywire in the world, the forced exchange of merchandise feels like the straw that might just make this camel lose her mind. Layered on top of this is the fact that Sam and I must pretty much immediately outfit the empty house we acquired.

So now while we are choosing trash cans and light fixtures we are looking at holiday gifts, too, and I’m just not up to it. To be honest, I have never been a great gifter, and now, between getting what’s required to stock a house, what I hope will satisfy my kith and kin, and the wild west kitchen-sink insanity of online shopping, every day feels like a race I am losing.

So, here’s the deal. Family, dear ones, I am here for you. Always. Do you feel that tidal wave of love? I count you as my sweetest blessings. When I see you next, I will hug you so hard your ribs hurt, make you tea, laugh with you, cry with you, and care for you until the day I die and maybe beyond, depending on how that works.

So, please consider this Starbucks gift card icing on the cake.