This Week
Intro - Reader feedback
Post(erity) - “Retail Therapy”
Peaches’ Picks - Something to keep you cool in summer
Picture of the Week - A new calling?
Dear Reader,
Having Megan jump in for a guest post last week may have cost me my gig here at Second Drafts! As I knew you would, folks enjoyed hearing from my better half. Here are a few excerpts from some very heartfelt responses to prove it:
“I now have a name for my deepest fear, the one that's been haunting me for the past six or seven years: Empty Nest-obia. It's so simple and so accurate. Why haven't I come up with it before? Thank you for naming it and writing so honestly about it. You captured the thoughts, emotions, desires, and fears of nearly all the women I know who share our stage of life.”
This reader left a comment on the post (you can do that now, remember):
“I completely concur with Megan's sentiments. I remember fondly (too fondly, most likely) the younger years and to be honest, I'm a little afraid of the future. It helps to have comrades who have already trod these shores and trust in the Lord who casts out fear. But I am left to process all this and figure out what my new family role will be. Thanks for putting this experience into words.”
But it wasn’t just the women who responded. Here’s a post from a dad of three:
“I super enjoyed this week’s ‘Megan’ edition. More or less, I am in the same situation and think Megan’s feelings will resonate with many who have or are about to go through the same thing…Megan poured her heart out, and even though we haven’t met, I feel like I know her now. Very cool!”
And here’s one from a dad of one:
“Please tell Megan how much I enjoyed her piece. While our parenting journey has been quite different (four kids vs. one and quite a bit of homeschooling vs. not), the emotion of the writing could not ring more true, especially as we are also facing the final year of a child at home before college. I've already been careful about what I say yes to during this coming year for fear of becoming overcommitted during [our daughter’s] senior year, and while 10 years ago I may have valued the kid-free moments, I currently find myself treasuring every moment with her a little more.”
Since Megan did the heavy lifting last Friday, I wrote and sent out an extra Second Drafts on Sunday in honor of Independence Day. Here are two comments from readers on that post:
“What a blessing to open my email and see a bonus from Second Drafts!”
“Thank you for the post on our flag! We have had an American Flag in our yard most all the years of our marriage (51)…The flag represents every blessing I have as an American, a citizen free to mostly do as I please and as a believer in Christ Who rules the nations, including America. Flying the flag is the best and most public way for me to say, ‘Thank you America. I love you!’”
Megan and I both appreciate the thoughtful engagement this past week. Thanks for writing.
And, as always, thanks for reading.
Craig
P.S.: This week’s Second Drafts is missing some Hot Takes and a Feature article, as I didn’t have time to devote the research required to do them due diligence. I hope to have a fully-loaded newsletter for you next week, but I have to take a mulligan this week.
To make it up to you, I’ve included one of my all-time favorite posts in this week’s Post(erity) and hope you are encouraged by it. For good measure, I’ve included a new Peaches’ Picks as well. Thanks for understanding.
Post(erity): “Retail Therapy”
Each week, I choose a post from the past that seems apropos of something (of course, you’re always welcome to search the archives yourself whenever you like).
This week’s Post(erity) post - “Retail Therapy” from August 2, 2008 - attempts to capture one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had in a clothing store (yes, you read that correctly) and I still almost cry when I picture it all again in my mind You don’t want to miss this one. An excerpt:
“All these thoughts were jumping around in my head today as I waited in line behind too many men and women in their late-40s and early-50s who've put themselves through more desperate measures than I'm willing to in order to fight off age - men trying too hard to look ‘cool’ with their gold chains and spiked (and colored) hair; women with too much make-up and jewelry for a Saturday trying to find that one resale item that will make them look younger (or at least not older) than they really are. But then, God used one woman to bring me back to a semblance of perspective.”
Peaches’ Picks
Keeping cool during the past weeks’ heatwaves has been tricky, especially without air conditioning. Peaches wanted to share one of her go-to items to beat the heat: Montana’s own Wilcoxson’s Fudge Bars. Heavier in texture than your normal fudge bars with a great chocolate taste, Peaches is a fan. (And no, don’t worry about the whole “chocolate kills dogs” thing, at least for Peaches; she has a digestive system of steel and has woofed down five times as much chocolate in one sitting (no kidding)).
Picture of the Week
On the backend of lunch at Bamboo Garden the other day, Megan and I would like to announce new careers as international diplomats. Stay tuned for more news (or don’t).
Until next time.
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