150

Apparently the average human mind is capable of maintaining no more than one hundred and fifty relationships. Here’s how mine does it:

The patches on my luggage remind me of my father, B from high school, and B from NU. The final boarding call for Aspen is TVB, B and CM. The kid with the skateboard in the airport is C from SA. The Wire on my laptop is my sister-in-law and brother, and also my niece. The flags on my laptop case are three of my business partners. Every time I hand over a card and introduce myself as an actress, that’s SGG and the whole host at Catharsis. My backpack is T&J in Chi, the button on it is R is South Caro. The heart on my wrist is Beth (RIP) and the phrase on my foot is KW, Moe&K in SD. My necklace is M in Beantown, my earrings are Gram. The smashed-up travel pack of Kleenex in the bottom of my bag is Mom, my phone case (and everything that works on my antique laptop) is BH. I buy a Saran-wrapped apple in a cafe and wonder about the supply chain—that’s you, BE. And so on.

The people I care about are with me everywhere I go. So whether or not you know it, today you’re on your way to Garden City, Kansas. Thanks for keeping me company. Much love!