<!doctype html>
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" lang="en-US" xml:lang="en-US">
  <head>
    <title data-ignore-plain-text>Mary May is sending Slender Stalk for April 2023.</title>
    <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1">
    <meta name="format-detection" content="address=no">
    <!--[if (gte mso 9)|(IE)]>
    <style type="text/css" media="screen">
      li {
        text-indent: -1em;
      }
    </style>
    <![endif]-->
    <style type="text/css" media="all">
      body,
.section-text-area,
.section-text-area-wrapper,
.section-text-cell {
    overflow-wrap: break-word;
    word-wrap: break-word;
    -ms-word-break: break-all;
    word-break: break-word;
}
body {
    width: 100% !important;
    min-width: 100% !important;
    -ms-text-size-adjust: none;
    -webkit-text-size-adjust: none;
    mso-line-height-rule: exactly;
}
p {
    margin-block: 0;
}
@media only screen and (max-width:  593px ) {
    table#newsletter-table {
        border: 0 !important;
    }
    table#newsletter-email {
        width: 100% !important;
    }
    img.section-scaleable-image,
    img.section-empty-img {
        max-width: 100% !important;
        height: auto !important;
    }
    .bg-none {
        background: none !important;
    }
    .hauto {
        height: auto !important;
    }
    .show-desktop-only {
        display: none !important;
    }
    .show-mobile-only {
        display: block !important;
        float: none !important;
        line-height: auto !important;
        max-height: inherit !important;
        max-width: inherit !important;
        margin-top: 0px !important;
        overflow: visible !important;
        visibility: inherit !important;
        width: auto !important;
    }
    .stack-cell-wrap {
        display: block !important;
    }
    .stack-cell-up {
        display: table-header-group !important;
    }
    .stack-cell-down {
        display: table-footer-group !important;
    }
    .mw100p {
        max-width: 100% !important;
    }
    .section-horizontal-padding,
    .padding-mobile-both {
        padding-left: 22px !important;
        padding-right: 22px !important;
    }
    .padding-mobile-left {
        padding-left: 22px !important;
    }
    .padding-mobile-right {
        padding-right: 22px !important;
    }
    .text-left {
        text-align: left !important;
    }
    .text-right {
        text-align: right !important;
    }
    .w100p {
        width: 100% !important;
    }
}
.button-style-solid:hover,
.button-style-rounded:hover {
    opacity: .8 !important;
}
a:hover {
    text-decoration: none !important;
}
span.mail-merge-preview {
    border-bottom: 2px dotted currentColor;
    display: inline-block;
    line-height: 1em !important;
    margin-bottom: .125em !important;
}
table#newsletter-section-body .linked-site-title-link {
    color: #fb3f27 !important;
}
#header-header-section-stacked-top-0 .brand-name .linked-site-title-link {
    color: #222;
    text-decoration: none;
}
#footer-footer-section-stacked-top-0 .brand-name .linked-site-title-link {
    color: #222;
    text-decoration: none;
}
#footer-footer-section-stacked-top-0 .footer-text .linked-site-title-link {
    color: #fb3f27;
}
body.renderedPreview #line-line-section-0 div.basic-line[data-line="dashed"] {
    border-width: 1.5px 0 !important;
}
body.renderedPreview #line-line-section-2 div.basic-line[data-line="dashed"] {
    border-width: 1.5px 0 !important;
}
body.renderedPreview #line-line-section-4 div.basic-line[data-line="dashed"] {
    border-width: 1.5px 0 !important;
}
body.renderedPreview #line-line-section-6 div.basic-line[data-line="dashed"] {
    border-width: 1.5px 0 !important;
}

    </style>
    
    
    <!--[if mso]>
    <noscript>
      <xml>
        <o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
          <o:AllowPNG/>
          <o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
        </o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
      </xml>
    </noscript>
    <![endif]-->
    
    <!--[if (mso)|(mso 16)]>
      <style type="text/css">
        a {text-decoration: none;}
      </style>
    <![endif]-->
  </head>
  <body style="padding:0;margin:0;text-align:center;background-color:#74b358;">
    <table role="article" aria-label="Mary May is sending Slender Stalk for April 2023." lang="en-US" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" align="center" id="newsletter-table" style="font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;width:100%;padding:0px;background-color:#74b358;border-top:44px solid #74b358;border-bottom:44px solid #74b358;margin:0 auto;text-align:center;table-layout:fixed;">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="top" bgcolor="#74B358" id="newsletter-cell" style="font-size:1.0625em;">
      <div data-ignore-plain-text class="newsletter-preview-text" style="color:transparent;display:none !important;height:0;max-height:0;max-width:0;opacity:0;overflow:hidden;mso-hide:all;visibility:hidden;width:0;">
        
            $$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$
        
      </div>
      <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="594" bgcolor="#FCFCFC" id="newsletter-email">
        <tbody><tr>
          <td align="center" valign="top" id="newsletter-email-wrapper" class="book-serif">
            <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" id="newsletter-section-header">
              <tbody><tr>
                <td align="center" valign="middle" id="newsletter-section-header-cell">
                  
<div id="header-header-section-stacked-top-0">





<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="section-content header-section header-section-stacked" style="background-color:#fff;">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-text-area section-content-cell" style="padding-top:40px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:22px;">
      
  
  
  
    
  

      
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
                </td>
              </tr>
            </tbody></table>
            <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" id="newsletter-section-body">
              <tbody><tr>
                <td align="center" valign="top" width="100%" id="newsletter-section-body-cell">
                  
<div id="line-line-section-0">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="line-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" width="100%">
      <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="line-section-table section-content" style="width:90%;min-width:90%;">
        <tbody><tr>
          <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" width="100%" style="padding-top:10px;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:0;">
            <div class="basic-line" data-line="solid" style="background:none;font-size:0;margin:0;line-height:0;height:0;width:100%;border-style:solid none;border-width:2px 0 1px;border-color:#74b358;">&nbsp;</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
      </tbody></table>
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="text-text-section-1">



<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="text-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td valign="top" class="section-text-area section-content-cell" style="padding-top:0px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:22px;color:#fb3f27;background-color:#fff;">
      <p style="color:inherit;font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;text-align:center;" class=""><strong>LIFE AT 240</strong></p>
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="line-line-section-2">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="line-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" width="100%">
      <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="line-section-table section-content" style="width:90%;min-width:90%;">
        <tbody><tr>
          <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" width="100%" style="padding-top:10px;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:0;">
            <div class="basic-line" data-line="solid" style="background:none;font-size:0;margin:0;line-height:0;height:0;width:100%;border-style:solid none;border-width:2px 0 1px;border-color:#74b358;">&nbsp;</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
      </tbody></table>
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-3">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  

  
    <tbody><tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/83adf6e4-bda2-4bf9-adaf-67347df66075/240-pbm-2023-04-banner-stillife.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  


</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="line-line-section-4">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="line-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" width="100%">
      <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="line-section-table section-content" style="width:90%;min-width:90%;">
        <tbody><tr>
          <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" width="100%" style="padding-top:10px;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:0;">
            <div class="basic-line" data-line="solid" style="background:none;font-size:0;margin:0;line-height:0;height:0;width:100%;border-style:solid none;border-width:2px 0 1px;border-color:#74b358;">&nbsp;</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
      </tbody></table>
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="text-text-section-5">



<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="text-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td valign="top" class="section-text-area section-content-cell" style="padding-top:0px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:22px;color:#fb3f27;background-color:#fff;">
      <p style="color:inherit;font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;text-align:center;" class=""><strong>6 MINUTES  |  10 POEMS</strong></p>
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="line-line-section-6">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="line-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" width="100%">
      <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" class="line-section-table section-content" style="width:90%;min-width:90%;">
        <tbody><tr>
          <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" width="100%" style="padding-top:10px;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:0;">
            <div class="basic-line" data-line="solid" style="background:none;font-size:0;margin:0;line-height:0;height:0;width:100%;border-style:solid none;border-width:2px 0 1px;border-color:#74b358;">&nbsp;</div>
          </td>
        </tr>
      </tbody></table>
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="spacer-spacer-section-7">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#74B358" class="spacer-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" height="90" style="height:90px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="text-text-section-8">



<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FEFCC6" class="text-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td valign="top" class="section-text-area section-content-cell padding-mobile-right" style="padding-top:40px;padding-right:44px;padding-bottom:11px;padding-left:22px;color:#fb3f27;background-color:#fefcc6;">
      <h4 style="color:inherit;margin:1.414em 0 .5em;font-weight:400;line-height:1.25em;font-size:1.719125em;mso-line-height-alt:1.719125em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;letter-spacing:.02em;"><strong>SPRING FLOWERS!</strong></h4>
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="text-text-section-9">



<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FEFCC6" class="text-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td valign="top" class="section-text-area section-content-cell" style="padding-top:21px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:33px;padding-left:22px;color:#1b2d11;background-color:#fefcc6;">
      <p class="" style="color:inherit;font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;"><em><strong>Warm weather, sunshine, and early Spring flowers feel like a promise for better days ahead. I can’t help but feel hopeful when a breeze softly blows the curtains on my open windows. I can’t help but feel gleeful as shoots blanket my flower beds. I can’t help but write poems to catch the joy spilling from my heart. — Mary May</strong></em></p>
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="spacer-spacer-section-10">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#74B358" class="spacer-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" height="90" style="height:90px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-11">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  
  <tbody><tr>
    <td class="spacing-above" height="11"></td>
  </tr>


  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/ffce1f8a-47bd-4861-8164-a4d69f3ad3ea/240-pbm-2023-04-busias-cake-title.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td valign="top" class="section-text-cell section-content-cell" style="padding-top:22px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;">
              <div class="section-caption-text" style="position:relative;"><p style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#fb3f27;text-align:center;" class=""><strong><br>I imagine a backstory<br>for this darling cake<br>shaped like a lamb<br>fluffy white<br>with a sweet face<br><br>she makes it every year<br>in her special heirloom pan<br>handed down with a recipe<br>written in Polish<br>from her mother, Bobcia<br><br>the flavors are subtle<br>last-century<br>european<br>unmasked by less sugar<br>and more love<br><br>it is the recipe<br>that survived world wars<br>and untold horrors<br>the recipe that came to America<br>reborn in a Milwaukee kitchen<br><br>it is baked by our family’s Busia<br>with love and prayers<br>for her children and grandchildren<br>it honors the lamb of God<br>who takes away the sins of the world<br><br>in each wonderful bite<br>we can taste it<br>generations of love and hope<br></strong></p><p class="" style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#fb3f27;"><strong>*</strong><em><strong>Both Bobcia and Busia are Polish words used interchangeably for grandmother. We use Bobcia to refer to great-grandmother. We use Busia for grandmother. Our Busia is my son-in-law’s mom.</strong></em></p></div>
            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  
  <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="spacing-below" height="22"></td>
  </tr>



</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="spacer-spacer-section-12">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#74B358" class="spacer-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" height="91" style="height:91px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-13">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  
  <tbody><tr>
    <td class="spacing-above" height="11"></td>
  </tr>


  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/0d77e159-d4ee-4b4f-93e8-5f22e58a9f02/240-pbm-2023-04-title-houston.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td valign="top" class="section-text-cell section-content-cell" style="padding-top:22px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;">
              <div class="section-caption-text" style="position:relative;"><p style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#fb3f27;text-align:center;" class=""><strong><br>She’s leaving tomorrow<br>for this unknown place<br>fraught with unknown dangers<br>to visit unknown people<br><br>like a cowboy<br>with a wild horse<br>who she tamed with soft talk<br>and sweet carrots<br><br>galloping full speed  <br>with reckless abandon <br>unwarranted trust<br>and a yen for adventure<br><br>she’s leaving her small life<br>to be someone new<br>with a different story<br>and a happy ending<br><br>when she bids farewell<br>I want to hog tie her<br>keep her safe<br>but I don’t<br><br>I just fret<br>I just cry<br>I just wonder<br>will she ever come back</strong></p></div>
            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  
  <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="spacing-below" height="22"></td>
  </tr>



</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="spacer-spacer-section-14">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#74B358" class="spacer-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" height="90" style="height:90px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-15">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  
  <tbody><tr>
    <td class="spacing-above" height="11"></td>
  </tr>


  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/5a4b5301-d4b7-4f55-bdbd-7af52ea076bb/240-pbm-2023-04-title-silent-afternoons.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td valign="top" class="section-text-cell section-content-cell" style="padding-top:22px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;">
              <div class="section-caption-text" style="position:relative;"><p style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#fb3f27;text-align:center;" class=""><strong><br>It’s silent in the house<br>so quiet<br>I imagine hearing crickets<br><br>there is soft scratching<br>my pen to paper&nbsp;<br>as I write this poem<br>to remind him of today<br><br>more scratching<br>his stick of charcoal&nbsp;<br>his paper has eyes now<br>he is conjuring<br><br>we don’t speak<br>but his breath whistles<br>a soft tune<br>we’ve never heard<br><br>I shift my posture<br>to get a better peek<br>he’s drawing his own face<br>to remind me of forever<br><br>in silence<br>our hearts beat in tandem<br>this quiet is where we feel<br>a wordless love<br><br>the one made of bliss&nbsp;<br>and knowing<br>a love that doesn’t<br>need reminders<br><br>just scratches on paper<br>and soft whistles</strong></p></div>
            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  
  <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="spacing-below" height="22"></td>
  </tr>



</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="spacer-spacer-section-16">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#74B358" class="spacer-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" height="90" style="height:90px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-17">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  
  <tbody><tr>
    <td class="spacing-above" height="11"></td>
  </tr>


  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/982fe002-c253-4057-a635-8e239f08d2f8/240-pbm-2023-04-title-fav-colors.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td valign="top" class="section-text-cell section-content-cell" style="padding-top:22px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;">
              <div class="section-caption-text" style="position:relative;"><p style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#fb3f27;text-align:center;" class=""><strong><br>Like the Festivus episode of Seinfeld<br>our holidays are punctuated<br>by quirky rituals<br><br>our exclamation point is<br>the coloring contest&nbsp;<br><br>one by one&nbsp;<br>colorful renderings are<br>hung to create our gallery<br><br>the centerpiece is<br>the judging<br><br>but wait —what’s this?<br>how could she have colored<br>this charming entry?<br><br>she’s a thousand miles away<br>gone six days now<br><br>fearful missing the contest<br>would make her sad<br>her little sister colored it for her<br><br>she thinks missing her hurts less<br>when you use her favorite colors</strong></p></div>
            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  
  <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="spacing-below" height="22"></td>
  </tr>



</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="spacer-spacer-section-18">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#74B358" class="spacer-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" height="90" style="height:90px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-19">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  
  <tbody><tr>
    <td class="spacing-above" height="11"></td>
  </tr>


  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/a353d333-a9d3-4afb-b943-513be7cf656d/240-pbm-2023-04-title-looking-good.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td valign="top" class="section-text-cell section-content-cell" style="padding-top:22px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;">
              <div class="section-caption-text" style="position:relative;"><p style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#fb3f27;text-align:center;" class=""><strong><br>There are endless tricks<br>to make ourselves look good<br>much of life’s energy<br> is squandered on this facade<br><br>but what if nobody&nbsp;<br>saw how we looked<br>watched how we danced<br>read what we wrote<br>liked what we wore<br><br>no one admired our car<br>saw our photos<br>envied our jewelry<br>or coveted our vacation<br><br>what if one day<br>we just stopped trying <br></strong><em><strong>to look good<br><br></strong></em><strong>what if one day<br>we just tried really hard<br></strong><em><strong>to be good</strong></em></p></div>
            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  
  <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="spacing-below" height="20"></td>
  </tr>



</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="spacer-spacer-section-20">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#74B358" class="spacer-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" height="90" style="height:90px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-21">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  
  <tbody><tr>
    <td class="spacing-above" height="11"></td>
  </tr>


  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/fcf8b08d-2e4e-4ca8-b356-e5a6f08467e2/240-pbm-2023-04-title-lessons-borg.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td valign="top" class="section-text-cell section-content-cell" style="padding-top:22px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;">
              <div class="section-caption-text" style="position:relative;"><p style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#fb3f27;text-align:center;" class=""><strong><br> Resistance is futile<br>no matter who you blame<br>reality is still real<br>and requires your level head<br><br>avoid all the gnashing of teeth<br>skip the anger and frustration <br>jump to chapter two<br>or say the magic words<br>or distract yourself<br>or take a deep breath<br><br>because in your rage or horror<br>any action you take<br>will be terrifying and destructive<br><br>wait <br><br>until you claw your way back<br>to reason<br><br>ready?<br><br>do something helpful<br>restore love</strong></p></div>
            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  
  <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="spacing-below" height="22"></td>
  </tr>



</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="spacer-spacer-section-22">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#74B358" class="spacer-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" height="90" style="height:90px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-23">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  
  <tbody><tr>
    <td class="spacing-above" height="11"></td>
  </tr>


  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/9d77f559-6661-406f-b5ac-fa3d1d07164a/240-pbm-2023-04-title-bedside-manner.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td valign="top" class="section-text-cell section-content-cell" style="padding-top:22px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;">
              <div class="section-caption-text" style="position:relative;"><p style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#fb3f27;text-align:center;" class=""><em><strong><br></strong></em><strong>I am now shopping for a therapist <br>but allow me to start <br>at the beginning of my trauma&nbsp;<br><br>he is a bit of a curmudgeon<br>but for forty of my years<br>a solid dermatologist<br><br>my fair white skin requires<br>a hopefully precautionary <br>annual mole check<br><br>but yesterday I got horrific news<br>he scouted out seven scaly spots<br>now burned away by acid spray<br><br>it took a bit for me<br>to muster the courage<br>to ask the question<br><br></strong><em><strong> Are these cancerous?<br>Pffft, no!</strong></em></p><p style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#fb3f27;text-align:center;" class=""><em><strong>Uh, are these pre-cancerous?<br>NO.<br><br>What are they then?<br><br></strong></em><strong>And his answer was<br>in many ways worse to my ears<br>than the dreaded cancer-filled yes:<br><br></strong><em><strong>You know how you see <br>on the floor of the woods <br>those rotting trees<br>with mushrooms<br> growing on their bark<br>it’s just like that<br>your gift of aging<br><br></strong></em><strong>I think it was the emphasis he placed<br>on </strong><em><strong>rotting</strong></em><strong> that gutted me</strong></p></div>
            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  
  <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="spacing-below" height="22"></td>
  </tr>



</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="spacer-spacer-section-24">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#74B358" class="spacer-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" height="90" style="height:90px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-25">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  
  <tbody><tr>
    <td class="spacing-above" height="11"></td>
  </tr>


  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/171ef4e0-008e-4d99-9bfe-200daa1118d9/240-pbm-2023-04-title-billb.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td valign="top" class="section-text-cell section-content-cell" style="padding-top:22px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;">
              <div class="section-caption-text" style="position:relative;"><p style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#fb3f27;text-align:center;" class=""><strong><br>I wonder about how best to raise children<br>to be filled with goodness<br><br>I wonder about people who inspire<br>excellence in others<br><br>I wonder about those guarded secrets&nbsp; <br>their keys to unlock someone’s greatness<br><br>and he let it slip<br>eight words <br>a treasure map with a giant X<br>that revealed the rules of virtuosity<br><br></strong><em><strong>talent sets the floor<br>character sets the ceiling</strong></em></p></div>
            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  
  <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="spacing-below" height="22"></td>
  </tr>



</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="spacer-spacer-section-26">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#74B358" class="spacer-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" height="90" style="height:90px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-27">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  
  <tbody><tr>
    <td class="spacing-above" height="11"></td>
  </tr>


  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/c9ecc5b5-d134-4eb0-82e0-65670d2d82cf/240-pbm-2023-04-title-watching.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td valign="top" class="section-text-cell section-content-cell" style="padding-top:22px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;">
              <div class="section-caption-text" style="position:relative;"><p style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#fb3f27;text-align:center;" class=""><strong><br>200 billion hours of TV <br>watched every year by America <br>a pseudo-addiction<br>to the endless shots of dopamine<br><br>what joys could we create<br>if we really lived our life<br>instead of watching actors<br>pretending to live someone else’s<br><br>what wonders could we create<br>if we just switched it off<br>and patiently waited <br>for our heart’s whisper<br><br>what would you paint<br>build, clean, write, fix,<br>sing, bake, dance, rhyme,<br>organize, invent, or play<br><br>we could at least change the channel<br>to something more boring<br>than our life<br>so we can detach a little<br>and get a tiny peek of what is <br>waiting in our soul</strong></p></div>
            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  
  <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="spacing-below" height="22"></td>
  </tr>



</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="spacer-spacer-section-28">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#74B358" class="spacer-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" height="90" style="height:90px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-29">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  
  <tbody><tr>
    <td class="spacing-above" height="11"></td>
  </tr>


  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/f9c9211b-abcd-4c33-b65e-147ce1898253/240-pbm-2023-04-title-egg-hunt.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td valign="top" class="section-text-cell section-content-cell" style="padding-top:22px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;">
              <div class="section-caption-text" style="position:relative;"><p style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#fb3f27;text-align:center;" class=""><br><strong>&nbsp;Deep within the forest shade,<br>Where the light cannot pervade,<br>Lies a field of hidden fright,<br>Where the Easter eggs take flight.<br><br>The children come with baskets bare,<br>In search of treasures hidden there,<br>But little do they know the cost,<br>Of all the eggs that they have lost.<br><br>For lurking in the shadows deep,<br>Where the sunshine cannot seep,<br>Is a witch, you know my name,<br>With eyes that glow like burning flame.<br><br>I wait there in the darkness still,<br>For unsuspecting souls to fill<br>My thirst for bloody feet to feast<br>From those who seek my eggs, I’m beast.<br><br>Beware, dear children, of this place,<br>For though the eggs may bring you grace,<br>The price you pay may be too dear,<br>And fill your heart with dread and fear.<br><br>So all take heed, I warn you well,<br>Avoid this witch’s land of hell,<br>Though finding eggs may seem sweet fun,<br>If you spy me, scream and run.<br><br>Or I will nab you by your leg<br>And stab it with my sharpened peg.<br>I’ll eat your toes until you beg<br>And give to me your purple egg.<br><br>The purple eggs have brought me fame,&nbsp;<br>The Egg Hunt is my evil game,&nbsp;<br>You should be scared, it leaves you lame,<br>Witch Ugly Bugly is my name.</strong></p></div>
            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  
  <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="spacing-below" height="21"></td>
  </tr>



</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="spacer-spacer-section-30">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#74B358" class="spacer-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" height="90" style="height:90px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-31">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FEFCC6" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  
  <tbody><tr>
    <td class="spacing-above" height="11"></td>
  </tr>


  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/10f685a0-d159-4153-8c7d-1709100cf08a/240-pbm-2023-04-title-wondering.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="11"></td>
  

            <td valign="top" class="section-text-cell section-content-cell" style="padding-top:22px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;">
              <div class="section-caption-text" style="position:relative;"><p class="" style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#1b2d11;"><strong>If you’re wondering what got me started writing poems, you’ll find the story </strong><a href="https://www.lifeat240.com/poems-by-mary-text" target="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fb3f27 !important;"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.  Or, if you’re wondering why this collection is called Slender Stalk, click </strong><a href="https://www.lifeat240.com/slender-stalk-text" target="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fb3f27 !important;"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.  If you’re wondering where you can read the past issues of Slender Stalk, click </strong><a href="https://www.lifeat240.com/slender-stalk-1" target="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fb3f27 !important;"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>. If you’re wondering where you can read more of my poems, check out my website: </strong><a href="https://www.lifeat240.com/poems-by-mary" target="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fb3f27 !important;"><strong>Life at 240</strong></a><strong>.  </strong></p><p class="" style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#1b2d11;"><strong>If you know someone who you think would enjoy these poems, please feel free to forward this email to them. If you’re reading this poetry letter for the first time, you can </strong><a href="https://www.lifeat240.com/subscribe-slender-stalk" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fb3f27 !important;"><strong>subscribe here</strong></a><strong> to get ten poems emailed to you at the beginning of each month.  </strong></p></div>
            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="11"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  
  <tr>
    <td bgcolor="#FEFCC6" class="spacing-below" height="44"></td>
  </tr>



</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="spacer-spacer-section-32">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#74B358" class="spacer-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" height="90" style="height:90px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-33">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  

  
    <tbody><tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/1f647bc5-ee00-4177-aae1-3e6ae48377af/240-pbm-2023-04-title-miss-lb-title.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              

            <td valign="top" class="section-text-cell section-content-cell" style="padding-top:22px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;">
              <div class="section-caption-text" style="position:relative;"><p class="" style="font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#1b2d11;"><strong>Since it is National Poetry Month, I thought I’d breathe some life into my sweet Miss Ladybug project. I love her dearly. It was something I started years ago to kindle a love of writing and poetry in the hearts of my grandchildren. Miss Ladybug hosts her own little website which is the repository for special writing by our family’s kids, and for the writings that we create for them. <br><br>I decided maybe I’d periodically include her newsletter at the end of Slender Stalk. I figure if you are a reader with children and grandchildren in the sweet spot of Miss LB’s demographic, you might enjoy doing some of the activities with them. Even though my family is older, there are still parts of Miss Ladybug’s universe that have appeal for me.  You don’t have to be a kid to have fun with writing. You can bet I will still offer a Haiku Contest for Golden Week and carry a poem in my pocket on April 29th. I’ll write a poem about rain, and Earth Week, and about how much I love poems. Here is the April newsletter which captures all the April fun. It would be a lot easier to read it online, so just click the link </strong><a href="https://www.lifeat240.com/miss-ladybug-news/miss-ladybug-magazine-2023-april" rel="nofollow" style="color:#fb3f27 !important;"><strong>here</strong></a><strong> to give your eyes a break. - Mary May</strong></p></div>
            </td>
              

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  


</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-34">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="transparent" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  

  
    <tbody><tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/9197dfd2-069d-4baa-91f0-a78e1d408a06/lb-magazine-2023-04-final-border-01.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
      

  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/9380b2c2-d59a-476c-bc78-ffbd217344de/lb-magazine-2023-04-final-border-02.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
      

  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/51cc0b81-4f9b-4af1-a2fe-b4d6969c000e/lb-magazine-2023-04-final-border-03.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
      

  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/5c859032-215b-4295-b12f-28cec2ded169/lb-magazine-2023-04-final-border-04.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  


</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="spacer-spacer-section-35">

<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#74B358" class="spacer-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="middle" class="section-content-cell" height="90" style="height:90px;">
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="image-image-section-below-36">
<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FEFCC6" class="image-section below-layout section-content">

  
  <tbody><tr>
    <td class="spacing-above" height="15"></td>
  </tr>


  
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="15"></td>
  

            <td align="left" valign="middle" class="section-image-cell section-content-cell section-hoverable-image" data-aspect="ORIGINAL" style="padding:0;">
              
  <img class="section-scaleable-image" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/6683ecc4-1481-4374-b063-834bf2d3374b/240-pbm-2023-04-portrait.jpg?content-type=image%2Fjpeg&amp;format=750w" width="594" alt="" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;display:block;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;height:auto;width:100%;max-width:100%;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;">


            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="15"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
    <tr>
      <td>
        <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0">
          <tbody><tr>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-left" width="15"></td>
  

            <td valign="top" class="section-text-cell section-content-cell" style="padding-top:22px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;">
              <div class="section-caption-text" style="position:relative;"><h4 style="margin:1.414em 0 .5em;font-weight:400;line-height:1.25em;font-size:1.719125em;mso-line-height-alt:1.719125em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;letter-spacing:.02em;color:#fb3f27;text-align:center;"><strong>I HOPE YOU WRITE A POEM FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE</strong></h4></div>
            </td>
              
    <td class="show-desktop-only section-spacing-right" width="15"></td>
  

          </tr>
        </tbody></table>
      </td>
    </tr>
    
  
  


</tbody></table>

</div>
<div id="text-text-section-37">



<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FEFCC6" class="text-section section-content">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td valign="top" class="section-text-area section-content-cell padding-mobile-both" style="padding-top:18px;padding-right:44px;padding-bottom:18px;padding-left:44px;color:#432e1d;background-color:#fefcc6;">
      <p style="color:inherit;font-size:1.0625em;line-height:1.618em;margin:0 0 1.25em 0;font-weight:normal;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;text-align:center;" class=""><em>Copyright © 2023<br>All rights reserved</em></p>
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
                </td>
              </tr>
            </tbody></table>
            
              <table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" id="newsletter-section-footer">
                <tbody><tr>
                  <td align="center" valign="top" id="newsletter-section-footer-cell">
                    
<div id="footer-footer-section-stacked-top-0">



<table role="presentation" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" bgcolor="#FEFCC6" class="footer-section footer-section-stacked section-content" style="background-color:#fefcc6;">
  <tbody><tr>
    <td align="center" valign="top" class="section-text-area section-content-cell" style="padding-top:27px;padding-right:22px;padding-bottom:22px;padding-left:22px;">
      
  
  
    
      <a class="brand-logo-link" href="https://www.lifeat240.com/" style="color:#fb3f27 !important;"><img class="brand-logo" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793/1566134321371-RNUHVIT0736QIMKW0Q5F/0000+Logo+Final+Alpha.png" height="33" alt="Life at 240" style="font-size:.6566749072929542em;border:0;text-decoration:none;line-height:0;font-weight:normal;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;margin-bottom:13.75px;color:#432e1d;display:inline;height:auto;max-height:33px;max-width:100%;width:auto;"></a>
    
  
  

      

      
      
  
    <p class="footer-company-info" style="line-height:1.618em;font-weight:normal;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#432e1d;font-size:11px;margin:0 0 13.75px 0;padding:0;">
  <a style="color:#432e1d;text-decoration:none;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;cursor:default;">
  240 East Eleventh Street, 
  Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 54935, 
  United States</a>
</p>
  

      
<p class="footer-links" style="line-height:1.618em;font-weight:normal;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#432e1d;font-size:11px;margin:0 0 13.75px 0;padding:0;">
  Powered by <a href="https://www.squarespace.com?channel=product_refer&amp;subchannel=customer&amp;source=email_campaigns_button&amp;campaign=5ca682d6a5682773e41f3793&amp;utm_medium=product_refer&amp;utm_source=email_campaigns_button" class="sqsp-link" style="color:#432e1d;text-decoration:underline;display:inline-block;">Squarespace</a>
</p>


      <p class="footer-links" style="line-height:1.618em;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Palatino, Palladio, Baskerville, 'Nimbus Roman No9 L', Garamond, 'Century Schoolbook', serif;color:#432e1d;font-size:11px;margin:0 0 13.75px 0;padding:0;">
  <a href="#" class="unsubscribe-link" style="text-decoration:underline;color:#313131;">
    <span class="unsubscribe-link-text" style="font-size:inherit;font-weight:inherit;line-height:inherit;margin:0;">Unsubscribe</span>
  </a>
</p>

    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

</div>
                  </td>
                </tr>
              </tbody></table>
            
          </td>
        </tr>
      </tbody></table>
    </td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

  
</body></html>
