the magic of late summer / Photo: Charlotte-Anne Fidler

Happy Friday !

Friendships have changed during the pandemic. Many of us are finding our friendship footing again, whether it's because of a big move we made during the pandemic, missing our regular friend meet-ups, or perhaps one (or both) of you have entered a new life transition or stage. I've certainly lost touch with some of mine, and have fumbled on opportunities to create new ones. I'm trying not to get too down on myself, though; in most of my relationships, I trust our bond and recognize that a "lost" connection is often temporary and just requires a bit of work to reignite.

Plus, we're all just trying to figure out how to juggle schedules, commutes, travel, and outings again. As Hu writes in her piece:

"Whereas the pandemic helped put a definitive end to certain friendships, others petered out in ghostly whimpers. When limited to texting and phone calls and the odd celebration on Zoom, one gradually learns which relationships are held by enduring fondness and which will crumple amid structural collapse." 

 —Alisha

P.S. Important programming note: We won't be in your inboxes these next two Fridays as we're taking some time off to rest and reset for the new season. You can check out our archives, in the meantime.

This Week's Recommendations

This week's Sponsor:

Hot girl summer => canceled plans fall

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This Week's Reads

• Some good old-fashioned Hollywood drama is at times good for the soul. We're sure you've heard by now, but this story is bizarre and juicy! (The Hollywood Reporter)
• Don’t Call [Romance Novels] Trash (The Atlantic) — Hard agree!
• The power of random acts of kindness. (The New York Times)
• Why Do Moms Love Fall So Much? (The Cut)
• People Who Love Their Jobs Are More Prone to Burnout (Allure) — "If you're suffering from exhaustion, those acts of self-care that we make fun of sometimes, like slapping on a face mask or getting a pedicure, [actually] work."
• I Went to Trash School (Curbed)