Dallas was an absolute delight!!!

An introductory blog (about a story set on the Feast of Epiphany written on the Feast of Epiphany about epiphanies in memoir) about the connections between my book and James Joyce’s gorgeous short story, “The Dead,” and our shared proclivity for a certain “cinematic” orientation to our storytelling.

Delicious potato stacks I adored before social media even existed.

Before I attended Chicago’s Halloween on Halsted parade in 2003 dressed as Liza Minnelli (pictured here), I made this “usually picked up pre-made from your local produce section to bring to a Super Bowl party when you have no time” dip. It’s easy, and a bit silly (because I did most of it wrong the night I made it for this photo shoot). But I brought this dip to my friend Spiker’s (pictured with me here paying homage to Boystown’s own Miss Foozie), partly because it’s hearty and salty, and I knew we’d likely be drinking sweet cocktails later that night (I was correct). I think of this picture often because this was taken RIGHT before my whole life started to change in ways I had no way of anticipating. And there’s just sweet, smily Liza there, just giddy to be in her favorite place with her kind friends.

Re-enter a long-ago November in 1997 when I studied for my Philosophy Exam with my friend Amanda at Amerigo in Ridgeland, MS. Shrimp Scampi on Angel Hair.

“I arrange the toasts on our prettiest pewter platter. I place a sprig of rosemary on either end. I cut two apricots, wholly out of season but hungered for, into rose-gold slices…”

Kelly Foster Lundquist (that’s me), Beard: A Memoir (forthcoming, Eerdmans)