Hi, this is Steve. We wanted to let you know that we'll be discussing intimate partner violence on this episode.

The universe has good news for the lost, lonely, and heart sick. The sugars are here, speaking straight into your ears.

I'm Steve Alman. I'm Cheryl Strayed. This is Dear Sugar's.

I'm a little sweet as we be.

I check my belly every day.

Oh, and this sugar, using my weight.

Hi, Steve. Hi, Cheryl.

So here we are, the opening of a new season of Dear Sugar.

Yes. You know, one of my favorite things about the break, I must say. We all love. We all love to be missed.

When you listeners email us and say, wait a minute. There's, why isn't there a new episode out this week?

Yes. And it's because we need time to regroup and think about the whole next batch of episodes.

We've done over these last three weeks. We're deeply flattered and happy to be back.

Of course, you know that my favorite thing is being able to just talk with you and gaze upon your lovely face and listen to your wisdom.

The feeling is entirely mutual.

Thank you. I understand it is my understanding that your play is now going up in Portland where we would be recording this entire season.

So what do you think about this?

It's really exciting. I mean, I think about this, of course, sugar began with us.

You know, way back in our Rumpus days, you began writing the Dear Sugar column.

And I wrote you letters praising you for your brilliance.

And it's an admiration that's only deepened over time.

And a few months later, you sent me an email saying, hey, I write that column.

And I do like to take it over. And I did. And then it became a whole thing.

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