Welcome to Dear Prudence. I'm your prudence, Jeney Desmond Harris.

Today we'll be discussing an interracial couple's debate over African-centered home decor,

how to cope with homesickness for a place you don't actually want to live, and whether it's fair to cut off an X.

Joining me today is Michael Arsino. He's the author of I Can't Date Jesus and I Don't

Want to Die Poor. His brand new essay collection, I finally bought some Jordans, will be available

on March 12th. Welcome, Michael. Thank you so much for having me. I'm really excited to be here.

I really, really appreciate you coming on.

And I'm dying to ask you before we get started for one piece of unsolicited advice.

Call your mom.

Oh, yeah.

Talk about whatever.

I didn't mean to start all morbid, but you know what?

I see sometimes people complain.

You know, my mom books me about this all day or my dad texts me about nothing, like the lover and yada yada yada.

Appreciate that.

I know it's a cliche, but you truly don't know how much time you have.

So call your mom.

Oh, my God.

You're the first person to get me crying off of this question.

I immediately got choked up. That's amazing advice. Thank you for it. Michael and I will dive into your questions after a short break. Can't get enough dear prudence, then you should definitely join Slate Plus, Slate's membership program.

You'll get to hear me answer an extra question every week just for members.

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