Hey, it's Anna.

Before we get to the new episode, I want to remind you that we have a special series that

starts next week about a Strangement.

You, our listeners, shared your stories of strain that led to ruptures and relationships

with communities, even with a set of your former values.

And then you told us what happened next.

Another thing we heard in your stories about a Strangement is that the holiday season,

which we are now officially and can be rough.

I've been struggling to be estranged from my mom since Christmas after a particularly

distressing holiday episode.

Thanksgiving, she's getting angry or an angry or basically because I said that I needed

a break.

My dad texted at the last minute when we were going to come down on Christmas Eve

Day and said, you know what, it turns out your coming down doesn't work for us.

We would have family gatherings and it was the weirdest thing.

It was just play acting, but some people were pretending that others were ghosts.

It is how it felt.

If you are looking ahead to a Thanksgiving weekend and thinking about any difficult or even

estranged relationships in your life, know that you've got some company among your fellow

listeners.

And we hope this series on a Strangement, which starts next week, will be helpful to all

of you.

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