Hellooooo! This was the first full week of 2025, and WOW, I AM EXHAUSTED. I bet you are too! So I’m going to keep things short and sweet.
I posted about this on instagram last week, but in case you didn’t see it: we found out a couple of months ago that my mom has pancreatic cancer. A lot of you know how much she means to me. I shared a lot about her on Nerdette over the years, so it feels important to share with you all now, too. You have already been so kind and gracious by offering support, and I really appreciate it. If you’re able to light candles or send up prayers or keep us in your thoughts, we’d be grateful!
Also, reach out to a friend who’s going through it!!!!!!!! I can’t express how much a simple text can turn someone’s shitty day around. This has been a helluva week for a LOT of us, and I can’t say this enough: solidarity means sharing hardship as much as ease. As my hero Ross Gay said to me in a Nerdette interview, “Joy is delight that emanates from us as we help each other carry our sorrows.”
Opportunities for community!
Chicago folks: I’m super excited to get to talk to Nnedi Okorafor about her new book, Death of the Author, in Evanston this Wednesday, Jan. 15! Here’s a link to tickets.
Everywhere folks: I’m doing a virtual event with comedian Michelle Buteau on Thurs Jan. 23!!!!!!!!!!! Sign up for it here!
Instead of book club this month, we’re mixing things up a little! We will do a Zoom crafting happy hour from 5-6 pm CT on Saturday, Jan. 25. When I say “crafting,” I use the term very loosely -- if you have a project you’re working on, awesome! If you wanna do a puzzle or bake cookies or put elbow patches on your sweater, that’s cool too! Or just come to hang out. Everyone is welcome! If you’d like to participate, send me an email.
February book club!
Next month, let’s read Eiren Caffall’s All the Water in the World. It’s already out, and there’s a LOT to talk about. We’ll meet on Zoom on Saturday, Feb. 22 at noon CT! Email gretamjohnsen@gmail.com if you’d like to come. POSSIBLE GIVEAWAY DETAILS
SOUP!
A GRETAGRAM reader recently requested a newsletter all about SOUP, which means I need your favorite recipes! Send me an email, or chime in via the discord server.
That’s it for this week. I hope y’all are hanging in and taking care!
P.S. Do you like this email?! Spread the delight and forward it to a friend! (Or spam an enemy, lol!)
I'm so very sorry to hear about your mom. My Mom was diagnosed with metastatic endometrial cancer in October- and we have been dealing with the surgeries and chemo and all the testing. There are so many emotions and so much that the journey entails. The hardest of which is watching my mom feel so terrible. I am so very sorry. This is so difficult for her and for you. It is exhausting for everyone involved. I am trying to spend as much time with my mom, that is good time, just being together. I am trying not to let all the tasks take up the time we have together- and instead try to have those conversations we don't always get to have. I am so very sorry. I feel like my heart is broken all the time. I feel like you probably feel the same. I'm sorry you are both going through this. Thinking of you!