This morning my sister came by with frozen grapes -- a treat I had forgotten I love -- and a goodbye card. I'm finishing up with packing the car and trying to get on the road, but I feel like I'm walking around in soft sand that won't support my steps. On one level, I really don't want to finish and leave.

I've been thinking a lot about loving and being loved as I have been circulating to say goodbye to loved ones. St. Teresa of Avila, the source of many pithy quotes who makes me wish I resembled her in sanctity as well as pungency, said: "I have no defense against affection. I could be bribed with a sardine." When I told this to a good friend, he suggested that I might want to consider carefully how widely I spread knowledge of that particular weakness. On the contrary, I want everyone to know it. I'm a sucker for genuine fondness. Genuine -- got that? -- genuine.

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