Friends we are ( thankfully) finally coming out of a deep freeze. We’ve had some form of ice and snow on the ground here in Louisville for the better part of 2 weeks and frankly, I’m over it. I’ve mentioned this before but I grew up in Memphis, where 40 degrees is about as cold as it gets in winter. A couple of inches of snow will shut the city down. I’ve lived here for over 10 years and I’m still adjusting.

I’ve been watching everything unfold in Texas and the rest of the south with a heavy heart and an empathetic mind. As a southern ex-pat living a little too far North, I never experienced a real winter until I moved here. They don’t have salt trucks or plows in the south. Winter clothes are the same as summer clothes. Back home, I’ve worn t-shirts on Christmas day because it was 75 degrees. I say all this to say it’s hard to prepare for something that literally never happens. I mean would you expect people in LA to have snow plows? I wouldn’t.

I hope if nothing else the events of the past year have taught us all to extend more grace to others as our circumstances can change at a moments notice. Luckily spring is upon us, hopefully sooner rather than later. Here’s some reads to kick off the week after the jump!

Read more