After a summer of scorching heat, the weather has finally turned cool enough to open the windows instead of running the AC, to enjoy a walk outside without becoming a puddle. Changes in seasons can seem disorienting, especially summer to fall. The clothing that has been in frequent rotation is no longer appropriate, the yard presents a new set of challenges that need tending, and even the traffic slows in unfamiliar places as school speed limits kick in. 

So much of what keeps us tethered to ourselves is out of our control. People we care about can change their minds, act differently toward us. The weather can turn on a dime. A house can be damaged. A loss can leave us adrift. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by so many things, so it is only natural that we seek out what can ground us. A light in the darkness. A satisfying ending. A touch. A reclamation of self. An explanation. A glimpse of something beautiful. A person or place that feels like home. 

There is a thread that runs through the pieces in Issue 8— a longing for stability, for certainty, for connection—that surprised us. We weren’t looking for this theme. But this writing and art showed us the deeply human desire to connect—with the past, with family, with nature, with ourselves—and to recognize the disconnection that can sometimes hinder that desire. We hope that you will feel the pull of these pieces as we did. And we are grateful, as always, to the artists who continue to share their visions with us. 

Donna & Rachel