This is going to be good. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

There won’t be a TBTL newsletter hitting your inbox next Friday. But that’s not a bad thing. It’s a good thing. 

Hello, by the way! This is Andrew from the Too Beautiful To Live podcast. I hope this email finds you well.

Animated gif of a woman from the 1970s writing a letter with a quill pen. I think it's from the movie Barry Lyndon. Text on screen says HOW YOUR EMAIL FINDS ME

I enjoy writing to you every Friday, and I enjoy knowing that many of you look forward to these weekly missives. Generally speaking, I’d say we have a pretty good thing going. But -- and hear me out here -- could it be too good? 

To state it more bluntly, I sometimes worry that we’re maybe falling into a bit of a rut. Every week, I send out this email. Every week, you open it up. Sometimes you smile when you read it. Sometimes you even chuckle. Other times, you shake your head a little and sigh, “oh, Andrew,” in a loving but (if we’re being honest) somewhat patronizing way. 

This is all good. This is what we do. This is what we agreed to when we set out on this voyage together many years ago. 

But what would happen if the newsletter didn’t arrive in your inbox some Friday? Would we be okay? Can the strength of our relationship withstand a small hiccup in our routine? Or would that one, simple interruption set us on a downward spiral from which we never truly recover?

This is what I want to put to the test. 

Next week, around this time, when you’d usually hear a small ping or feel a slight buzz in your pocket as this newsletter arrives in your inbox,  you will feel nothing. You will hear nothing. It doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about you. Quite the opposite, in fact. I’ll probably be thinking of you more than ever. Because I, for one, have faith that our relationship can withstand this. But I need to know. And this is the only way to find out. 

As we run this experiment, though, there are two very important things that I really need to be clear about: 

First of all, the newsletter will be back the following Friday, April 3rd. Mark it on your calendar. Know it in your heart. 

And secondly, it’s even more important that you know that I’m not just taking next week off so that I can go on vacation to Hawaii. A skeptical part of you might be assuming that’s the case, but it’s simply not true. This isn’t about Maui or mai tais or whale watching or sun bathing or loco moco or spam musubi or Portuguese sausage or wandering around Kihei with a camera slung over my shoulder and Lana Del Rey in my headphones. This is about you and me and our future together. 

However you spend your extra time next week, I hope you enjoy it. Maybe you’ll use it to reflect a little about what we’ve built and what we’re continuing to build. Or maybe you won’t think of “us” at all -- and that’s fine too! The only thing I ask is that you don’t spend next Friday reading other people’s newsletters.  Especially the StuBot’s. That would just hurt too much. 

So, until we chat again, have a great week you guys! I’m looking forward to catching up with you when I get back. 

-- Andrew

PS -- Okay, this is a *little bit* about Portuguese sausage. But you knew that.

 

Ten Of The Week

Photo of listener Ron, leaning back on a couch in a mostly darkened room with blue light from a TV. He's got cool, biggish orange glasses, a white beard, a Detroit Lions hat and a huge Lions plastic pendant around his neck.

What’s your name and where do you live? 
Ron Hughey. Grand Rapids, Mi.

When did you start listening to TBTL? How did you find the show?
18 years ago? I was beginning a weight loss journey and was becoming a walker. Needed something to listen to. I think I found TBTL thru Wait, Wait but I'm not sure. Got me through a 100 lb weight loss. The weight’s back now but I'm still here!!

How would your friends describe you?
Goofy, immature, divorced (all unrelated).

What was your favorite cereal when you were a kid?Is it still your fav? 
Captain crunch with crunchberries. It’s probably still a favorite...

What food do you love to eat the most of?
Pizza.

What’s the best or worst nickname you ever had?
Crazy Bear.

If you could play one song on TBTL, what would it be?
Old Folks Boogie by Little Feat

What’s a special skill that you have?
I can whistle through my navel.

What’s a skill you *wish* you had?
Escaping assisted living.

If you were driving down the street and you saw Luke and Andrew on the sidewalk, what would you yell at them as you drove past?
“Help, get me out of this car!” I no longer have a license.

Can other Tens find you on social media?
I’m Ron Hughey on Facebook.

Hey, it’s Andrew here again. Just a reminder that you can find our Ten of the Week form here! If you’ve never been a TOTW before  (or if it’s been a really, really long time) fill out our little questionnaire. And check out our Ten of the Week archive here!

 

This Week On TBTL

GIF of an old-style transistor radio with little illustrated sound waves coming out of it.

The Tree Of Knowledge

#4684 Hungry, Hungry Hypnos
Monday, March 16
Luke’s mom, Susie, joins the show to talk cybersecurity, old Kingdome food vendors, and what happens when you “take your tongue on a sleigh ride.” Plus, Luke saw a “hyprov” show this weekend, which combines hypnosis and Improv. 

#4685 Get On Borg!
Tuesday, March 17
Luke introduces Andrew to the newest, hottest St. Patrick’s day ritual, which involves milk jugs filled with green booze. Plus, Andrew is trying to figure out what to do after a cyclone caused massive damage to the Hawaiian town he’s planning on visiting next week. 

#4686 Doodle, Where’s My Car
Wednesday, March 18
An article about Doodles peaked Luke’s attention AND taught him his new favorite word. Plus, Coach Ben unveils the lineup for the new season of TBTL Junior Sluggers baseball! 

#4687 Lemon Law
Thursday, March 19
Luke and Andrew discuss AfroMan’s recent court victory against the cops who were suing him for defamation. It’s a complicated win. Luke also reveals his skill for knowing whether or not a fast food restaurant sells Coke or Pepsi products. 

#4688 I’m Not The Scrub Daddy, I’m The Daddy Who Scrubbed Up
Monday, March 20
Luke and Andrew are feeling giddy on the first day of Spring! Luke is breaking out a fresh Sponge Mommy for the occasion, and Andrew is preparing for a real Shandy Summer. They also get the fascinating background of the famous “Did You Ever Have A Dream” viral video.

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