I live in California, and just logged on to this site to read about the Steppenwolf calendar. I don’t know you, but I read your post and assume that you don’t mind hearing from a stranger.

I am so sorry that you and your husband and family have had such a shocking experience. I hope that all of you will slowly recover fully from the physical and mental wounds. I say slowly, because as you said, real life doesn’t order itself into a few hours of stage time.

But please, please, don’t underestimate what you and other writers do for those of us who need your work to get through our own times of sadness and tragedy. In real life, the getting on with care of children, filling out forms, and paying the bills allows us to bandaid our fear and grief. But later, if we are very lucky, a playwright or actor will open our wounds for a few hours, allow us feel our pain deeply and truthfully, and find a time of peace.

I wish that you had not had this awful experience, but if you can write about it so soon and so well, I am sure that one day your gifts will help others who need an artist to help them feel.

Best,

Meg Zweiback