Table of Contents
Introduction xiii
Your Very Own Self
1 Worst Beam Ever 3
2 On Turning Forty 10
3 On Calling and Haitian Moms 17
4 Fashion Concerns 24
5 Run Your Race 30
6 Not Buying 35
7 Tell the Truth 43
8 Thank-You Notes (Part 1) 50
All These People Who Live in Your House
9 Hope for Spicy Families 57
10 Surviving School 63
11 Dear Kids 70
12 Marriage: Have Fun and Stuff 77
13 Jesus Kids 86
14 Thank-You Notes (Part 2) 96
Friends, Neighbors, Strangers, and Enemies
15 Supper Club 103
16 Porches as Altars 113
17 Quirky 120
18 Difficult People 130
19 Bonus Supper Club Menu 140
20 Thank-You Notes (Part 3) 147
Church, Church People, Not-Church People, and God
21 Poverty Tourism 153
22 Dear Church… 161
23 If Social Media Were Around 175
24 Thank-You Notes (Part 4) 185
25 Dear Christians, Please Stop Being Lame 189
26 On Women 198
Conclusion 205
Thank-You Notes For Real (Acknowledgments) 209
Notes 217
About the Author 221