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It’s never too late to make new friends. In fact, one of my favorite quotes from a recent episode came from my new-ish friend, Merri Ukraincik, a woman I met through the writing world many years ago. Although Merri and I have known each other for some time, it wasn’t until the past six months or so that we started talking regularly on the phone. And I mean talking, not texting. Our friendship is long distance and still developing, but I already find so much value in our connection. If we happen to talk on a recording day for Dear Nina, I tell Merri what the episode is about. And Merri, a touch older and a lot wiser, almost always has something helpful to add. In episode 26, “Making New Friends After 50,” I used a direct quote from Merri, forcing her repeat herself several times so I could get it right. Here it is: “I enter friendships differently at this stage of life. I don’t want friendships that force me to suppress who I am. I don’t want any pretending. This is me. You get what you get. A friendship is an investment of time. If I’m going to take the time, it’s going to be with my full self. And I want the same from a new friend.” What are you looking for in a new friend? Or do you feel you’re at capacity? Honestly, I do often think I’m at capacity, but I am constantly proven wrong. I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can email me back right from here! RECENT PODCAST EPISODES  Episode 25: Taming The Group Text
Love them or hate them, you’re probably in a group chat once in a while. If you sometimes get fed up, you’ll appreciate my conversation with Kat Vellos, author of We Should Get Together, friendship researcher, designer, event planner, and more. She helped me think through the good and the bad of group texting and all the friendship issues (and potential!) we get with group communication. LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE
Episode 26: “Making New Friends At 50 and Beyond”
I chose this topic because I get emails from listeners and readers in their 50s and beyond who feel stuck in a rut with their friendships. These are questions from people who feel they want to make new friends, but worry it’s too late or too intimidating, and they just don’t know where to start. I invited Carolyn Cochrane, Kristin Nilsen, and Michelle Newman of the Pop Culture Preservation Society Podcast to tell us how they become good friends in only the last handful of years, what these new friendships have meant to them in a new stage, an d what advice they have for others who want to bring new people into their lives. LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE
I was a guest on The Untitled Gen-X Project Podcast!
 It was tons of fun being a guest! Lori Garcia and I talked all about the late 80s movie, Steel Magnolias. (season 3, episode 13) I loved that so much back in the day and still enjoyed parts this time around. But there were some truly incomprehensible friendship details I noticed as an adult that I couldn’t let go. It was also interesting watching it with my four kids ages 10-17. LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE
Friendship Roundup #9: (Where I share what others are writing and saying about friendship)
Efficiency should’t be the main goal of a friendship. Ever been jealous of your friends?
How about a pop-up discussion group rather than a regular book club? How to bond with a stranger. It’s all in my roundup #9.
The TV Show I’m Enjoying These Days — I finished This is Us and cried all the tears. — Season two of Hacks on HBO is so good. — Also really liking The Time Traveller’s Wife, and I take back everything I said about it being silly for them to make this show when the movie wasn’t that long ago and was good. The show is great. The Books I’m Reading Right Now — I’m listening to Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sederis, but I also bought the hard cover. I’m a super fan. I’m loving all the extra Hugh content so far. And it’s Sederis so I love it all, really. — On my Kindle I’m juggling two memoirs: Bookends by Zibby Owens and Bad Vibes Only by Nora McInerny. I’m enjoying both a lot. My full 2022 reading list with short reviews is here.
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