Dearest Readers (reader? Just Dad?),

I have about 30 recipes as drafts waiting to be tweaked and edited and posted, but in the meantime, I’ve been touched by the community that the gluten free life has brought to me and I wanted to share a little of that.

First, I finally wrote a comment on one of my favorite reference blogs, Elana’s Pantry. I’ve pasted it below. Also, I wanted to share that I have my very first publication in Edible Austin’s 5th Anniversary Issue. Okay, fine, it’s about volunteers at SFC, but Marla, the editor, let me know she’d love for me to submit more of my own pieces. Yes please and thank you!

Here’s my comment to Elana, and I hope that she thinks like I do- that each individual voice really does make a difference:

Dear Elana,
I have been reading your blog for the 3 years since I stopped eating gluten. You have served as a wonderful basis for me to re-learn how to bake since my diagnosis. I often think about commenting, but I get side-tracked, busy, you know the drill.
Although this letter you posted is from 3 years ago, I just read it and felt compelled to actually sit and write thank you. CoconutGal’s story made me well up (and I don’t cry easily), the same way that I get teary-eyed when I think of my 30 years feeling like my pains were in my head, the same way I get teary-eyed when I walk into a cidery, a gluten free bakery , or taste an amazing brownie that doesn’t attempt to kill me- the smiles I give and get remind me: it’s about the community.
As CoconutGal said to you, it feels lonely and awful. And for the last 3 years, I look at your site not only for the recipes, but to remind me I’m not alone and this is so much easier with this support group behind us.
I know you receive comments and letters like this everyday, but I wanted you to know how important this has been for me.
In great appreciation,
Rebecca

That’s it for today. More recipes to come…