for alyssa

for your birthday, I tossed around a number of ideas of what to gift you. I knew I wanted to make you something because, for me, the act of making something - something deeply personal - is the best gift of all

for the last month or so, I would take any free moment that I had — before I start work, before I fall asleep, between work calls, during a little coffee break, and so on and so on — and I would work on this little gift for you. in new york, in boston, in SF (on that day you went to the office and I stayed at your apartment)

so here it is (I hope you like it as much as I liked making it): I went out and borrowed a friend’s podcast recording setup and made you a one-of-one audiobook of Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket, narrated by yours truly

as I made this, I followed along with your snicketisms spreadsheet and hunted for the quotes and passages that stuck out to you. in doing so, it felt like we were reading this little novella together. and now, whenever you listen to this audiobook, I hope it feels like we’re reading it together too

happy birthday, baby. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.