September is here with wildfires along the west coast of the United States, tropical storms, and hurricanes as if COVID-19 weren’t enough to worry about. How do you evacuate when you need to shelter in place?

The NFL is back and we’re seeing their new normal. I’ve watched a few NBA games and the NHL playoffs are in full swing. Soon we will have our Stanley Cup match-up.

Hat’s off to the NHL for no cases of COVID19 in the bubble! I think both leagues have done a good job trying to keep their players and personnel safe while giving their fans an enjoyable watching experience – even if we can’t be in the stands. It’s a welcome dose of the new normal which for most of us is reassuring.

I haven’t watched an MLB game, but I’m rooting for them to come up with a better plan to protect their players and personnel and still save their season. It’s tough - sports are meant to be played in big arenas with fans cheering and baseball is a sport best experienced at a stadium with hot dogs and peanuts and the 7th inning stretch.

Speaking of sports, Jim O’Brien has a new book. We’re so fortunate to have a sneak peek for you and a personal letter from Jim about where you can purchase his new book and some of his other best sellers.

COVID19 is still with us and I have some updates for you. Also, the USPS has been in the news lately. We have some information about the history of the USPS and why it is so important to protect our mail service.

September is Banned Books Month and we’ll be discussing censorship. For reading suggestions, we invite you to consider reading a challenged book or checking out some of the most challenged authors of the 20th and 21st centuries. Speaking of frequently challenged authors, this month I’m reviewing We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For by Alice Walker.

September in “The Twelve Months of Pie,” means Key lime Pie. Because I grew up in Florida, I felt no grouping of pies would be complete without this delicious addition. I used traditional ingredients for the filling, but I did not use a traditional graham cracker crust. My sons prefer a traditional flour crust. I’m a fan because the flour crust is not sweet, so the tart Key lie flavor shines through.

Linda Cahill shares some delicious recipes from Pampered Chef and Orlando Bartro is back with another interesting article.

We have a new column from a new contributor this month. It represents a new direction for This Awful Awesome Life. Christian Joyce has come on board as our resident music critic. He’ll be recommending albums for your playlist. You’ll enjoy the four he’s selected for this month.

Changes are coming for This Awful Awesome Life. In addition to our monthly content, we’ll be offering some exclusive content on Patreon to subscribers. Don’t miss my article explaining why we’ve decided to make this move and what it will mean for our future.

Samantha Sayers has been missing for two years. She disappeared on August 1, 2018 after a day of solo hiking at Vesper Peak near Seattle, Washington. Sam was raised in the Erie, Pennsylvania area where her parents Ron and Lisa still live. Her family is exploring all avenues of inquiry to find and bring her home. In the face of such an enormous challenge, they have chosen hope. Please keep sending positive thoughts to Sam and her family. As promised, we will be displaying a yellow ribbon for Sam on the opening page of each issue of This Awful Awesome Life until she is home.

If you are a person of faith, please pray for her safe return to her family. Because we are an online publication, we can update this article with any news. We will also post information on our Facebook page. Thank you!

Please share our link, thisawfulawesomelife.com with your friends and family.

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Happy Reading,

Fran