come have a picnic with us.

Yes.



Imagine.




On a Sunday afternoon in New York City, we had a picnic. We sent the invitation out into the air and then showed up. Who might be there? How many? We didn't know.

Maybe a handful?

When we walked onto the Great Lawn, we saw a huge group of you, already talking and eating, becoming friends.



We asked everyone to show up with the words YES or IMAGINE on them somewhere. I have yes tattooed on me. Danny has imagine tattooed on him.

This entire experience has felt like imagining yes.

I loved seeing yes on people's wrists, around their necks, on bags and shirts. It was a lovely feeling.



And the food! To my delight, people really did treat this like a potluck, instead of keeping to themselves. Spread out on green grass was an array of food: pasta salad, fruits, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, apple cider, salsa and chips. More food than I ever imagined.

All of it gluten-free.



And we met friends whom we loved without meeting them before. This is Maggy of Three Many Cooks. Love her.



This is Lennon and Sammy, the boys of our dear friends Megan and Brian. Lu woke up in her stroller to find two little boys waiting to play with her. She was smiling Lu, immediately.



This is Kamran, from The Sophisticated Gourmet. He could not be any cooler if he tried. (Don't try, Kamran.)



And then there were bubbles.



We were so moved by the chance to meet you all. We shared stories and laughed together. Many of you were kind enough to tell us what our work has meant to you. We cherish this.

But more than that, we loved the gathering. We don't want our touring for the book to be all about us. We want you to meet each other. One young woman told me at the end of the picnic, "I just moved to New York three years ago. I don't know anyone in this city. Now I have 10 new friends.

Yes.




Imagine a gluten-free picnic, with friends and family, bubbles and little kids, new friends and old, good food and conversations.

yes.

If you are anywhere near San Francisco this weekend, we are having another picnic on Sunday at noon. In Dolores Park. Bring some gluten-free food to share. And bring your YES or IMAGINE.