In light of yesterday’s mass shooting in Squirrel Hill, I find it difficult to write a breezy blog about my cat, or my books, or the general hijinks of my ordinary life.

At the same time, I find it impossible to write about Squirrel Hill without resorting to a handful of clichés.

Thoughts and prayers. We are better than this.  America stands with Pittsburgh.  Unconscionable evil.  Resilience.  Love will win.

True and yet so hollow on this rainy Sunday morning.

We’ve said it all before. I can’t bear to say it again.  Not today.