Merry Christmas From The Bitter Southerner

Ralph Waldo Emerson was a New Englander through and through, and we sometimes overlook great words from non-Southern authors, but back in 1875, Emerson asked a question that seems perfect for this brief season in our history:

Must we always talk for victory, and never once for truth, for comfort, and joy?

We asked a widely adored Atlanta embroidery artist, Sarah Roberts, to express those sentiments for y’all. “Quilts are handmade expressions of comfort and joy that are passed to those we hold in our hearts,” she tells us. “The giving of quilts can be in tandem with life's difficulties and celebrations — and those receiving a quilt can be loved ones or strangers.”

Sarah hand-cut this little quilt, pieced it, sewed it, and embroidered it. She says its style is a "crazy quilt" — appropriate, we thought, for The Bitter Southerner community.

All of us at The Bitter Southerner wish you the happiest of moments with family or friends today. And if someone begins to talk for victory, perhaps you can, instead, suggest a talk for truth, comfort, and joy.

Happy holidays from Chuck, Dave, Kyle, Eric, Tim, Butler, and our mighty intern, Dallas.