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Hi, I’m Tina Hedin. Welcome to Letters From a New Life.
This is about a journey
into a new and unexpected life.
The journey is happening now
in real time.
I”m traveling the US in an RV,
carrying grief and hope,
learning to survive.
You can come along…
and read stories that will make you feel deeply, stories that acknowledge the pain and mystery of life, as well as the absurdity, humor, and joys
As a subscriber, you will receive a letter from me each month, with personal stories, travel writing, and beautiful photos that will transport you to far-away places.
.Join a community of over 3800 readers who find hope, connection and entertainment in these monthly letters.
I do not paywall anything. All my writing is available to both free and paid subscribers.
Have you ever wondered what happens
after the worst happens?
This newsletter is about after,
and finding a way forward.
Right now, you might have some questions, like…
Who are the people in these stories?
There’s me, Tina. And there’s Eric. We met when we were 17 and 21. He was a bad-boy punk rocker and I was a nice artist girl ready for anything. It was love at first sight. He’s no longer bad and I’m no longer innocent but we found adventure together and have made this collaboration work for a long time.
In 1997 we had our daughter Kierstin and became a family of three, which was the greatest adventure of all. I refer to Kierstin in my writing by her nicknames “Kiki” or “Keek”.
What happened?
On January 8, 2023, Kiki suffered a severe food allergy reaction. She used her Epi-pens and received emergency medical care but fell into a coma. She did not regain consciousness and died on January 13, 2023. She was twenty-five.
Then what?
Eric and I entered the world of grief, and discovered that when the worst thing happens, the cruelest part is, it doesn’t kill you. The pain makes you wish you were dead yet you have to go on. And that’s what I’m doing here. Finding a path through the darkness. Learning how to carry grief. Learning how to find joy and hope again.
What about life on the road?
I’m writing to you from the road, as Eric and I roam the US. We no longer live in a house, in one place. We’re in our third year of full-time travel, towing a 22-foot trailer. Home is nowhere and everywhere.
During our life together,
Eric and I have renovated a bunch of vintage trailers (fourteen!) and logged many miles around the country. We traveled full-time for several years when Keek was little.
Those were the years that defined who we became as individuals and as a family, and our current travels feel like a return to our roots. The nomadic thing is in our blood.
And if you’re wondering,
didn’t this newsletter used to be called Letters From Turkey Town?—why yes, it did, for a year and a half. It was time for a change!
What Next?
Or read a recent Letter: If You Can See This, I Love Your Life
Or start at the beginning, with the very first Letter: Teetering at the Edge of Nowhere
Both FREE and PAID subscribers receive:
The monthly letter, with stories, photos, and videos
Occasional bonus posts
Consider becoming a paid subscriber –
I don’t paywall anything. Readers find hope, pleasure and comfort in my stories, and I don’t want to deny my writing to anyone who could find connection here.
Many readers tell me they find great value in these monthly letters, and choose to become paid subscribers.
You can show your appreciation for this value by becoming a paid subscriber, at $5/month, or annually for only $30/year. The annual subscription is less than the cost of one hardcover book.
And you should know that I send most of the proceeds from paid subscriptions directly to the Kiki Hedin Visual Arts Scholarship at Greenfield Community College (Massachusetts). To learn more, click HERE
Paid subscribers are the core of this community. You help keep the Letters coming!
AI Policy:
This newsletter is 100% human created, written and edited solely by me, Tina Hedin. I occasionally use AI for grammar and punctuation questions. All photos are shot and edited by me, unless otherwise credited.
Just read your piece in the New York Times and wanted to post that I thought it was very touching. As you wrote, "a message can be anything." In this case, it's a lovely story where your daughter is channeling you. Those we lose are never truly gone.
Tina, your NYT piece was beautiful and wrenching. My son is 20 and also has a severe food allergy. It's terrifying. After reading your piece, I looked up kiki's obituary because she just sparkled in your description. She sure was something - blew through this world like a little faerie of love and enthusiasm. How lucky to be her mom, and how forever-aching the loss. Thank you for sharing your grief.