Dear Friends:

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FREE COPY OF "NO MORE GOODBYES" to first eight people who order $20 in books from

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STORY: OF NEST AND SKY. Yesterday I came back from my morning walk to find on the cement floor of my front porch a bird nest. Every few years one falls from the eaves above. I picked the nest up gently and felt a sentimental pang. Someone’s home, empty and now useless. Silly, of course.

Are there "black sheep" in the bird family (pardon the mixed metaphor) the way there are in ours? Of course, we humans have deeper bonds with our young and high aspirations for them. But is it possible we are so sure that the flight we’ve chosen is the only acceptable flight that we alienate those we love who fly in a different direction or in a different style? I’m sure you know, as I do, many cases in which judgment has trumped love, and relationships are mired in sadness or bitterness.

Safe has given way to sky.

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ISN’T THIS JUST THE GREATEST RESPONSE TO "GOODBYE I LOVE YOU" AND "NO MORE GOODBYES"? --

I just finished re-reading "Goodbye, I Love You" after many years, and like many people, I found myself crying more than once--though in a very selfish way. I wasn't crying over you or even over Gerald but over myself for not having even close to the quality of love in my life that you and Gerald and your family and friends have had.

That's why I'm writing to thank you now. Because you restored a memory to me that, for too long, I'd been thinking must have been an illusion.

I'm a gay guy with a New York City, Jewish background. My brain really got sharpened in my upbringing--lots of intellectual stimulation, not to mention learning the fine art of being a wise-ass. But though my mind and wit were thriving, somehow my spirit never felt at home.

When it came time for me to go to college, I had a tremendous urge to get out of New York, go somewhere clean and fresh, with mountains, and above all, non-cynical people. So I wound up at the University of Utah.

I fell in love with Utah, not just because of its scenery, but because of the absolutely beautiful Mormon energy. I don't mean the doctrines of the church--I was exposed to them more than once, and I never did feel the requisite "burning in my bosom." But at last I was someplace where people being good to each other was considered nothing unusual, rather than a freak occurrence. I met so many wonderful people there who were so good to me--even though I didn't convert!

I'm definitely not saying that I found every single Mormon to be this way, nor that every New Yorker isn't this way. But if I ask myself, would I rather be living in a King Family Show (I still remember those) or in a Seinfeld episode, believe it or not, I'd take the King Family Show hands down.

Except, of course, for that one "problem" of mine.

After I graduated, I left Utah and have since lived all over the States, and around the world. Yet I always found myself missing Utah, and every time, I think I must be nuts. These people are homophobic, they're Republican, they're the most conservative state in the union (supposedly), they're just as conformist and intolerant of questioning as people like Steve Benson and Martha Beck depict them. I must have been smoking something to ever think my spirit felt at home there.

But your book assured me that my experience had been real. You brought back all those beautiful acts and gestures that Mormons, when they don't let doctrine get in the way of their hearts, are drawn to giving by their nature.

I know this comes from their heritage, rather than outside of it. I so wish that the beautiful Mormon spirit could get beyond [dogma] and continue its pioneering, just as you've spent your own life doing. Zion still lies ahead and I'd love to march right along with you, whatever the difficulties. (I don't think you'd mind my coming too, even though I can't get into the whole back story.)

Anyway, thanks so much for restoring one of my most beautiful spiritual times, and bringing me to love Mormons again as I once did. And you, of course, are at the top of that list.

Much love and every blessing,

Art Rubin

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UPCOMING PERFORMANCES OF FACING EAST (LDS couple deals with suicide of gay son):

ST. GEORGE, UTAH: June 5-21

The Space Between Theatre Company