We all have our rituals and talismans to protect us from the unknown, but will we admit what they are?

Tarot cards, speeding cars, several saints, and old dogs make appearances in Joanne Nelson's new collection of prose and poetry. She unravels the secular deities giving shape to her days, not only on planes, but in summer crowds, at conferences, and in long post office queues. Whether it's a bandaid in a pocket, the backup pen in a purse, or a hidden $20 in a wallet for just-in-case, Nelson explores what we carry for comfort. She delves into the Mercury retrograde conundrum and examines the significance of kitchens as holy places. Beer runs through it. There will be coffee.

Join Nelson, author of the memoir, This Is How We Leave, in this humorous and heartfelt journey through life's often-ignored quiet moments. Ignored until, plate of cookies in hand, they come begging for a chat. All the while, the kids move out, the house gets put up for sale, and loved ones age.