Melissa's Musings

First Fridays · September 2026 · Issue No. 1

By Melissa Gilbert

I have been so blessed to spend my life surrounded by remarkable women. We have shared so much together. Whether that has been through work, friendships, or family, we've talked about everything. Our stories are all so rich and full of life experience—celebrations and milestones, heartbreaks and losses, questions, fears, and hard-won wisdom—that even the briefest encounters often become deeply personal conversations.

These stories have helped shape me.

What I’ve come to know is that our stories are never to be taken lightly. In fact, they are a large part of why Modern Prairie exists.

Nicole and I wanted to create a place where women could feel seen and understood, especially during midlife and beyond. I know we have all encountered a pervasive sense that our lives in this season do not seem to carry much meaning anymore, or that our best days are behind us. We know that is simply not true. There is still so much to explore, question, make, learn, and become.

These are big, meaningful conversations that need space. Social media moves quickly, and some thoughts just can’t be squeezed into a caption, sound bite, or post. It feels as if we have all been wanting to slow down and share more openly with each other. For us here at Modern Prairie, it’s not just about what we’re creating, but what we’re thinking, learning, discovering, feeling, struggling with, and where we are finding hope.

That is why we created this newsletter you’re reading: First Fridays.

In many towns, First Fridays are evenings when doors stay open a little later and people come out to meet their neighbors, discover local artists and makers, exchange ideas, and simply spend time together. They remind us that community doesn’t happen by accident. We create it by showing up.

That is what we hope this newsletter will become: a monthly gathering place that meets you wherever you are.

Here, I’ll share some of my own thoughts in Melissa’s Musings. We’ll explore the questions and ideas sparking our curiosity.

This month, we’re focused on the fact that hunger in America affects one in seven people (really take that in for a moment!), and we’re shining the spotlight on three incredible organizations working to make sure that everyone—kids, families, older neighbors—can gather around a nourishing table. We’re also taking a dive into a health topic that affects so many of us: UTIs. If you’ve ever been told that recurrent urinary tract infections are simply a part of getting older, or you’ve been handed prescription after prescription for antibiotics without a thoughtful discussion with your doctor, this story is for you.

In these First Friday newsletters, we’ll also take you Behind the Seams to meet the people, share stories, and get a glimpse inside the wonderfully imperfect process behind Modern Prairie. Most importantly, we hope this becomes a conversation. We want to hear what you’re thinking about, what you’re experiencing, and what you would like us to explore together.

We won’t pretend to have all the answers. What we can promise is honesty, curiosity, and a willingness to keep learning alongside you.

So, on the first Friday of every month, consider this our open door. Come in, stay awhile, and tell us what’s on your mind.

I’m so glad you’re here.

With love,