The new issue of Layers magazine was buried in the mailbox under the medical bills and post-Christmas ads. I dumped the mail on the kitchen counter and Layers slid out from under the stack. I couldn’t miss the five large, black words on the cover that proclaimed, “the end of an era.”

The two words I gasped rhymed—oh and no. The cover’s subtitle, aptly printed in red,  stated, “From its origins as Mac Today, then Mac Design, Layers magazine has been a source of education and inspiration for more than 17 years. But now we say goodbye to our old friend in this final issue.”

I groaned. The third and fourth words I gasped didn’t rhyme—oh and shit. I gingerly picked up the last issue and cradled it like the treasure it was about to become.
 
My husband, RJ brought in the groceries. I anxiously sat at my desk, waiting for him to make the same heartbreaking discovery I had. It didn’t take long.
 
“What! This is the last issue of Layers?”
 
I walked to the kitchen and awkwardly patted his back. "Are you sure, Hon?” I asked in some idiotic supportive role.

“I can’t believe it,” RJ said indignantly.
 
I ran my hand over the glossy, artistic cover and nodded in commiseration.

“Well, actually I can,” he said quietly.

We looked at the cover as if we had to memorize it. I sighed. RJ sighed. It was the first death we'd experienced. The death of a familiar friend: a beloved, printed material.
 
Truly, the end of an era.