some progress

app/Http/Controllers/ContactController.php

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+<?php
+
+namespace App\Http\Controllers;
+
+use Illuminate\Http\Request;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Mail;
+
+class ContactController extends Controller
+{
+    /** Show the contact form */
+    public function show()
+    {
+        return view('static.contact');
+    }
+
+    /** Handle contact form submission and send email */
+    public function send(Request $request)
+    {
+        $data = $request->validate([
+            'name' => 'required|string|max:255',
+            'email' => 'required|email',
+            'message' => 'required|string|max:5000',
+        ]);
+
+        $to = 'mike@opentextsummaries.com';
+
+        $subject = 'Contact form message from ' . $data['name'];
+        $body = "Name: {$data['name']}\nEmail: {$data['email']}\n\nMessage:\n{$data['message']}";
+
+        // Send using simple raw email (will go to log in local env per .env)
+        Mail::raw($body, function ($message) use ($to, $subject, $data) {
+            $message->to($to)
+                    ->subject($subject)
+                    ->replyTo($data['email'], $data['name']);
+        });
+
+        return back()->with('success', 'Thank you! Your message has been sent.');
+    }
+}