This was a very challenging week for me. Very griefy (I’m declaring that a word). I had to put our dog, Frankie, to sleep on Saturday. It was very unexpected. She was acting lethargic for a couple days and it turned out she had widespread cancer. I miss her joyful energy so much. My daughter misses her too—Frankie used to sleep in bed with her at night. It’s been a very griefy year, marked by the loss of my dad and the end of my marriage. I am doing my best to make meaning and let this pain reveal what truly matters to me in this short life we get.
Quote of the week:
“My affinity for serious movies and thought-provoking novels is all an attempt to recreate the beauty of my life’s most honest moments. I recognize that, in order to function in society, we cannot all walk around with our hearts constantly overflowing, so I visit these moments in my mind, re-experience them through art, and appreciate the occurrence of new, utterly vulnerable moments when they come.” –unnamed blogger mentioned in Susan Cain’s book, Bittersweet
What I’m reading:
Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain. It’s a beautiful book, resonating so much with me right now.
What I’m listening to:
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. My best friend recommended this to me and it is delightful!
I’ve also been listening to Ada Limón’s poetry podcast, The Slowdown. It’s like a daily meditation for me (in addition to my usual daily meditation with Jeff Warren via the Calm App–highly recommend). A favorite quote from a recent Ada episode: “Just to live, in some ways, is to live in a constant conversation with grief.”
What I’m watching:
Still watching the new seasons of Alone and Couples Therapy.
Writing news:
I had two book birthdays this past week. On June 11, TINY turned 3. On June 15, NO HIDING IN BOISE turned 1!
What I’m talking about:
- My dog, Frankie. She was the best. I am working on a couple little stories about her. I miss her so much
- COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 5. Looks like it’ll be any day now. It’s about time!
- The economy. One word: YIKES. Inflation is on track for the most rapid rise in 40 years. Stocks have plummeted to bear market levels. All signs point to recession. Time to buckle up
- The January 6th hearings. Glad truths are emerging and I hope justice is served
Interesting things I learned this week:
- Today, one-third of humanity (including 80% of Americans) can no longer see the Milky Way because of light pollution
- According to a survey of 10,000 children across 10 countries, 59% are extremely or very worried about climate change
- Hindu legend says that Valmiki, the world’s first poet, was moved to verse after watching a bird weeping for her mate, who’d been making love to her when he was killed by a hunter
- Pop music is increasingly written in the minor key—60% of songs today vs 15% in the 1960s
- The web browser Internet Explorer is no more (RIP)
- In Japanese, mono no aware refers to a desired state of gentle sorrow brought about by the pathos of things and a sensitivity to impermanence
- In a Cubs/Yankees game, first baseman Frank Schwindel stepped in as pitcher and threw the slowest recorded pitch in MLB history (35 mph) to result in a home run. My dad would have been amused by this
- The WHO is going to rename monkeypox because they say it’s discriminatory
Weirdest thing I googled this week:
“Pistachios flammable.” I had to look this up after a mention of it in Lessons in Chemistry. According to google: Pistachio oil, due to the nut’s high fat content — 45% of the nut, by mass, is fat — is highly flammable. If packed densely enough, the pistachio oils can self-heat, causing spontaneous combustion.
What I’m grateful for:
- Friends and loved ones who have supported me this past week—with text messages, hugs, gifts (one friend sent me a doggie puzzle!), and listening ears. I’m so lucky to be loved
- Positive feedback on the draft of my new novel—yay! So grateful to my best friend, Huong, for always being my first reader (and she reads my books in like two days)
- Being in the clear after a brief COVID-19 scare. Was feeling under the weather yesterday, but tests were negative and I’m feeling much better today
- Excitement about a couple running races I have my eye on. I do love racing. I’m looking at doing a 5K on July 4 as a time trial for myself and a half marathon in August
- My emotional support animals who seem to be grieving with me. Below you can see my cat, Leo. He’s been extra affectionate
This is my girl, Frankie. She was the very best. Rest in peace, sweet one. I was so lucky to be your mama and I was honored to be with you as you passed away. Say hi to my dad on the other side.
