16. Callooh! Callay! Saving What We Love

Yesterday I noticed that the bulbs I planted in the fall are starting to push their tiny green heads up through the mud, and if there is a better analogy for the future me’s reward for past me doing the hard, dirty work, I don’t know what it is. I’m writing short fiction again, which is something I had to put aside for a while due to other projects, and god, I love the short form so much. I’ll try to post an excerpt later this week so you can see what I’m working on. (Along with an update on how many words I’ve written so far this year and what they were for, because I think that’s a cool and interesting thing to look at).

watch.

The best drama you might not have seen yet (or even heard of): Halt and Catch Fire. I think that it’s undervalued and underwatched in part due to the topic: the advent of computers (and then the internet) doesn’t seem like something that’s super interesting right off the bat. But the show’s not really about that. It’s about the characters and their relationships (and the actors who depict said characters are amazing). It’s about life.

The show starts out strong and just gets better and better as it goes. Season 4 is in my list of top seasons of television. It’s that good. It depicts life and loss and love and creativity with such realness. I’ve never watched anything that impacted my heart with such beautiful honesty.

read.

Ten Things I Learned from Ursula K. Le Guin is a beautiful reminder from a talented woman, not just of how to be a creative person, but also how to live fully and truly.

learn.

This article about sexual bereavement introduced me to a topic I hadn’t thought about much before–what it means when the death of your partner means the death of your sex life, and why there are so few good resources for handling that unique grieving process.

“But I was blindsided by the realization that gone for good was the sexual intimacy that Bart and I shared. Gone was the appreciation and understanding of bodies that had aged together, the decades of shared humor and pillow talk that were intertwined with sexual enjoyment. I was unprepared for the depth of this loss, and I immediately understood that this was not a grief that was going to be easy to share with family and friends.”

splurge.

I just saw these amazing waterproof bags over the weekend, and I instantly fell in love. Made by a company called Rains, these adorable mini backbacks feel amazing to the touch, are super waterproof, and have a really small profile (so you don’t bonk into people when turn around in a crowded space) thanks to their slim but roomy shape.

do.

“That’s how we’re gonna win. Not fighting what we hate, saving what we love.” ~Rose, The Last Jedi

Plant something today that will become beautiful tomorrow. Take time today to appreciate what you planted yesterday. Hold joy in your hand and marvel at its giant wonder.

~~

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15. Callooh! Callay! I am the wilderness

As I was writing this week’s Callooh! Callay! someone in my writer’s group said, “It’s a very Monday Monday,” and I thought, “Yes, yes it is.” So on this very Monday Monday, here are some of my favorite things from the past few weeks.

read.

play.

I have to admit that I haven’t played What Remains of Edith Finch. I’ve only watched someone else play it — and that’s a rare thing for me (Generally, I’d much rather play a thing than watch a thing being played). But this game is such a beautiful story of family and discovery, and it’s so inventive and original that watching someone else explore the world was just as delightful as playing the game. I don’t want to say too much and spoil it, but if you’re looking for an injection of imagination, this is it.

laugh.

If you haven’t jumped in on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, go now. Please. You will laugh and cringe and cry and cheer. It’s glorious and messy and inspiring and the acting is top-notch. And it’s funny. Did I mention funny?

do.

“There will be times when standing alone feels too hard, too scary, and we’ll doubt our ability to make our way through the uncertainty. Someone, somewhere, will say, ‘Don’t do it. You don’t have what it takes to survive the wilderness.’ This is when you reach deep into your wild heart and remind yourself, ‘I am the wilderness.’” ~ Brené Brown

March for what you love. Cross the bridge holding hands. Trust that someone has your back. Remember that your smallest act can be the huge thing that changes someone’s life. Be grateful for your joy.