Making progress on the "Year's Work"

30 July 2025: I think I've just finished my last batch of reading and note-taking for my portion of the "Year's Work" essay, having made my way through The Routledge Companion to Absurdist Literature. Feels good to have this part of the task done. Next comes writing, of course, but that's on a little pause until my co-author and I can talk about a new approach to that task.  

"Come here and see."

29 July 2025: This post's title comes from the last line of These Days, by Lucy Caldwell, the novel my little book club is reading this month. Reading it on my kindle, I didn't realize that was the last line--and when I did, my breath caught and I almost had to stifle a sob. It's hard to explain why, but I'll try. 

The book's subject matter--a family (and others) in the days of the 1941 Belfast Blitz--is dark and heavy. Yet the book is so beautiful and intricately rendered. What do you do in the face of such cruel, meaningless devastation? "Just keep going" is way too simple an answer, perhaps (though we know it's true). "Come here and see," though? In this book--which shows such a profound reverance for people, their everyday lives, their hidden thoughts and dreams, and desires--"come here and see" serves a kind of ethos and answer. 

"River Waltz"

28 July 2025: Felt the need to listen to this track, which I have just loved since my friend Wilkie introduced me to it over twenty (!) years ago. Just a perfect song.

Nonpareils...

27 July 2025: The first night in our hotel, when the staff did a turn-down service while we were out, they left a rose and two little nonpareil candies on a pillow. Those were Ryan's favorite candy. I teared up as soon as I made the connection. 

Erin, Tara, and I talked about how meaningful it was that our get-together coincided with the anniversary of his death. In fact, we talked about him and much more (some very painful, but also with lots of laughter) all weekend long. 

Sisters' trip, day two...

26 July 2025: 

[Catch-up post...]

From starting off at the Central Market to shopping to visiting Wheatland to a night-time round of mini-golf, we really made the most of our full day together. 

Sisters' trip!

25 July 2025: 

[Catch-up post...]

So much fun to get together with Tara and Erin for a couple of days in Lancaster.

Somebody Somewhere, again...

24 July 2025: Not a ton of "new" stuff that I am watching right now, but I was searching for something that could make me feel okay--even happy--for evening watching. Decided to rewatch (for the fourth time, maybe?) Somebody Somewhere. I know I've written about it before (more than once), but it's just perfect. Each watch reveals something new. Grateful to have it in my life. 

Car ride with a reticent teen...

23 July 2025: Got the chance to drive a friend's kid to and from her creative writing club meeting at the Charles Town Library. I've known this kid since she was an infant and it kind of blows my mind that she's going into tenth grade. She's a quieter kid and I didn't force too much conversation. I told her mom afterwards that I "respect and honor a reticent teen." 

It was nice to do her parents a favor and to feel good about helping. And it was just nice to spend some time with her. 

(Plus, between dropping her offf and picking her up, I went to Panera for the first time in forever and got some work done.)

Nougat and Leroy...

22 July 2025: Every Tuesday night, I get to realize again how much I enjoy hosting trivia. It's so cool to see the teams gather week after week--people who just like hanging out with each other. It makes me happy and hopeful.

They make me laugh, too. For instance, this post's title comes from two separate funny guesses to a question: The Three Muskateers were Athos, Porthos, and who? 

"Leroy" just made me chuckle.

"Nougat" took me a second and then I burst out laughing.

Almost eleven years...

21 July 2025: Coming up on eleven years this week since we lost Ryan. Two things made me cry a bit thinking of him. First, I heard a Chris Cornell cover of "Nothing Compares 2U" and it made me think (and then read about) his tragic ends. Decades spent trying to beat these demons...

Then I saw the news about Malcolm Jamal Warner's death and thought, "classic brother with a bunch of sisters. Good kid who tried his best..." And there he was again...

Grateful that I'll spend time with Tara and Erin on the 25th. We can, I hope, talk about the good memories, too. 

Pretty sweet Sunday...

20 July 2025: I know I sometimes document days like today--posts that are basically lists of things I did. They aren't the most interesting posts, I know, but for me, they can serve as little snapshots of ordinary but sweet days. So here's one:

I got an early start with a trip to campus (my first in over a week!) to do a little work and (almost more important to me, at least emotionally) water my plants. 

It's pretty cool to be close to the end of my reading for the "Year's Work" essay. My syllabi are coming along well, too. On Friday, I accepted a new role--Coordinator of First-Year Writing--that means a course release for me, which cut that syllabizing work down quite a bit.

Once I got home, I took my walk through the neighborhood. Laughed really hard at an Extra Hot Great episode. 

From there, I was basically inside the rest of the afternoon. (Still pretty hot out there; it's been an intense summer.) I watched some TV (finished You, which was okay) and read a horror novel by a local writer. I'm enjoying it and have about 120 pages to go.

Then Amy and I saw Magdalene, a CATF play. I really enjoyed it; terrific acting, as always, and some cool ideas. From there, we had dinner at King's.

Home now and just finished a phone call with Tim. Bob's Burgers time (it continues to be my comfort show) until some more reading, bath, and bed!

A summer stunner...

19 July 2025: The zinnias that I planted this year--especially around the mailbox--are doing really well. The bloom below isn't perfect, but it is huge and really pleases me, imperfections and all. Grateful for this kind of beauty.

Humming the old hymn...

18 July 2025: Praying for a friend tonight whose mother is facing a medical challenge. Just another situation when all you can do is try to be there for your friend and support her and pray, pray, pray. Trying to remind myself of the strange comfort being able to "take it to the Lord in prayer." 

A very good day...

17 July 2025: Hard to think of a more pleasant recent day. Hannah and Theo came over--and so did Amy, who got to meet him for the first time. We had lunch and just visited for a long time (though Amy had to get back to work). The baby has changed so much since I last saw him in person. He's smiley and curious and basically just chilled and vibed. Then this evening, I had dinner with Eva (who was in town), Tim, Betty, Carrie, James, and Rachel at Rumsey Tavern. We just sat and talked forever. 

So blessed. So grateful. 

Kevin Kling: Unraveled

16 July 2025: I went into Kevin Kling: Unraveled knowing just about nothing about it--and I am really glad I did. It's one thing to be moved, delighted, and entertained. It's another thing when you completely didn't see it coming. I'm grateful to have another work of art that reminds me of goodness, light, storytelling, and just the simple beauty of living and doing your best.

Before the show started, I was talking with the guy sitting next to me, a friendly and smart guy. He lives in MA now and is, if I heard him correctly, is in town because of a screening of a documentary he worked on. We talked about Shepherdstown a bit and I said it's just a "gem" of a place. CATF is another facet of that gem.