June 24th, 2024
Story. What was the best story of the month?
My dad found seven bunnies in his backyard garden and is now raising them. I could not invent a more wholesome tale.
Myself for myself. Audre Lorde wrote, “If I didn’t define myself for myself, i would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive”. Reflect on four or five words that you’ve been using to define yourself recently.
Conflicted
Adaptive
Untethered
Dissatisfied
Power move. A lunchtime martini. A notable name drop. “Picking up the check”. What did you do that was, admittedly, a bit of a flex?
Being sent copies of arguably the two most sought-after ARCs of the month: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney and Didion & Babitz by Lili Anolik.
Aha! What was a breakthrough? A step forward into the learning process, or perhaps a way of seeing something in a new way?
Rejection is part of the process. Developing resilience rather than discouragement from being told no.
Night out. The best evening, be it “out” or otherwise.
Drinks at The Chemist in the financial district & dancing at the Supper Club under Capo in Southie.
The Right Person. Who was the “person” of the month — someone who played a prominent role? Maybe a wild card?
My childhood best friend came to visit me this month and seeing her made me think fondly of how much I appreciate and love lifelong relationships. We’ve known each other longer than my little sister has been alive. The ability to love and fit with someone over the span of 18 years is a treasure that has taught me about cultivating something that adapts over time.
Pure pleasure. What were some not-so-guilty pleasures this month?
Starting a new journal, milk chocolate digestives, spritzes of expensive perfume, rewatching, walks along the Esplanade, coffee with friends, new 0.5mm Muji pen in brown, the morning commute across the Longfellow Bridge.
Culture List. What was read, watched, listened to? Consider the ratio between mediums.
Reads:
It’s So You - Kate Spade New York
Becoming - Cindy Crawford
SHE - Kate Spade
The London Scene - Virginia Woolf
Die Hot With a Vengeance: Essays on Vanity - Sable Yong
Watched:
The Joy Luck Club (1993) - rewatch
Love Story (1970)
Marmalade (2024)
Am I OK? (2024)
Hit Man (2023)
Inside Out 2 (2024)
The Big Short (2015)
Molly’s Game (2017)
Vanilla Sky (2001)
Lola (2024)
The Bikeriders (2023)
Listened to:
Vicious Sensitive Robot - The Marias
Football - Youth Lagoon
Red Red Red - Fiona Apple
Psycho Killer - The Wrecks
BLUE - Billie Eilish
Tile by Tile - Alvvays
Starburned and Unkissed - Caroline Polachek
Lost Everything - Thy Slaughter, A.G. Cook, EASYFUN
Flea - St. Vincent
Want You So Bad - The Vaccines
Lately It Feels Alright - Kid Bloom
Whatcha Gonna Do - The Valdons
In a Manner of Speaking - Nouvelle Vague, Camille