E007: 2024 Favorites
Kate,
I’m stealing this from a tumblr user - my favorite things of 2024.
Obviously, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) tops the list. I dove into the league nearly from the beginning, and fell in love with the players & the sport. It took me to new places (the Twin Cities!), reinvigorated my Instagram feed (so many player accounts), and gave me a reason to use the YouTube app. It was thrilling to watch PWHL Boston make it all the way to the finals, and fingers crossed we get to see them do it again as Boston Fleet.
I saw slightly less theatre this year (still over 60 performances) but the biggest surprise was CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL (which we saw together!) An audience makes a show, and that one felt amazing because everyone was so excited for the weirdness of CATS mixed with the depth of ballroom culture. I hope this returns so I can bask in it again.
I had started Doppelganger by Naomi Klein on audiobook but found it too depressing. It’s better in its physical edition, where one can follow up on the references and not feel as though you’re taking in Klein’s personal narrative in the same way we consume so much media these days. The exploration of political polarization and conspiracy thinking, through Klein’s own doppelganger Naomi Wolf, becomes required reading for 2025.
I technically bought this last year, but I started wearing Holy Mountain by Apoteker Tepe on a regular basis. The pine smoke, incense, and balsam fir scents overpower the others, and it gives me the feeling as though I’m in a forest.
I bought my first print from a gallery, on a whim - Sarah Detweiler’s The Hidden (Creative Rainbow) Mother (2021). Thank you to Paradigm Gallery for letting me know that they were down to the last print! It sits above my bed and I get to see it every evening before I go to bed.
I watched a lot of television this year, but THE BOYS (2019-present) brought me the most engagement. I followed along with the reviews from Episodic Medium in its latest season. I just wish it were bigger so all the references I make would be understandable. The anti-Marvel of it all! The political satire!
Big year for film! I went to Cannes! The film I am still thinking about from there is Marcello Mio (2024) - not the best of the lot, but perhaps the most interesting as an endeavor. What if you were not your mother’s daughter, but your father’s son? What did your parents live through? This also reminds me that I need to watch a lot more films (particularly Catherine Deneuve.)
Who knew that knowing your color season would be life-changing? I have tried sticking to my bright spring palette as much as possible, and my pink pants from Ann Taylor bring me so much joy. Pink - it goes with everything!
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is the song of the summer, song of the year, no contest. I can’t even be upset when someone is playing it loudly - that’s the way it’s meant to be heard!
Finally acquired a Wii, and revived my interest in Mario Kart Wii - Luigi/Mach Bike combination for the win. Now I just need to beat all the mirror levels.
Adding to the color season narrative, my gold necklace is one of those simple additions to an outfit that brightens my day. An outfit can feel so powerful with a little more
One of my goals for 2024 was to hike once a month. I think marathon training derailed this slightly, though I did get out and hike more this year. Remember the hike we did in Beacon, with the massive rock scramble? The fog on the Hudson? Getting to the car just before it started to rain? The Breakneck Ridge Rock Scramble was a great memory.
Here’s to 2025,
Emily