E010: February 2025 is the actual start to the year
Kate! You only wrote me two weeks ago and somehow the world has changed twice over. I have been telling my therapist for months that I could not make plans until February 2025 - after the marathon, Christmas, Egypt, and Austin had all happened, and I was able to start thinking about the future more clearly. And my universe did wait - somewhat. In that same time, the rest of the world moved forward.
I started keeping a short list of all the things that I could’ve written about in this letter, but didn't get the chance to:
being in Egypt and being constantly reminded of a past much longer than anyone can truly conceive
my Egyptian guide talking about how she had her husband drive her to the Pyramids of Giza during COVID to remember that they were still there
how cool art-in-context can be
eating falafel on the Nile
the joys of LASERWRITER II by Tamara Shopsin
sitting on a plane when the headphone jack isn’t working
my friend Jaj’s mission of “feasting for collaboration” and gathering as a method of community
feeling secure at work in a time of instability
how I picked my outfits for a work trip
flying home and listening to “Me and the Sky” from COME FROM AWAY after a major aviation incident (do NOT recommend)
thinking of my favorite books I read last year
deactivating Twitter and figuring out what I want to do with Bluesky
talking with my colleague about Red Vienna
making my uberlist (which I get to start late because of February being the start of the year)
having to start packing five years’ worth of stuff
thinking about Philly as a place I’ve lived for six years now
the wonders of my Neighborly Gifting group, and the neighbors I assisted with a blanket and birdseed
the woman next to me at the organ recital who said I was brave for going to things on my own
thinking about vacation planning
did I tell you to listen to Dave Malloy’s “The Pacific/Epilogue” yet?
how much I hate running intervals
two of my favorite songs being “No Children” and “I Want No Children”
how much I love the free organ recitals at the Kimmel Center, and specifically Franck’s Prélude, Fugue and Variation, Op. 18
why comedians keep making these shows loosely based on their own lives and make themselves awful people?
having to make a new character for Bookhounds
Getting back into the routine of things,
Emily