⧉ After the party
Welcome to the twenty-ninth issue of OVERLAP ⧉
After the party
Most people have a favorite color, but I struggle to choose just one. I do, however, have a favorite sound: the churning hum of a running dishwasher.
Both my parents come from big families. Many of their siblings moved away from home, but my parents stayed, and my childhood home became a gathering place for out-of-town visitors. I loved the noisy chaos of big family dinners when I was growing up, but I loved the moments after the party even more. A quiet kitchen, except for the warm purr of the dishwasher; the kids giggled at dad and grandpa, snoring in their recliners, while the aunts reminisced over coffee.
Nowadays, I run the small drawer dishwasher in my small studio apartment every night. It’s a different appliance in a different place and a different context, but I still get that same feeling. It’s a signal that the day is done; that sound somehow gives me permission to stop doing things until tomorrow.
After December’s long parade of celebrations, January always feels like the dishwasher cycle of the calendar year. It’s a rare, quiet moment; a chance to rest and reflect. I don’t make resolutions, and my personal goals are always evolving. This time of year always brings a special kind of clarity — the kind that only reveals itself when I slow down long enough to listen.
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Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were merry and bright. I took a break from newslettering (and from my day job) and spent some time in the woods. It’s nice to be back.
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Auntie Jess recommends:
Electric kettles. The squeal of a stovetop kettle is so stressful! It’s worth buying an extra (quiet) appliance.
Sweatpants. My winter evening uniform.
Smart funnels. If the space under your bathroom sink is a purgatory of almost-empty lotion bottles, this one’s for you.
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Thanks for reading. I’d love to hear from you — hit reply or send a message through my website to tell me about your favorite sound or anything else that’s on your mind. You can also forward this to a friend or two and invite them to subscribe. If you missed a previous issue, all the archives are online.
Until next time,
Jessica
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