Week 34 (2021)
playfulness & choosing small towns, vietnam refugee lessons & trading brunch, the front stoop & enjoying an intellectual life
(Open in your browser — emails cut off at the end!)
to read: essays, articles
On the Front Stoop — Tim Vanable, Front Porch Republic — “It is here where our neighbors’ joy and laughter and special moments come to light, brightening up the city street and making the neighborhood feel whole.”
Buying a house? Here's why you should consider a small town. — Charles Marohn, Strong Towns — This piece resonates personally, as our family prepares to settle into a small city for many of the reasons mentioned.
“So, when friends ask me housing-related questions—particularly the big question: should I buy a house?—I struggle with how to answer. The most honest answer always is: here’s what I’ve done. Yet, what I’ve done seems crazy. And all the options on the table today seem crazy too.”
A Conversation with Courtney Ellis: Her new book establishing a theology of play and playfulness — Aarik Danielsen, Fathom — “Playfulness is so often a sign of grace and healing.”
How washing dishes restored my intellectual life— Zena Hitz, Princeton University Press — “Reading and thinking for their own sake went along with outings to the stony beaches or dark mountain forests of Northern California… The standard for success of an activity was enjoying oneself in fellowship with others; such endeavors included the arts and crafts projects that no one would ever buy, and musical performances whose value would evaporate at too great a distance from the campfire.”
The US needs to meet its moral obligation to Afghan refugees — Li Zhou, Vox — “I think part of it is the war scenario, that refugees are leaving countries that the US was at war with. And there’s this necessity of differentiating refugees from the people the United States was fighting. And I think most Americans are unable or unwilling to make that differentiation.”
(Leah Libresco has offered her own suggestions, and is crowdsourcing vetted aid organizations for Afghanistan.)
Trading Brunch for the Eucharist — Sarah Dahl, Comment — “I suspect that many of us go about cultivating, curating, designing, and improving our lives as a kind of grand exercise in existential justification. “
to read: books
Lila, Marilynne Robinson — audio — This completes my slow re-read of Robinson’s novels this year. It confirmed Home is still my absolute favorite of hers, though Lila is wonderful. Her stories are mostly conversational and incredibly, tenderly perceptive when it comes to complex relationships, emotion, and experience.
to watch
7 short films about refugees recommended by human rights educators — Amnesty International
Bring Your Own Tools — Jakob and I have been watching home renovation and building projects, being wowed and getting inspired.
to listen: music
Long Lost — Lord Huron — Favorite tune being I Lied, which is actually quite sad.
to listen: audio
SynPod: The Podcast About Synesthesia — Such a fascinating first couple episodes! I’ve followed Grace Olmstead’s writing and newsletter for a while now, and this podcast is a fun departure from her formal work.
“In this podcast, Gracy and Christine unpack synesthesia, sharing both its challenges and its joys. They interview people who have leveraged their synesthesia to build remarkable and successful careers, and consider the various ways synesthesia influences our world. By making these connections, they help foster a community of people who experience the world in creative, unexpected ways.”
to cook
Teriyaki Stir Fry — Making your own stir fry sauce is easy and fast. We ate chicken, broccoli, and bell peppers with it.
Chocolate Toffee Cookies — I used the chocolate toffee cookie recipe on the back of the Heath Toffee Bits bag. This was the closest I found on the internet.
Berry Crisp — An extra peach and apple went into this. I always add extra oats, too.
Lots of Sandwiches — Basic ham sandwiches with all your favorite toppings are underrated. (Gifted tomatoes were left on the stoop by our landlord.)
to celebrate
Secured a place to live, in another state, on the shortest notice ever. Hallelujah, because that endeavor could have ended much worse.
to remember, reflect
A Year Ago...
We went to the kids’ play farm/sunflower field with our friends Vasti and Dan. I was a few weeks pregnant. (That baby in utero wore the same outfit to the fields this week.)
This Week...
Planning our move the only way I know how: a google doc list. My secret to keeping myself (and our family) organized and on top of everything is a categorized google drive — with lots of lists.
We expected worse from Hurricane Henri (like the power outages from last year’s storm.) The most we got on Long Island’s north shore was some rain and wind, which lightened up to sprinkles.
College friends get cancer, and difficult things will only happen more as we all get older. Keeping up with CaringBridge and praying over the spectrum of the requests given the past couple weeks.
Reading out loud — physical books, online articles, scripture, whatever. It’s good for myself and the boys. It’s not that weird! Read more out loud! Anything and everything!
When You Gotta Get Your Pics In Before The Hurricane. Rain came soon after we arrived, so we actually rushed through these snapshots before the farm closed up. A huge bummer, because the play area and petting zoo are very cool (Ezra was too little to enjoy it last year!)
O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
Psalm 10:17-18