I love this format and just ordered a used copy of the Encyclopedia. What I am thinking right now is that there are story ideas all around me in my little room/office/coffee creative thinking space. One example is the stuffed mouse I have had for all of my nearly 55 years. What if this mouse told stories? Heading: Stuffed Animals.
This might be my favorite Spark to date. I loved what the format did to your writing! It is you, but somehow more unfiltered and fresh. Maybe more like what it would be like to be on a walk with you. It's really quite beautiful. Thank you for this, and thank you for this book rec, I am going to go straight out and read this one.
I really liked doing this newsletter. It felt more unfiltered and more me and I want to do more of that kind of writing. It's how I think lots of times and this exercise loosened me up a bit more. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Courtney!
Thanks, Betsy. I'll be writing lots to the Enyclopedia idea. I love what you did with it. And the other two books: on my TBR list. I already have Jennifer Coburn's and look forward, always, to another Anne Tyler.
Me too! In fact I was thinking I'd bring some other "excerpts" from my own personal encyclopedia to this month's Dimestories. I've not been there in a bit because I've had my head so deep into the novel. I'm looking forward to reading Jennifer's novel soon.
This is lovely! You’ve made much of the encyclopedia idea. And also: Patched clothing needs to make a comeback. We’ve got wide legs again. We skipped right over patches!
Thank you, Tara! According to Mary Hutto Fruchter (see earlier comment), patches are on the way back. So, good news on that front. As for the wide-legged pants, YES. I LOVE THEM. I hated their disappearance and I am now at the stage where I don't care if they ever go out of fashion again.
Thank you, Judith! Making people laugh and being kind -- a truly wonderful way to leave evidence of life. People remember laughter and kindness, often when they least expect to.
That's what I loved about AKR's little book - it is packed with little morsels of life that can only come from a person with the wisdom to know where to focus.
I make handmade cards and a lot of my friends save so they'll at least last for some time after I die. Hopefully I've given good advice to my kids that they will carry with them. (Advice for quieting those racing thoughts-count down from 5. Simple but usually effective. I also make a conscious effort to visualize the numbers as I count down.)
Letters and cards. I have saved so many from loved ones, some of whom are no longer alive. Their voices and the times we knew each other return readily and I get to be with them all over again, and also with my younger self.
Thanks for the counting suggestion. I tried it last night and it was good. I found myself visualizing each number in colors and then drew designs around them. I didn't drop immediately back to sleep but it was comforting and calm.
At the end of February, arriving with the abruptness of a man walking late into a packed theater, there was an afternoon of vivid light and heat. It was as if a wet towel had been taken off the bowl of the sky. Yes, I said in a mad person’s monotone. Ahaha.
Does summer start in February now, he asked?
From The Ministry of Time which I was rereading just as I read your latest.
This was wonderful, Betsy. I sure relate to a lot of your entries, and I think this is such a great way to examine a life. Amy’s book sounds delightful, I’m putting it on my library list.
Thank you, Becca! It was so easy for me to relate to a lot of AKR's entries too and, yet, got me thinking about the moments that were different and fun or hard to think about. I liked trying to write a few excerpts - made me feel freer somehow. Let me know how you found the book and if it took your own thoughts or writing in a new direction.
Well done, Betsy. Two quick observations, though: 1) Anyone who gets a note like that from Ann Tyler is not leading an entirely ordinary life. 2) Okay, okay, you share a birthday with hunky, soft-hearted Harrison Ford. But I can match that. I share mine with the lovably ugly and inimitable Yogi Berra,, he who once said of a restaurant, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."
I know, that note makes me feel special! I really don't think about Harrison Ford on my birthday - but I do think of my brother who looked so much like him and who, for three days, was the same age as me every year.
Yogi Berra is special too. Did you watch the documentary about him that was shown during the pandemic? If you missed it, I'll try to find it and share it.
THANK YOU!!!!! Sandra, this is very generous. I see you've sent links to both essays and I will revise the essay so that they are accessible there too thanks to you. This is real community spirit in action.
I love this format and just ordered a used copy of the Encyclopedia. What I am thinking right now is that there are story ideas all around me in my little room/office/coffee creative thinking space. One example is the stuffed mouse I have had for all of my nearly 55 years. What if this mouse told stories? Heading: Stuffed Animals.
There you go! Just like that, ideas start to flow. That’s the great gift of this little book. Enjoy the journey wherever it takes you.
This might be my favorite Spark to date. I loved what the format did to your writing! It is you, but somehow more unfiltered and fresh. Maybe more like what it would be like to be on a walk with you. It's really quite beautiful. Thank you for this, and thank you for this book rec, I am going to go straight out and read this one.
I really liked doing this newsletter. It felt more unfiltered and more me and I want to do more of that kind of writing. It's how I think lots of times and this exercise loosened me up a bit more. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Courtney!
Thanks, Betsy. I'll be writing lots to the Enyclopedia idea. I love what you did with it. And the other two books: on my TBR list. I already have Jennifer Coburn's and look forward, always, to another Anne Tyler.
Me too! In fact I was thinking I'd bring some other "excerpts" from my own personal encyclopedia to this month's Dimestories. I've not been there in a bit because I've had my head so deep into the novel. I'm looking forward to reading Jennifer's novel soon.
This is lovely! You’ve made much of the encyclopedia idea. And also: Patched clothing needs to make a comeback. We’ve got wide legs again. We skipped right over patches!
Thank you, Tara! According to Mary Hutto Fruchter (see earlier comment), patches are on the way back. So, good news on that front. As for the wide-legged pants, YES. I LOVE THEM. I hated their disappearance and I am now at the stage where I don't care if they ever go out of fashion again.
That's cool about the patches. I haven't seen them in our area yet, but they must be on the way.
Such a beautiful post, and I love Amy's books. Evidence of my existence? - I hope people would say that I made them laugh, and that I was kind.
Thank you, Judith! Making people laugh and being kind -- a truly wonderful way to leave evidence of life. People remember laughter and kindness, often when they least expect to.
So true, Elizabeth!!
What a beautiful post, Betsy.
Thanks, Jolene!
lots of wisdom here
That's what I loved about AKR's little book - it is packed with little morsels of life that can only come from a person with the wisdom to know where to focus.
I make handmade cards and a lot of my friends save so they'll at least last for some time after I die. Hopefully I've given good advice to my kids that they will carry with them. (Advice for quieting those racing thoughts-count down from 5. Simple but usually effective. I also make a conscious effort to visualize the numbers as I count down.)
Letters and cards. I have saved so many from loved ones, some of whom are no longer alive. Their voices and the times we knew each other return readily and I get to be with them all over again, and also with my younger self.
Thanks for the counting suggestion. I tried it last night and it was good. I found myself visualizing each number in colors and then drew designs around them. I didn't drop immediately back to sleep but it was comforting and calm.
At the end of February, arriving with the abruptness of a man walking late into a packed theater, there was an afternoon of vivid light and heat. It was as if a wet towel had been taken off the bowl of the sky. Yes, I said in a mad person’s monotone. Ahaha.
Does summer start in February now, he asked?
From The Ministry of Time which I was rereading just as I read your latest.
A perfect quote for February. And I loved that book!
This was wonderful, Betsy. I sure relate to a lot of your entries, and I think this is such a great way to examine a life. Amy’s book sounds delightful, I’m putting it on my library list.
Thank you!
Thank you, Becca! It was so easy for me to relate to a lot of AKR's entries too and, yet, got me thinking about the moments that were different and fun or hard to think about. I liked trying to write a few excerpts - made me feel freer somehow. Let me know how you found the book and if it took your own thoughts or writing in a new direction.
Well done, Betsy. Two quick observations, though: 1) Anyone who gets a note like that from Ann Tyler is not leading an entirely ordinary life. 2) Okay, okay, you share a birthday with hunky, soft-hearted Harrison Ford. But I can match that. I share mine with the lovably ugly and inimitable Yogi Berra,, he who once said of a restaurant, "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."
I know, that note makes me feel special! I really don't think about Harrison Ford on my birthday - but I do think of my brother who looked so much like him and who, for three days, was the same age as me every year.
Yogi Berra is special too. Did you watch the documentary about him that was shown during the pandemic? If you missed it, I'll try to find it and share it.
Thanks! I'd love to see it.
Here you go! https://www.netflix.com/title/81712015
Omg, this is so good. Thank you.
Glad you liked it, Sue!
And here's a free link to the husband's response: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/15/style/modern-love-my-wife-said-you-may-want-to-marry-me.html?unlocked_article_code=1.vU4.JNND.mMbPAZSv-4rp&smid=url-share
THANK YOU!!!!! Sandra, this is very generous. I see you've sent links to both essays and I will revise the essay so that they are accessible there too thanks to you. This is real community spirit in action.
This is wonderful, Elizabeth—so much wisdom to savor...
Thank you, Joan!
I remember AKR’s piece in Modern Love (and dare any reader to forget). I meant to read her book. Thank you for the reminder.
I'd love to know how you find the book when you've had a chance to read it, Rona.
Here's the free link to Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Modern Love: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/style/modern-love-you-may-want-to-marry-my-husband.html?unlocked_article_code=1.vU4.RlVM.RazpCfWLI4NA&smid=url-share
You are the BEST!!!!