Sun makes all the difference, right? Cold and gray is so much worse than cold and sunny. I know one family that left Seattle (including a tenured academic position) after 10+ years, due to the infrequency of sunny days. I’ve never been to Seattle, but that does sound rough.
New England winters are LONG. It’s best to break it up with a trip south, if possible. For years, Orlando (Florida) was our top family destination for school vacation weeks. My sister-in-law lives there, so we’ve been many times. Don’t knock Orlando ‘til you’ve tried it. They’ve got something for everyone.
It wasn’t always hot when we went to Orlando in February (or even in April), but it was always sunny.
That was nice when Billie Eilish thanked her choir teachers at the Oscars when she won Best Song for “What was I Made For” from Barbie.
I had great choir teachers all through junior high and high school. Ms. Glinka was 7th grade. It was 1978 and she was my first-ever “Ms.” It took some getting used to (to call a teacher MIZZ, when we’d only ever had a Miss or Missus). Ms. Glinka was a cool, modern woman who wore dangly earrings. Her main influence on me was that she loved The Beatles and taught us their music. I specifically remember singing When I’m Sixty-Four and Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da in her class. Whoever introduces you to The Beatles shall never be forgotten. Am I right? Thanks Ms. Glinka. You rocked.
8th grade was Mrs. Nolan. She was married to Mr. Nolan, who also taught at the school. Mrs. Nolan was a bit more traditional than Ms. Glinka, but also great. She liked Irish/Celtic music. She taught us All Around My Hat by Steeleye Span, which I loved singing. I still sing it to this day and attempted to teach it to my kids.
Finally, in high school, we had Mr. Phinney. He was a legend in my town. A tall, demanding, sexist, old-school choirmaster, Mr. Phinney presided over the music wing of the school with his equally-powerful counterpart—the Band Director, Mr. Toland. As a majorette (baton twirler) for the marching band, I worked with Mr. Toland as well. If they liked you, you were all set. Fortunately, they liked me, so I had a TON of fun performing in high school ensembles, musical productions, and twirling my baton with the marching band. My best friends came from those circles, two of whom are still close friends of mine.
Mr. Phinney was a bit of a tyrant, but we learned a lot about musicianship from him. I’m surprised our yearbook advisor let that “quote” be printed on his photo.
Although I did not became a professional musician, music is an important part of my life, especially singing with others.
A wonderful gentleman from my UU church, Ron, leads a monthly Sacred Circle Dance for the community, which I recently started participating in again. (I’d done it a few times when I was working, but I didn’t make it a point to go. Now I do.)
Dancing is fun, people! I had forgotten. I wish I did it more, but at least I do it some.
Ron is a retired gay man who absolutely loves leading dance circles. He has studied it extensively and traveled to many places (including Mexico) to learn new dances and attend workshops.
Our dance circle lasts two hours and Ron incorporates both folk dances as well as more modern dances. Ron teaches us the steps before each dance. He uses recorded music and always provides context for the cultures from which the folk dances come. Last time, our dances included a Coptic Greek dance and a dance in celebration of Women’s History Month to Peter Gabriel’s Shaking the Tree.
The steps are never too hard. Mistakes are fine. It’s not about performance at all. It’s about mind-body-spirit awareness, connection, and fun.
Souma Yergon, Sou Nou Yergon We are shakin’ the tree Souma Yergon, Sou Nou Yergon We are shakin’ the tree
Waiting your time, dreaming of a better life Waiting your time, you’re more than just a wife You don’t have to do what your mother has done She has done, this is your life, this new life has begun
It’s your day, a woman’s day It’s your day, a woman’s day
Souma Yergon, Sou Nou Yergon We are shakin’ the tree Souma Yergon, Sou Nou Yergon We are shakin’ the tree
Turning the tide, you are on the incoming wave Turning the tide, you know you are nobody’s slave Find your sisters or brothers who can hear all the truth in what you say They can support you when you’re on your way
It’s your day, a woman’s day It’s your day, a woman’s day
Souma Yergon, Sou Nou Yergon We are shakin’ the tree Souma Yergon, Sou Nou Yergon We are shakin’ the tree
Changing your ways, changing those surrounding you Changing your ways, more than any man can do Open your heart, show him the anger and pain, so you heal Maybe he’s looking for his womanly side, let him feel
You had to be so strong And you do nothing wrong, nothing wrong at all We’re gonna break it down We’re gonna shake it down, shake it all around
No no no no no no No no no no no no No no no no no no
It’s your day, a woman’s day It’s your day, a woman’s day It’s your day, a woman’s day It’s your day, a woman’s day
You had to be so strong You do nothing wrong, nothing wrong at all We’re gonna break it down We’re gonna shake it down, shake it all around
If I were describing myself to someone who doesn’t know me, but had to pick me up at the airport, I’d say: I’m a tall woman with a red (or whatever color) shirt or jacket.
I’m 5 ft 8.5 in, so I’m not WNBA tall, but I’m taller than most women and some men. I usually avoid wearing heels, wedges, or stacked shoes. I don’t like towering over people.
Two places I’ve visited where I did not feel particularly tall are Chicago and Helsinki (Finland). Are they taller in the Midwest and Scandinavia? Maybe.
Me in very cold Helsinki, January 1987
Frozen harbor in Helsinki, January 1987
Women were tall and fur-clad in Finland. It wasn’t unusual to see a woman in a fox stole with the face and paws still attached. These pelts were for sale on the street in Helsinki. I didn’t buy one.
When I left my job in November, I got a lot of the usual stuff (“it’s been great working with you, you’ll be missed,” etc), but a few people reached out with specific compliments that I truly appreciated. One of my colleagues from way back wrote: “I’m so glad we worked together in my early career. I learned a lot from you that I still use.” This woman is now the Executive Director of a terrific nonprofit organization, so I was very happy to hear that I had taught her a useful thing or two.
I try to pay others specific compliments when I can. I think people like to know that they’ve somehow made a difference.
If we’re talking about my country (the U.S), I’m going on an airplane. The days when I may have fantasized about doing a Jack Kerouac/Hunter S. Thompson/Bob Dylan/Route 66 Great American Road Trip are over. It always sounded cool and like something you should do at least once in your life, but I never did it. I once drove from Massachusetts to Florida with a boyfriend. We had no particular plan. It was spring break and we just wanted to get warm, so we headed south. I think we made it to Daytona Beach before heading back.
Driving all the way to California from Massachusetts would’ve been a great adventure in my twenties, but I won’t be adding it to my bucket list now. I’m too old for that shit. And a bus would be even worse.
Actually, my mother took a bus from Massachusetts to California with two of her friends (one from high school and one from college) in 1960, between her junior and senior year of college. This was before women could get birth control or hold a credit card in their own name. They got jobs in Los Angeles and stayed for the whole summer, then took the bus back. They just wanted to see the country and have an adventure. I’ve always been impressed that my grandmother allowed her to plan that trip and that she had the guts to go.
Los Angeles in 1959 (photo by Railroad Jack on Flickr)My mother in the 1950s
I suppose you could take a train across the United States, but nobody I know has done that, so perhaps it’s not that great of an experience.
Six years after my mother’s adventure, I was born. Two years after that, Peter, Paul and Mary wrote Leaving on a Jet Plane. I always loved that song.
My entrepreneurial daughter has a quiet confidence beyond her years. She’s not a loud extrovert (that’s more my lane), but she knows herself and what she wants, and focuses on it calmly and deliberately.
She’s in her late twenties and holds down a full-time (remote) job in the biotech industry and runs her own business.
After college, she took her passion for astrology and turned it into a legitimate, profitable business, including all the necessary paperwork like setting up an LLC. Her business is successful because of her hard work and creativity. I’m always impressed with the way she speaks so clearly and confidently in her videos.
If you’re into astrology, check her out on Instagram or TikTok (@lunarxluci).
She and her boyfriend were able to buy a house last year, because of their hard work and determination.
I take no credit. I’m not entrepreneurial. She really did it all on her own. I did read her a lot of books when she was little. She especially loved Dr. Seuss. The Cat in the Hat was one of her all-time favorites. She called him “hat cat.”
Come to think of it, Cat in the Hat was a confident, creative, multitasker…maybe he had an influence?
In case you’re curious, I’m a Gemini ♊️ and she’s an Aquarius ♒️.
My strategy depends on the particular shade of negativity I’m experiencing.
Since 2016, I’ve been mad – a lot. Anger can be channeled into productivity, but sometimes it needs to be unleashed. I find swearing to be one of the best ways to deal with anger. Sometimes (usually after watching the news), I let rip a loud string of F-bombs and then I can move on. Thank goodness my husband and I are 100% in agreement on politics. I don’t know how anyone is surviving in a politically “mixed marriage” at this point.
Do you remember when Trump visited Scotland in 2016? The coverage of their reaction was the absolute best. Does any other brand of English-speakers curse more creatively than the Scots? I don’t fucking think so.
It’s when we get our first good look at the snowplow damage.
Now that I have extra time and fewer obligations (no job, no kids at home), I’ve been enjoying cooking more. I wouldn’t exactly say I “lose myself” in it, but I’ve been enjoying eating what I make a lot more, especially if it’s something new and different. In my opinion, a glass of wine or a bit of weed before dinner will enhance your savoring experience. Taste the flavors, enjoy them, eat SLOWLY.
I recently shared some soups and stews from New York Times Cooking. I have one more for you. It’s similar to the Tortellini Soup, but it adds chicken (so it’s heartier) and is made in the crockpot, rather than the Dutch Oven (Le Creuset). It’s easy and good. NYT recipe attached (for free). My only note would be to avoid “Muir Glen” canned tomatoes. They just don’t taste as good as some of the other brands.
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