It's good to have obsessions
The things that keep us going.
Hello! I’m in an especially good mood writing this, no doubt because it’s all sun and blue skies outside and I spent the morning sweating through a tough Pilates class and pushing myself to keep that momentum going with a run on clear streets with a stop midway through at West Bay.
It’s just 36 degrees out but standing on the icy shoreline, my face to the sun, I could almost imagine it was a summer day when I closed my eyes. I felt the brush of breeze as I watched a cluster of seagulls swoop through the air, landing on the surface in a group before all taking off together again a few moments later when I walked along the snowy sand in their direction.
This time alone today is a big gulp of fresh air, a cold drink of water at the end of a hard race, a knowing in my gut that everything actually is going to be OK.
It wasn’t the worst week, but it wasn’t the greatest week either. Political chaos aside, which is of course a lot and a whole other conversation, it was one of those weeks when frustrating things kept happening, piling atop one another like teetering teacups. When would they all come crashing down?
One of these exasperating things: a glass baking dish exploding last night—this 13x9 pan literally broke into a thousand pieces—as it sat in my oven, roasting a pork loin I’d picked up earlier in the day to make a nice meal for us and to celebrate the end of the loonnng week.
Thankfully no real damage was done. We quickly cleaned up the mess and somehow, gratefully and miraculously, the pork loin was still edible after super-close inspection and further cooking on our grill top. But sheesh. That was a first.
Other things: a flat tire, stressful work meetings, random house maintenance issues and period cramps (TMI on the last one, but whatever, aren’t I in perimenopause for god’s sake? When will this end already?).
Still, a few great things punctuated the past week and made me feel like the less-than-ideal things happening were no big deal after all—that’s life anyway, right? We ride all kinds of waves at any given time.
One of these being that I wrote a bunch in a few Gateless Writing salons throughout the week, including one session during which I read a longer scene from my book that I’d worked on for awhile. Saying these words out loud for others to hear was equal parts nerve-wracking and exhilarating. I left that evening gathering over Zoom feeling even more confident about my novel progress and so eager for my upcoming weeklong writers retreat in the UK next month. (I’m excited to share this adventure with you all!)
5 other things keeping me afloat this week:
Watching The White Lotus. Anyone else watching the third season? Just like the other two seasons, the third features a cast of interesting, eccentric and infuriating/annoying characters all staying at a stunning and luxurious White Lotus property (the first season was on Maui, the second in Italy and the third in Thailand). Maybe it’s because I am working on my own character-development skills for my book, I adore great storytelling and I just love a good escape. Whatever the reason, this show is among my most favorites—even as I’ve thought at times, “What is it with that guy (or girl)?!” Aren’t a person’s weirdness and quirkiness the very reasons they become endeared to us, after all? And speaking of rather interesting characters and actors, I’ve become a bit obsessed with Walton Goggins, who plays a grumpy guy in this third season. As I told Joe the next day after we watched episodes two and three back to back, I don’t know what it is exactly, but something about this guy just sticks. My attraction only intensified after listening to his conversation with Dax Shepherd on a recent Armchair Expert episode. And then I read this article about Goggins’ appeal and, well, yeah.
Tuning in to my favorite college basketball team. While the Detroit Lions have my heart in the fall and through early winter and yes year-round (and also happened to utterly break my heart this season, again, but I’m forever optimistic for next season), the Michigan State University Spartans are my truest love this time of year (and, well, also always). We’re looking so good right now! Here’s hoping we keep crushing when we face our in-state rivals, that other Michigan team tomorrow at noon. My dad, the biggest Spartan in the entire world, is coming over for brunch and game-watching and I cannot wait. Go Green! (And thank goodness for March Madness.)
Connecting, truly connecting, with treasured work colleagues. On Thursday, with co-workers in town for a conference, three of us decided to meet up for lunch. Spending time with these two smart and funny friends was a balm for my soul. We cackled and commiserated over a delicious lunch and I realized, yet again, the power of listening and laughing with great humans. The next morning I had a group chat with a few other co-workers, all writers, with whom I work and their honesty and wit carried me through the day.
Time with my younger sister today. Kirsten is someone I forever want to be around, a person who always makes me smile no matter what, and I love her to the moon and back a thousand times. She’s 13 years younger than me and I learn something from her every time we’re together. My heart is happier when I am with her, even (especially?) when it means we’re talking and catching up while I get my nails done. I’ll have to share with you guys the time I accidentally broke her arm when I was a teenager. I still feel bad about it.
My latest leave-me-alone-I-am-reading book, We All Live Here, by Jojo Moyes. This book has it all: truly interesting, likable and relatable characters; hilarious and heartfelt family situations; love and sex; the suspense of “how is this going to work itself out?” and so much more. Highly recommend. It’s also on the longer side, which I appreciated because I didn’t really want it to end.
What’s keeping you going these days? I’d really like to hear. We’re all in this together.
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Until next time,
Heather
My husband and I have hit the road again for five weeks of backpacking through New Zealand. Being in nature -- seeing that despite everything we're doing to our planet it still manages to retain beauty and splendor -- is what gets me through. A good laugh with close friends is not a bad way either...
White Lotus is SO GOOD at character development!! Loving this 3rd season. Re-reading Molokai, connecting with friends, and getting back to the gym- the things that are making me smile:)