Hi everyone!
We’re almost at the end of January and I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking that this seems to come faster every year. When I was younger, my mom said to me that time goes faster when you’re older. I didn’t get it, and I’m not sure how that all works (unlike Suzelle DIY, I do not get science), but somehow it’s true. Time just zoots along and leaves you with nothing but the 30 000 photos on your phone, some that you will never look at, and some that you look at all the time.
My mother also used to wake up in the morning and drink her tea gazing off into the middle distance. We’d ask her what she was doing, and wonder why she was so tired and zoned out when we felt we could SEIZE THE DAY at 7am. Now that I’m a parent I understand. Sorry mom.
Here follows a short update on my life.
Reading Goals 2024
Since I last posted I have indeed completed The Whole Brain Child, which comes with a useful cheetsheet at the end. This is helpful for me because I have the terrible tendency of reading a book, closing it, and immediately forgetting everything that it said. I cannot recall plot points or facts if it’s non-fiction. Sometimes I can recall characters. I can always remember if I enjoyed a book or not, but I am of no use to anyone who asks ‘What did you like about it?’ if that question comes more than five minutes after I’ve finished reading it. If there is a scientist out there reading this and would like to help me understand why I can remember lyrics to songs from my entire life, but not anything of substance about the hundreds of books I’ve read, please reach out.
I am still reading The Covenant of Water. It is incredibly beautiful and I am loving it. I also picked up Keletso Mopai’s collection of short stories, If You Keep Digging, again. Extremely powerful writing.
Reading online
I treated myself to one of those $6 online subscriptions to the New Yorker this month, so I’ve been reading all the articles I’ve wanted to read for ages. Behind a Locked Door is the story of a woman exploring her memory of being sent to a mysterious Austrian villa where a doctor performed cruel experiments on her as a child. It is haunting and shocking. Of course, as soon as I saw that David Sedaris had a new essay out, I read that too. How to Eat a Tire in a Year is a love letter to his friend Dawn, filled with the usual Sedaris witticisms and interesting slant on the world. I also have a tab open to read all the Grist award winners for their Imagine 2200 climate fiction writing. The illustrations are dreamy too.
Still doing other things than reading…
Like I wrote last time, I’m still watching Ted Lasso (nearly there), and still doing the 30-day yoga journey. I think we’ll keep that one up for a while, as it’s a nice end to our days. In the coming weeks I’m also: starting a strength training program at the Sports Science Institute (hello aging bones and muscles).
In early February I’m taking an illustration course with the awesome Karen Vermeulen, and I’m starting a Post-Partum Doula course too.
But, is she writing?
She did! She did! She attended a creative writing workshop online with Maire Fisher and wrote a whole first draft of a short story in one sitting. Hooray! As for the novels, LOL. They remain tucked in their cozy folders, waiting for me to crack them open.
What are you reading? I’d love to know.
Be brave,
Jen
Jen Thorpe 