Hi Sue, how wonderful that new Amy Tan book sounds. I love the idea of finding a new passion in our older years, and I can relate to going overboard buying art supplies, or whatever it is that revolves around a new passion because I tend to do the same myself. I started painting again the other day; I haven't painted on paper since high school - I'm 63 - and I lost myself for two or three hours in delightful splodges of gouache paint...until my fibromyalgia neck and shoulder issue told me to stop with a little but very scary electric shock. So my painting is waiting for me to finish it, although I doubt anyone else is!! But my goodness it was fun. I think I will order Amy's book as it sounds delightful.
The second book you mention, well, not so much... although I'm sure it's fantastic, but I had to stop listening to Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale the other night as I began having nightmares about war. The world is in such a state and I'm such a silly sponge. The first book, set in Alaska sounds great. And I have too many books to read. But, well, books.
Exercice. I used to be so fit. I rode my horses every day (dressage), and walked miles, and just moved all the time. And then fibromyalgia hit, except nobody knew what it was, and so I was pumped with the wrong meds which lead to me developing an incurable IBD. So moving went from 100 to almost zero fast. Now I'm on new meds so hopefully will be able to gently start again, as I've been sitting around writing poetry for too long now. Poetry became my lifesaver when my health fell apart, and I've just published a book of poetry.
I really enjoyed your musings of daily life, and hearing about gardening. I also hope to get back to gardening again, as I did loads of that but I don't think my neck/shoulders would be thrilled!
I crochet, although I do knit too. I've made bedcovers, and sweaters, and a ton of scarves of course. Oh yes, and bags! And I'm rambling far too much but I was excited to read your piece today!
Thank you for you comment, Francesca! Pursuing new interests and passions in the last half of our lives I think is critical to aging happily. I love the image of you painting “spodges of gouache paint.”
Fibromyalgia is challenging. My mother had it the last two decades of her life and could not find relief from it. Hoping the new treatment works for you.
Thank you for the book recommendations! And...you are not alone in removing yourself from the noise of social media. I feel the same way, and am in the process of putting finishing touches on a new online community for older adults who seek something better. I believe we deserve it. I will not waste any more time with the noise, ads and algorithms.
I like your content. I wonder if everyone knows a group of crows is called a Murder of Crows. What you have shared has given me ideas to incorporate in my life.
Thank you, Sue! I so enjoyed these musings because it felt like a real glimpse into your daily life. My current reading habits, outside of Guerrilla Readers, seems to be centered on reading published journals of all sorts. Some are language rich, like Susan Wittig Albert's An Extraordinary Yar of Ordinary Days, while others are highly visual, like Rosalie Haizlett's Tiny Worlds of the Appalachian Mountains. I, too, cherish Amy Tan's Bird Chronicles. I was fortunate to have joined Jack Law's nature journaling group on FB in 2020, so it was fun to learn alongside Amy (and hundreds---thousands?) of others finding solace and joy in the natural world at a challenging time.
As the pace of my own life slows down with age, I find myself so much more capable of focused attention and deeper appreciation for the details of life. I'm less interested in the peaks of accomplishment and the edited highlight reels than the mundane rituals of daily life---how the steam rising from a favorite mug smells as it mingles with the dew lifting and turning to fog over a morning garden. So, I thank you for sharing the fullness and diversity of your days this month. I think his type of writing has so much potential to connect us across the miles and around the globe. What we share, it seems to say, ultimately has more value than what separates us. 🌿💚
How interesting to have that connection to Amy Tan's book! Though I have tried to spend time practicing drawing, I am not interested enough in it to spend the "pencil miles." But give me yarn and needles, and I will spend hours learning.
Thank you for your kind words about this particular essay. I was surprised to see it garnered the biggest number of unsubscribes which hit me harder than it should. It is part of the creative process - exposing ourselves so our creativity can be experienced.
For the first time in ages, I stayed up late so I could keep reading Black Woods Blue Sky. Early this morning I finished it. What an incredible story, well written and a huge surprise (at least for me). Caste has been in my stack to read for some time, I will get to it sooner. A good massage therapist is essential. I've had one great one, and have been searching for his equal ever since, but not luck yet.
Several years ago I deleted Facebook and have not missed it one iota. My Instagram account, that I used for writerly purposes is still alive, but I rarely even look at it. Social media is draining in many ways and life is more peaceful and connected for me without it. It is amazing how many conversations you hear or are in, where the word "Facebook" is often used.
It is fun to hear how your plants and garden are progressing through the season(s).
I have tried so many body workers - physical therapists, massage therapists, and a few alternate therapies with little to no resolution. To have someone observe my body for alignment, posture, stress etc and then to instruct me on how to retrain my body - what a gift she is!
My rural community of about 600 residents use FB to communicate and I miss that. But Guy is still connected to it so I can any info through him.
How wonderful to have found a body worker that has so much knowledge and wisdom! A gift indeed😊. There are useful avenues of Facebook, and the local info is one. Nice that you can access it from Guy but not be on Facebook!
It easy for me because I don't have a business to run. I know several women who have businesses and don't feel like they can go off social media. It's a tough decision.
I am so glad you found a massage therapist who is a caring and skilled practitioner! That kind of health-care professional is such a blessing. And yes, moving (and hydration) and getting outside to get our hands in the soil is healing. I'm impressed with your dedication to knitting and I wish you luck with the difficult yarn and project. And thanks for the book recommendations--Susan Albert at Thyme, Place and Story has her Guerrilla Readers group reading Caste, and I think it's been eye-opening for a lot of them. Blessings!
CASTE was the most challenging read for me so far in Guerrilla Readers. I, too, had to take breaks while reading it because I was overwhelmed by the horror of our inhumanity to one another. I'm so glad I persevered. I feel like the epilogue and afterward helped me process the whole experience and resolve to carry on.
Thank you for persevering, Leenie! Caste is a challenging read, and a deeply unsettling one. I believe that seeing our culture's structural inequities is some of the most important work we can do in these times, because those inequities affect us all, and this earth as well.
Hi Sue, how wonderful that new Amy Tan book sounds. I love the idea of finding a new passion in our older years, and I can relate to going overboard buying art supplies, or whatever it is that revolves around a new passion because I tend to do the same myself. I started painting again the other day; I haven't painted on paper since high school - I'm 63 - and I lost myself for two or three hours in delightful splodges of gouache paint...until my fibromyalgia neck and shoulder issue told me to stop with a little but very scary electric shock. So my painting is waiting for me to finish it, although I doubt anyone else is!! But my goodness it was fun. I think I will order Amy's book as it sounds delightful.
The second book you mention, well, not so much... although I'm sure it's fantastic, but I had to stop listening to Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale the other night as I began having nightmares about war. The world is in such a state and I'm such a silly sponge. The first book, set in Alaska sounds great. And I have too many books to read. But, well, books.
Exercice. I used to be so fit. I rode my horses every day (dressage), and walked miles, and just moved all the time. And then fibromyalgia hit, except nobody knew what it was, and so I was pumped with the wrong meds which lead to me developing an incurable IBD. So moving went from 100 to almost zero fast. Now I'm on new meds so hopefully will be able to gently start again, as I've been sitting around writing poetry for too long now. Poetry became my lifesaver when my health fell apart, and I've just published a book of poetry.
I really enjoyed your musings of daily life, and hearing about gardening. I also hope to get back to gardening again, as I did loads of that but I don't think my neck/shoulders would be thrilled!
I crochet, although I do knit too. I've made bedcovers, and sweaters, and a ton of scarves of course. Oh yes, and bags! And I'm rambling far too much but I was excited to read your piece today!
Thank you for you comment, Francesca! Pursuing new interests and passions in the last half of our lives I think is critical to aging happily. I love the image of you painting “spodges of gouache paint.”
Fibromyalgia is challenging. My mother had it the last two decades of her life and could not find relief from it. Hoping the new treatment works for you.
Sue,
Thank you for the book recommendations! And...you are not alone in removing yourself from the noise of social media. I feel the same way, and am in the process of putting finishing touches on a new online community for older adults who seek something better. I believe we deserve it. I will not waste any more time with the noise, ads and algorithms.
I like your content. I wonder if everyone knows a group of crows is called a Murder of Crows. What you have shared has given me ideas to incorporate in my life.
I love collective nouns about animals. They have a rich history. Thank you for your comment, Kristine.
Thank you, Sue, for your book recommendations. I've read Caste, but not the others. They're now added to my list.
Thank you, Sue! I so enjoyed these musings because it felt like a real glimpse into your daily life. My current reading habits, outside of Guerrilla Readers, seems to be centered on reading published journals of all sorts. Some are language rich, like Susan Wittig Albert's An Extraordinary Yar of Ordinary Days, while others are highly visual, like Rosalie Haizlett's Tiny Worlds of the Appalachian Mountains. I, too, cherish Amy Tan's Bird Chronicles. I was fortunate to have joined Jack Law's nature journaling group on FB in 2020, so it was fun to learn alongside Amy (and hundreds---thousands?) of others finding solace and joy in the natural world at a challenging time.
As the pace of my own life slows down with age, I find myself so much more capable of focused attention and deeper appreciation for the details of life. I'm less interested in the peaks of accomplishment and the edited highlight reels than the mundane rituals of daily life---how the steam rising from a favorite mug smells as it mingles with the dew lifting and turning to fog over a morning garden. So, I thank you for sharing the fullness and diversity of your days this month. I think his type of writing has so much potential to connect us across the miles and around the globe. What we share, it seems to say, ultimately has more value than what separates us. 🌿💚
How interesting to have that connection to Amy Tan's book! Though I have tried to spend time practicing drawing, I am not interested enough in it to spend the "pencil miles." But give me yarn and needles, and I will spend hours learning.
Thank you for your kind words about this particular essay. I was surprised to see it garnered the biggest number of unsubscribes which hit me harder than it should. It is part of the creative process - exposing ourselves so our creativity can be experienced.
I am glad your shoulder is improving, and you are empowering yourself with prevention.
Also being off FB and IG will yield so much peace, and that is part of our daily health requirement as far as I am concerned. 💓💚😄🙏🏽
For the first time in ages, I stayed up late so I could keep reading Black Woods Blue Sky. Early this morning I finished it. What an incredible story, well written and a huge surprise (at least for me). Caste has been in my stack to read for some time, I will get to it sooner. A good massage therapist is essential. I've had one great one, and have been searching for his equal ever since, but not luck yet.
Several years ago I deleted Facebook and have not missed it one iota. My Instagram account, that I used for writerly purposes is still alive, but I rarely even look at it. Social media is draining in many ways and life is more peaceful and connected for me without it. It is amazing how many conversations you hear or are in, where the word "Facebook" is often used.
It is fun to hear how your plants and garden are progressing through the season(s).
💚
Black Woods Blue Sky - such a great book!
I have tried so many body workers - physical therapists, massage therapists, and a few alternate therapies with little to no resolution. To have someone observe my body for alignment, posture, stress etc and then to instruct me on how to retrain my body - what a gift she is!
My rural community of about 600 residents use FB to communicate and I miss that. But Guy is still connected to it so I can any info through him.
How wonderful to have found a body worker that has so much knowledge and wisdom! A gift indeed😊. There are useful avenues of Facebook, and the local info is one. Nice that you can access it from Guy but not be on Facebook!
I admire that you deleted social media.
It easy for me because I don't have a business to run. I know several women who have businesses and don't feel like they can go off social media. It's a tough decision.
Truthfully, I cannot even imagine deleting everything there. That is huge. But social media doesn't work for me either.
I am so glad you found a massage therapist who is a caring and skilled practitioner! That kind of health-care professional is such a blessing. And yes, moving (and hydration) and getting outside to get our hands in the soil is healing. I'm impressed with your dedication to knitting and I wish you luck with the difficult yarn and project. And thanks for the book recommendations--Susan Albert at Thyme, Place and Story has her Guerrilla Readers group reading Caste, and I think it's been eye-opening for a lot of them. Blessings!
CASTE was the most challenging read for me so far in Guerrilla Readers. I, too, had to take breaks while reading it because I was overwhelmed by the horror of our inhumanity to one another. I'm so glad I persevered. I feel like the epilogue and afterward helped me process the whole experience and resolve to carry on.
Thank you for persevering, Leenie! Caste is a challenging read, and a deeply unsettling one. I believe that seeing our culture's structural inequities is some of the most important work we can do in these times, because those inequities affect us all, and this earth as well.