The Friday Five!

March 7, 2025

1. I just walked over here to my office. Crossing the breezeway, I glanced over to see the tiniest of green leaves budding on one of my hydrangea bushes. Oh, my heart. Last summer when I was in a not-so-great-place, I put a lot of of my feelings into gardening. Like, almost obsessively. I planted tons of stuff. Grew flats of seeds in our greenhouse. All with the hope that when it all emerged again, things would be different. And you know what? They are. Not perfect. (Perfect is impossible. Please don’t take as long to learn this as I did.) To be honest, a lot of the planting is a blur. I’m looking forward to being surprised, actually, by what pushes through the soil to greet me as the days get warmer. Soon.

   

2. We’re only a few episodes in, but already I am full out obsessed with the new season of White Lotus. And I would be even if there wasn’t a family from Durham, NC featured, as well as many mentions of the UNC-Duke rivalry. (Second game of the season is Saturday evening, if you’re curious what all the hype is about. You may hear me screaming for my Heels from here.) Plus, this week, there was a snake component for my husband, who breeds reptiles. Ah, the feeling when a good show just SEES you. I’ve been so inspired I’ve gone back to season two, which I somehow missed, and am binging that as well. Why is it that there’s always nothing to watch or too much?

3. Watching White Lotus also has made me CRAVE travel. For various reasons, we haven’t gone away in, well, an embarrassingly long time. Spring Break is right around the corner and you guessed it: no plans. This is purely because we have a LOT of trips coming up in summer so we are conserving our travel energy. But OH man watching this show has me pining. Thailand AND Italy? Please. Every time I see someone on a beach chair with a tiny-umbrella festooned drink I let out one of those full body sighs. It will happen. Maybe not a far flung destination. But somewhere.

4. In books, this week I read Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood, which was incredible and heart-wrenching. Now I’ve moved onto True Biz by Sarah Nović, which is teaching me SO much I never knew about the Deaf community and their history that I am embarrassed I was so ignorant about before. More and more I am picking books chosen by Reese’s Book Club and Reading With Jenna, lists I highly recommend checking out if you need suggestions. On audio, I listened to Box Office Poison: Hollywood’s Story in a Century of Flops by Tim Robey. Who knew that financial failure could be so compelling? I guess it’s only if it’s not your own? Anyway, Robey’s prose made me laugh out loud more than once. So good.

5. For months now, my daughter had been completing applications for various summer programs. Lots of essays. There was one in particular that she just kept tinkering with, over and over again, to the point that it was making me nuts. “Done is better than perfect!” I kept telling her. “Just send it! At this point you’re just spinning!” Cut to me, this week, working on my own little essay about the book I’m currently writing. It’s for my agent, and I want to get it JUST right, so I….keep tinkering with it. Obsessively. Every time I think I’m ready to hit send I read a sentence and decide it needs editing. Parenting is basically one surprise after another. Some shoulder taps, some gut punches. But there is nothing like the moment you realize you need to take your own damn advice. I’m hitting send today. Promise.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

P.S. Welcome to the world, Alvin! We’re so happy you are here. :)