5 Quick Things #181 🏠

Walls and wires, creative walls, Tom Hanks, & Norwegian fjords

Hey there,

It’s hard to believe that it’s one year of the pandemic, right? Like many of you, I’ve been reminiscent of what the past 12+ months have meant for me personally, for my family, my community, and the world as a whole. I think it’s wise and comforting to remember that we don’t need to make sense of it right now, or maybe ever. I do find it helpful to remember where we are in this timeline and to give myself (and my family and students) lots and lots of grace.

I’m grateful more and more vaccines are rolling out, that teachers are now on the list 🙌, and that for the first time in a year, I can sense hope that this thing has a light at the end of the tunnel. In the meantime, there’s a backyard chicken run to erect, spinach and peas to plant, snoring dogs to laugh at, and books to read. A daily rinse and repeat. We will get through this.

A game of water tennis in Washington, D.C., 100 years ago in 1921. #

---

5 Quick Things ☕️

1. Today on the pod I’m joined by none other than my elusive husband, Kyle! We talk about the hidden beauty found behind old walls and wires from us living in our own long-term renovation project. (Seth will be back as usual next week.)

2. For my fellow writers, this one’s for you if you’re also hitting a creative wall these days.

3. Need a virtual trip? My cabin-fevered self is itching so very much to get out and explore, but at least these beauties exist.

4. “One more reason to like Tom Hanks: he’s a reader. He recommends books and asks for recommendations.” I savored this lovely long-form piece by the imitible Ann Patchett.

5. And finally, why printers are the worst. I feel seen.

---

Currently Reading, Watching, Listening 🎧

• Liturgical Folk’s Lent album (a few songs will be featured in the final Bitter & Sweet playlist!)

---

Quotable 💬

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”

― John Muir #

---

From the Community 🏠

This week I asked who’s on your current dinner party list, and I was surprised at some repeated mentions: Madeline L'Engle, Wendell Berry, C.S. Lewis… Okay, maybe I shouldn’t be that surprised (birds of a feather, etc.). But this answer, and others like it, warmed my heart the most:

---

Elsewhere📍

Tsh Oxenreider ☕️ @tsh

I just discovered that my 10-year-old ends all his Zoom classes — in homage to both James Acaster and I suppose memento mori — by saying to his teacher and peers, "Death comes to us all." 💀

---

Have a good weekend!

xo, Tsh

p.s. Here’s the bit where Finn’s comment comes from (though you really should watch Acaster’s entire special, Repertoire, on Netflix — it’s pure chaotic good).