Observation – All The Best

In the environs of Lincoln Center

In the American Museum of Folk Art ***Blue Magic*** lecture, Alexandria Eregbu

Why I love HCR

The political spectacle is not a positive, of course, yet a listen to Politics Chat any given day is soothing.

In part, it’s her voice. Heather Cox Richardson has a pleasant timbre and delivers bad news so calmly that I am comforted.

HCR also speaks colorfully. Her expressions are both elevated and backyard. And she’s never coarse, avoiding all expletives unless they’re in a quote.

So, that’s today’s good news, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen.

Now, for the January 15th chat.

We need h-i-s-t-o-r-y

We need calm, accurate, factual history to survive this moment. That history, American history, relies on the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, 250 years of democracy.

Most of us, by a margin so large that we should not despair, ⅔ of we, the people support that long ingrained democracy. Yes, there are more Americans who stand on the pro-democracy side.

Our national pro-democracy historian is the calm, sane voice of Heather Cox Richardson.

Heather Cox Richardson is a national treasure: share her words and efforts as widely as you can.

Those are just two samples of the exemplary HCR offering her wisdom. Spread it. Far and wide.

Penning, a guideline

Searching for honesty. Integrity not just honesty. This goes under notes for writing.

Searching for honesty, integrity and a mots justes, which simply translates to the right words. It is so much more!

Writing blocks

There are many ways to tell a story. I knew that but hearing Ann Pachett debunk my “they write themselves” theory and talk about writing as work¹ was confirming.

Like the book Patchett is reading to me, the story I intend to tell is about “a happy marriage.” These stories are fraught; the telling is fraught.

I layout what I have to say conversationally. I am talking to myself. Will the story flow as smoothly and easily when I finally get it out on paper? [Or, more precisely, on electronic page?]

As the cliché goes, and saying that makes it no less clichéd, stay tuned. Aka, I’m working on it.

Note to self, and you, dear reader, I never tried to support myself on my writing. I am an amateur. Amateur auteur has a ring, yes?

¹This Is A Story Of A Happy Marriage, written by Ann Patchett, read by the author. HarperAudio

Reading

My joke du jour is that pretty soon I will no longer know how to read. I have made books part of my everyday, but I enjoy them in audio form.

Books were absent from my life for many years. While Burt was well, we were busy together and I couldn’t immerse myself in a book. When he got sick, I couldn’t find the concentration.

Since Burt passed, I have raced through a small library of books. I enjoy them in clumps: a bunch of Sue Grafton’s [re-reads]; some Ronald H. Balsan novels; several Fiona Davis stories; a burgeoning collection of Lisa Jewell works; a smattering of Frieda McFadden’s grim p.o.v.; all lightened by Janet Evanovich. There are other titles I have devoured, like Yellowface, James, or The Street; I read a few Isabel Allende works, as well as Like Mother, Like Mother; the intriguing The Lady in Gold; I finished The Four Winds and Educated; I recommend the odd Elinor Olliphant is Fine and American Dirt, too.

In fact, I recommend the whole enterprise that involves hearing a lovely voice read Jane Austen, or Taylor Jenkins Reid, or Mark Twain aloud to you. It gives to the activity of reading an entirely new dimension. I find it very pleasant, this story hour in which I indulge.

Open and shut

Limelight was padded but there was a Limelight Pizza that was open.

Back in the day, this Church was a nightclub. I went there once. It was loud and dancy.

Sunday was the day AFAM closed for “big changes.” I love the Folk Art Museum even if I only visit sporadically. On Saturday, I made a far- thee-well but also wanted to see what was on offer before the renovations shut me out.