Back in the days when I had a LiveJournal (and a MySpace account and an AIM handle), all of my friends had them too. Publicly posting about our upcoming exams, breakups, and friend fights was the way we’d find out what’s going on in everyone’s life between classes. In the past, I’ve been roundly criticized by friends and family who believe they should get first dibs on all my personal news. Something along the lines of “you posted it online but you didn’t tell me?!”
I get it. Sorry, Mom.
I am starting to understand that my particular brand of neurodivergence requires writing to process what I’m feeling. (A trait that is likely shared by all my friends from high school, which is why this way of communicating made sense to us.) If you ask me how I’m feeling, I have no answer. I cannot tell you with mouth words. I do love to talk, though, so I’ll tell you all about circumstances, situations, logistics, and happenings. But no feelings.
The other thing about my neurodivergence can make others feel unloved is that I’m not great at sending or returning text messages. Until iPhone comes out with a “remind” feature, our relationship is doomed. I am probably the last person from the 20th century who prefers a phone call. Yes, a random phone call with no warning, no “let’s put some time on the calendar,” no “do you want to hop on a Zoom?” anxiety. I’ve thought about finding an analog telephone with no caller ID and an answering machine with a cassette tape so I can forward all of my calls there. There are so few good surprises left in this world. Why not bring a little magic back?
Anyway, that’s an EXTREMELY long way of saying that it takes time to write a thoughtful essay and I have other things that I want to share with you in between mosquito musings. So, I decided to kick it last century and start sending out weekly roundups of things that I’m thinking about or doing. After today, these posts will be behind a paywall, but you can sign up now for FREE! I’m not writing this to make money, but a paywall is the only way the platform will let you decide how much of my brain you want to be exposed to week to week. Click the button to get on the Wonderkin list.
Prized Possession of the Week
I’ve been helping my mom do some cleaning and, naturally, there are things of my dad’s to go through. My brother gave one of his tool chests a new home and gave me another one, which included a note that my dad wrote to his brother on a piece of wood, as was his habit.
My dad built the house that I grew up in and my uncle was a big part of doing that work. They continued to work together on projects over the years and developed the kind of cryptic shorthand evidenced on this 2x4. The brothers died five months apart from each other, so mementos like this feel especially bittersweet.
Dad writes:
Steve,
If you want to make 16” x 30” with half lap corner for cooler, I will get casters. Wood is on cooler.
Thanks,
Dave
Event of the Week
I’m performing a showcase at FARM (Folk Alliance Region Midwest) on October 25! It’s a 10 minute set so I’m rehearsing two songs with a third backup in case I speed through the first two.
Pervasive Thought of the Week
Climate grief. My heart breaks over and over again for western North Carolina, which is one of several communities devastated by Hurricane Helene. Those who know me well know that Elseetoss, or the Pisgah National Forest, is my most beloved place on Earth. Those who hold my heart know that this land witnessed both the beginning and the end of my first marriage.
I’ve been taking part in a monthly gathering of folks who are working through the Ready Together emergency preparedness curriculum. The group was organized by my pal Meghan Reha, who delivered an excellent TEDx Talk about the actual skills and connections that we need in collapsing times. It’s been bolstering me this week:
Craft of the Week
By request, I crocheted my kiddo a little octopus out of t-shirt yarn. I had to buy safety eyes and fiber fill, so this was a real act of love!
Anticipation of the Week
Next week, I’m looking forward to celebrating my birthday! I’m going to a local folk music festival, spending the day with the Angela Lansbury to my Bea Arthur, visiting my beloved Muppets, and donning my finest flannel for a Canadian Thanksgiving-themed party.
The Quixotic is an irregular publication by Kate Herald about impossible dreams and how to find them. Mostly memoir, some navel-gazing. Thanks for spending part of your day here.