Really enjoyed this journey through Chicago and your psyche (complimentary). I thought line about your ex and Covid and loosing your mind and turning into a pillar of salt was beautiful albeit self deprecating. The wording pillar of salt made me smile - idk why lol
aww thanks martha!! yeah that line is roughly inspired by a part in Genesis when Lot’s wife Edith* looks back upon the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and as punishment God turns her into a pillar of salt. That’s me in these newsletters, punished for looking back at the past (lol)
winter is a strange season, and you've evoked it here beautifully.
i used to get really upset whenever the time change would happen, and i suddenly had no daylight with which to do things after work. a surprisingly strong sense of despair would well up in me during the evenings. then, a few winters ago, i started to think of myself as a small mammal in my burrow. i gave myself 1 (sometimes 2) evenings a week where i would go to my room, turn my phone off, and just burrow. whatever that happened to look like.
i wasn't needed anywhere else, had absolutely nothing i needed to do... and the thing that had felt so upsetting before ("i have nothing to do") now feels delicious, like it did when i was a kid.
This is such a beautiful comment Raine, thank you. I love that image of being a small mammal in a burrow — that’s probably how we should all be in the winter! Winter is absolutely for burrowing and for being content with where we are — do you feel like you’ve been able to still make times for those burrowings? I’m hoping i can as this winter goes on…
Whew this took me right back to Chicago winters and also made me miss the Art Institute! Have you read Olivia Lang’s The Lonely City? There’s a whole section on Hopper that you might appreciate.
I once saw an exhibit of Rothko with Caspar David Friedrich -- not too far from some of the weather in this piece, I think. Ever since I've thought of Rothko paintings as landscapes. Thanks for sharing Chicago; I've never been there and I'm so curious what place can do to writing as well.
Yeah I love that idea of Rothko's as landscapes, I'm keeping that thought with me. Chicago is a great town, I would highly recommend! And likewise I am too -- I've been thinking that as well, especially with your pieces about learning German and living in Koln.
Malort?? You purposely drink multiple shots of this?? 😂 My favorite brewery here in the Quad Cities (about 3 hours from Chicago - they actually distribute to Chicago and know a lot of the brewers in that area) started carrying Malort this summer - and they have stickers that say “I Malorted”
Really enjoyed this journey through Chicago and your psyche (complimentary). I thought line about your ex and Covid and loosing your mind and turning into a pillar of salt was beautiful albeit self deprecating. The wording pillar of salt made me smile - idk why lol
aww thanks martha!! yeah that line is roughly inspired by a part in Genesis when Lot’s wife Edith* looks back upon the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and as punishment God turns her into a pillar of salt. That’s me in these newsletters, punished for looking back at the past (lol)
winter is a strange season, and you've evoked it here beautifully.
i used to get really upset whenever the time change would happen, and i suddenly had no daylight with which to do things after work. a surprisingly strong sense of despair would well up in me during the evenings. then, a few winters ago, i started to think of myself as a small mammal in my burrow. i gave myself 1 (sometimes 2) evenings a week where i would go to my room, turn my phone off, and just burrow. whatever that happened to look like.
i wasn't needed anywhere else, had absolutely nothing i needed to do... and the thing that had felt so upsetting before ("i have nothing to do") now feels delicious, like it did when i was a kid.
This is such a beautiful comment Raine, thank you. I love that image of being a small mammal in a burrow — that’s probably how we should all be in the winter! Winter is absolutely for burrowing and for being content with where we are — do you feel like you’ve been able to still make times for those burrowings? I’m hoping i can as this winter goes on…
Beautiful writing about a place I love, thank you.
Thank you so much for reading, Kara! happy to have you here
Whew this took me right back to Chicago winters and also made me miss the Art Institute! Have you read Olivia Lang’s The Lonely City? There’s a whole section on Hopper that you might appreciate.
love that place :') No I haven't read that!! it seems like it's so up my alley, I'm adding it to my list, thank you!!
I once saw an exhibit of Rothko with Caspar David Friedrich -- not too far from some of the weather in this piece, I think. Ever since I've thought of Rothko paintings as landscapes. Thanks for sharing Chicago; I've never been there and I'm so curious what place can do to writing as well.
Yeah I love that idea of Rothko's as landscapes, I'm keeping that thought with me. Chicago is a great town, I would highly recommend! And likewise I am too -- I've been thinking that as well, especially with your pieces about learning German and living in Koln.
Malort?? You purposely drink multiple shots of this?? 😂 My favorite brewery here in the Quad Cities (about 3 hours from Chicago - they actually distribute to Chicago and know a lot of the brewers in that area) started carrying Malort this summer - and they have stickers that say “I Malorted”
This is a beautiful piece.
lol it's because i have a sickness, Kristin (but i genuinely really like it!!). What brewery is it?? I desperately need that sticker lol
Hahahaha I’ll see if I have an unused one or can find one - it was so popular they ran out! The brewery is Wake Brewing.
Beautiful, as usual!! So glad (honored) I got to see you while you were here.
I am so glad I got to see you too!!