Hello, Friends!
As I write this, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and summer feels close. It’s Memorial Day weekend which for me means lots of family (and tourists!) arriving for the weekend, an 80th birthday celebration (Happy Birthday, Sue!) and my younger daughter’s dance show. My kids are getting close to finishing up another school year and while we’re all looking forward to summer, it feels like we’re on fast forward. Since my older daughter started high school this year, I can see how quickly the next few years will fly. I’d really like to freeze time for a moment, just press pause for a little while to keep them at 11 and 15. Since I can’t do that, I’m trying to look up from the chaos a little more often to pay attention to what’s right here in front of me.
Read this!
When I taught middle school, my students and I read an abridged version of Homer’s Odyssey. One of my favorite sections was about Circe, the sorceress who who fell in love with Odysseus and could turn men into pigs. Somehow I missed Circe by Madeline Miller when it first came out in 2018. It’s the story of Circe, daughter of Helios, who’s exiled to a private island out of fear of how her powers can threaten the gods. Beautifully written, this novel weaves the lives of the gods and goddesses into a narrative that touches upon universal themes such as the meaning of love, family, motherhood, loneliness, and what it means to be human.
Eat this!
This is the only salmon recipe that my kids will eat. Every time I suggest a different recipe, this is the one they want. All it really needs is salmon, pesto, and panko. It’s quick, flavorful, and everyone will eat it. Done!
Try this!
Abandon books!
I used to finish every book that I read. Once I’d started a book, I couldn’t just stop reading. It felt like cheating in some weird way. But at some point, I changed my ways. There are so many books and not enough time to read, so these days I’m a firm believer in abandoning books. Sometimes I’ll revisit a book and give it another shot. I once abandoned the Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver after I was over two hundred pages into it. I ended up picking it back up again several years later, and I absolutely loved it. These days, if I start a book and give it a good try but don’t really get into it, I give myself permission to abandon it without any guilt. Read for pleasure, read for knowledge, read to challenge yourself or as a way to relax. But don’t feel too bad if you put a book aside!
That’s all for this week. Until next time.
Emily
