READING:
Paris Dreaming by Katrina Lawrence: “An Australian beauty journalist shares her obsession with Paris - a city which has been her guide through a lifelong journey of self-discovery.” (Goodreads) — The beginning of this book really spoke to me: “Truth is, I cherish Paris as my getaway plan. Some people retreat to a health spa to recharge their physical and emotional batteries. I take myself to Paris to reset my spirits…Paris is a state of mind as much as a place.” I completely relate to the idea of Paris taking one from mademoiselle to madame from fille to femme, yet about two thirds of the way through, the book (but bien-sûr not Paris) lost much of its charm for me.
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama XIV, Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Carlton Abrams: “The occasion was a big birthday. And it inspired two close friends to get together in Dharamsala for a talk about something very important to them….joy. Both winners of the Nobel Prize, both great spiritual masters and moral leaders of our time, they are also known for being among the most infectiously happy people on the planet. From the beginning the book was envisioned as a three-layer birthday cake: their own stories and teachings about joy, the most recent findings in the science of deep happiness, and the daily practices that anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives. Both the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu have been tested by great personal and national adversity, and here they share their personal stories of struggle and renewal. Now that they are both in their eighties, they especially want to spread the core message that to have joy yourself, you must bring joy to others.” (Goodreads) — This is exactly what I need to read right now!
WATCHING: Not much! These days, I am more content to sit outside and watch the hummingbirds, chickadees, and cardinals that visit our deck everyday. Well, ok, I did watch Abba Forever: A Celebration on PBS this weekend. I guess, for me, Abba is either a guilty pleasure or a Scandi genetic predisposition.
LISTENING TO: Sirius XM radio — I have a trial subscription since trading in my car in June. My favorite stations are First Wave, the 80’s on 8, the 90s on 9, Margaritaville, and the Beatles, Elvis, and U2 stations. It is fun to rediscover songs that you haven’t heard in years.
ENJOYING: The first signs of fall — after a couple weeks of late August heat and humidity, the rain came on Friday and ushered in wonderfully cool temps, pleasant breezes, and gently-falling, golden birch leaves. As September approaches, I become increasingly eager for cozy sweaters, brilliant foliage, crips apples, bonfires, and football (whatever that means this year)!
FEELING: Excited and anxious — Back to school is always a bittersweet time as the freedom and pace of summer give way to frantic preparations for a new school year. I love cleaning, shopping for new school supplies, and organizing my office. Yet, as with all things 2020, this year is unprecedented as we plan for students and teachers to return to school amid both a pandemic and major school renovations. We made it through teacher in-service and, as of tonight, I finally feel as though we are going to be as ready as we can be. I pray that, after nearly thirty weeks away, we will all carefully and respectfully prioritize both safety and learning.
