Thanks for this special "book report" edition of UaS. Seriously, appreciate your thoughtful excerpting of gems from Jamison's memoir. Her prose is lyrical. Also, this introvert really thrilled at the mandatory slow-down and homebodying of the early pandemic (said from the privilege of not having had to work on front lines, nor of having gotten sick/had a loved one seriously sick). And I can definitely fall into a weird sort of euphoric recall/nostalgia in thinking about those "good ol' bad days."
Thank you for reading my book report! And receiving my excerpts. Happy to hear about your sigh of relief at pandemic slow-down mandates, too. “Good ol bad days” love this phrase! For better or worse, UaS now feels deputized to add more book reports to the mix. Thank you for this (inadvertent?) blessing! 📚 🎯💞
“My notion of divinity was gradually turning its gaze away from the appraising, tally-keeping, pseudo-father in the sky who would give me enough gold stars if I did enough good things, and toward the mother who’d been here all along—with less patience for my performance and more patience for everything else. I was living toward joy that was less about earning, and more about ambush. A joy you might call grace” UUUUUGGGHHHH SOOOO GOOODD. LOL to spilling your coffee over it
Loved this piece Kara! Extra loved the pictures and captions as always 😂
I don’t even use Spotify but I was like, “omg that is the best line!!” right there with you all (but with, like, seven cds that I keep on repeat for decades at a time 😂)
How on earth do you keep up with comments? I’m super impressed. Here’s another one for ya, lol!!
I’m ashamed (but not really) to admit I’ve never heard of this author, but can’t wait to check her out now! I absolutely inhale funny, profound memoirs about failed relationships!
The excerpt about her daughter organizing everything by momma and baby—oh man. That hits some spots. It’s bringing me back and making me think about why I would do things like that—it’s the only way the world made sense to me. Especially being raised as a single child by a single mom! The fearless duo, the infinite teammates.
I love the interpretation that it’s the only way to make sure everything is well looked after <3 (but also what does that say about dads? Blerk!)
And lastly, I’ll be waiting on that gardening spoof photo shoot wide-eyed and bushy- tailed. So good. (And so creepy, if you think about what this guy might be like in real life) At first I read it as “plants are still (comma) like people” and was like, people aren’t STILL, are they?! Not in the city at least… oh wait, it’s just a really crappy name for a sequel lol. Right over my head.
Oh mannnnnnn, I so relate, too, to stuffy org. My parents tease me about mine as a kid (semi obsessive?) but one of my kids does it now and it’s so sweet! It takes me back (poor dads’s reputations!) I am beside myself to share this photo spoof! lol that title confusion. I completely relate! It’s such a bad title, it jams your brain. (Re: comments I think I just like hearing from people. It makes me happy but also: perhaps I’m a freak lol) 🩰🪴
You’re no freak! I love hearing from people too! It’s the absolute best. But I also get overwhelmed in Substack sometimes, what with the trying to post every week, replying promptly to comments and then reading and commenting on all your amazing writer friends’ posts! I’m just behind, is all…and also probably (most certainly) putting too much pressure on myself :S In any case, I always enjoy your posts (and comments) immensely!
Yeeees, it does feel like a lot to keep up with sometimes. I prioritize my own and a select number of friends. I do my best with others that make me giggle/inspire me, and let the bulk of the rest go! 💞 If you need extra permission, you have mine to go at your own pace 🐸
Ahh, I love this! You've totally sold me on the book, tooo. Will add to my mountain of HOLDS. The coffee spill photo and caption made me Lol. I have 100% borrowed a similiarly-spilled-on book before and thought: WTF. (ha!) xoxx
Lolol now you know who’s done that, your old pal ME (have mercy on us over-caffeinated souls). Yay, book club! I think you’ll like it but totally up for hearing if you don’t. Xoxo
Let me know what you think! Definitely thought of you while writing because of your “divorced women books”. Mother energy unite! But not divorced energy right now please, lol. xx!
The strength to be (insert relevant phrase) and still be kind. This sentiment sent a metaphor or three running through my head! Also I think I would like a Thesaurus of Humor on my bookshelf. And giving myself a healthy serving of guilt for my poor people I mean plants… Hmmm should I actually scatter a couple of sentence fragments in a blog comment? A professional writer’s blog?? Perhaps simply acknowledging that they are there is enough 😉. Love, Once a Teacher, Always a Teacher
Haha I will NEVER judge a sentence fragment! Always just glad for your thoughts 💞💞 I do think that thesaurus on the right person’s desk would be ace. Xoxo
Thanks for this special "book report" edition of UaS. Seriously, appreciate your thoughtful excerpting of gems from Jamison's memoir. Her prose is lyrical. Also, this introvert really thrilled at the mandatory slow-down and homebodying of the early pandemic (said from the privilege of not having had to work on front lines, nor of having gotten sick/had a loved one seriously sick). And I can definitely fall into a weird sort of euphoric recall/nostalgia in thinking about those "good ol' bad days."
Thank you for reading my book report! And receiving my excerpts. Happy to hear about your sigh of relief at pandemic slow-down mandates, too. “Good ol bad days” love this phrase! For better or worse, UaS now feels deputized to add more book reports to the mix. Thank you for this (inadvertent?) blessing! 📚 🎯💞
Lol this dude was like "Plants are still like people... good enough"
haha you mean he was like, "That's a good enough title" or "That cover shoot went fine, let's hang it up . . . "? lol
Haha totally. He was like, if title of the first book = true call it good. Obvs the cover shoot is superb in every way.
Lolol 🪴
As an amateur calligrapher I really approve of Beth Spencer’s seal.
I know, I love it
“My notion of divinity was gradually turning its gaze away from the appraising, tally-keeping, pseudo-father in the sky who would give me enough gold stars if I did enough good things, and toward the mother who’d been here all along—with less patience for my performance and more patience for everything else. I was living toward joy that was less about earning, and more about ambush. A joy you might call grace” UUUUUGGGHHHH SOOOO GOOODD. LOL to spilling your coffee over it
Loved this piece Kara! Extra loved the pictures and captions as always 😂
Thank you for reading, Jeannie! So happy you got something from it 💞💞
"I shared custody of all my feelings with Spotify” oh my god this is my life 😂😂😂
I don’t even use Spotify but I was like, “omg that is the best line!!” right there with you all (but with, like, seven cds that I keep on repeat for decades at a time 😂)
How on earth do you keep up with comments? I’m super impressed. Here’s another one for ya, lol!!
I’m ashamed (but not really) to admit I’ve never heard of this author, but can’t wait to check her out now! I absolutely inhale funny, profound memoirs about failed relationships!
The excerpt about her daughter organizing everything by momma and baby—oh man. That hits some spots. It’s bringing me back and making me think about why I would do things like that—it’s the only way the world made sense to me. Especially being raised as a single child by a single mom! The fearless duo, the infinite teammates.
I love the interpretation that it’s the only way to make sure everything is well looked after <3 (but also what does that say about dads? Blerk!)
And lastly, I’ll be waiting on that gardening spoof photo shoot wide-eyed and bushy- tailed. So good. (And so creepy, if you think about what this guy might be like in real life) At first I read it as “plants are still (comma) like people” and was like, people aren’t STILL, are they?! Not in the city at least… oh wait, it’s just a really crappy name for a sequel lol. Right over my head.
Oh mannnnnnn, I so relate, too, to stuffy org. My parents tease me about mine as a kid (semi obsessive?) but one of my kids does it now and it’s so sweet! It takes me back (poor dads’s reputations!) I am beside myself to share this photo spoof! lol that title confusion. I completely relate! It’s such a bad title, it jams your brain. (Re: comments I think I just like hearing from people. It makes me happy but also: perhaps I’m a freak lol) 🩰🪴
You’re no freak! I love hearing from people too! It’s the absolute best. But I also get overwhelmed in Substack sometimes, what with the trying to post every week, replying promptly to comments and then reading and commenting on all your amazing writer friends’ posts! I’m just behind, is all…and also probably (most certainly) putting too much pressure on myself :S In any case, I always enjoy your posts (and comments) immensely!
Yeeees, it does feel like a lot to keep up with sometimes. I prioritize my own and a select number of friends. I do my best with others that make me giggle/inspire me, and let the bulk of the rest go! 💞 If you need extra permission, you have mine to go at your own pace 🐸
Ahh, I love this! You've totally sold me on the book, tooo. Will add to my mountain of HOLDS. The coffee spill photo and caption made me Lol. I have 100% borrowed a similiarly-spilled-on book before and thought: WTF. (ha!) xoxx
Lolol now you know who’s done that, your old pal ME (have mercy on us over-caffeinated souls). Yay, book club! I think you’ll like it but totally up for hearing if you don’t. Xoxo
Yesssss to the mother energy and endless patience and grace 💞
“What could be more intoxicating than hard-won truths beautifully told?” I’m adding it to my list immediately!
Let me know what you think! Definitely thought of you while writing because of your “divorced women books”. Mother energy unite! But not divorced energy right now please, lol. xx!
The strength to be (insert relevant phrase) and still be kind. This sentiment sent a metaphor or three running through my head! Also I think I would like a Thesaurus of Humor on my bookshelf. And giving myself a healthy serving of guilt for my poor people I mean plants… Hmmm should I actually scatter a couple of sentence fragments in a blog comment? A professional writer’s blog?? Perhaps simply acknowledging that they are there is enough 😉. Love, Once a Teacher, Always a Teacher
Haha I will NEVER judge a sentence fragment! Always just glad for your thoughts 💞💞 I do think that thesaurus on the right person’s desk would be ace. Xoxo
Another book I have to read! Thank you for all the excerpts. Beautiful. Hope you're safe inside. Love.
Thank you for wading through my excerpts! Safe inside is the goal <3 xoxo