I wrote this post from beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona, where I spent a few days at a Mussar Institute conference.
It is sunny and cool here, and the mountains and cacti give it a gorgeous setting. I have gained so much from being here for a second year, learning and studying with like-minded people. I have also gotten to meet some fellow artists and see some of their work, which feels motivating and exciting.
Life recap…
For the house, I have been mainly focused on lighting. I ended up getting some good sale prices around Thanksgiving on most of our fixtures. We also selected countertops and made a change to how we are connecting the house to the garage. They are working on electric and HVAC currently. The biggest news is that we got our front door!
The school book fair was a success. This was my fourth time chairing it. I enjoyed it far more than I ever had before. I had ample help and was able to spend time with some of the students helping with shopping for something they loved. They joy on their faces around the book fair every year fills me with happiness.
Mr. B and I went to Puerta Vallarta for a few days for our 17th anniversary. Here’s what I wrote that day on Facebook: It’s astounding to think of how much we have shared together, learned about each other, and all the milestones to (hopefully) come since this picture [wedding photo] 17 years ago today. Together we have had 6 jobs, 5 moves (1 cross-country) to 6 houses/apartments (and one more of each to come soon), and lots of travel opportunities. We’ve been through 3 named hurricanes. We have lost 1 parent, 2 grandparents, 2 cats, 1 body organ (gall bladder), and a house. We have been blessed to encounter an infinite number of beautiful friends and 1 AMAZING DAUGHTER. We’ve shared many bedtime stories, birthday parties, and life lessons. We are grateful for all of it!
And this is not too shabby a view, right? It took me a couple days to unwind, but eventually I joined Mr. B in relaxing and just enjoying being together. I usually need to refill my own well before I can focus on someone else, which makes sense since we left right after the book fair craziness. We found our favorite spot to be at the rooftop pool. We created a little shaded haven for ourselves and read, swam, ate, and napped there.
These trips are so important for keeping our relationship strong. When we’re at home, other things take most of our attention and we forget to carve out time just for us. I often get in bed after putting SG to bed because I’m so tired, and Mr. B is often working. Sunday mornings are still our go-to time to catch up.
Family life is great. SG is almost halfway through fourth grade and doing well. She does her homework with no complaints these days. The other day, she took her camera with us on a photo walk and I had to smile at our similarity. I treasure our time together at bedtime when we read and catch up. We’ve made our way through almost all of Roald Dahl lately. We had a lovely Thanksgiving with family.
OK on to the books. But first… here are a couple of airplane cloud photos I couldn’t resist taking for their magical qualities.
The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman
Wow. I picked this up about a year ago in an airport… I don’t really know why. After finishing The Soul of an Octopus (below), I was curious about other animals’ abilities. Some of the birds Ackerman describes behave in ways that are stunningly intelligent. Keas (small parrots) are practical jokesters. New Caledonian crows make tools and can complete an 8-step game to get to food. Scrub jays play a shell game where they bury, then later move or pretend to move food from one cache to another to trick other scrub jays. Male bower birds make beautiful art to attract a female. Ackerman covers many scientific observations on avian cognitive function and capability. I found it all fascinating.
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
This one is on the bestseller lists, is an Oprah’s Book Club selection, and is nominated for many awards. Then when one of you dear souls recommended it, I had to read it!
A black man wrongly accused and sent to prison… and his wife left behind who may or may not be with somebody else. This was a very engaging story and I enjoyed the unfolding of it the way Jones tells it. Each character has his own perspective and feelings, of course, and so there is no one true and unbiased version of this story. The writing is descriptive and gave me lots to think about.
“Much of life is timing and circumstance, I see that now. Roy came into my life at the time when I needed a mina like him. Would I have galloped into this love affair if I had never left Atlanta? I don’t know. But how you feel love and understand love are two different things… Human emotion is beyond comprehension, smooth and uninterrupted, like an orb make of blown glass.”
Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years by David Litt
I like thinking about the Obama years when all was right(er) with the world and we could be proud of our leaders. Litt tells how he came to work on the Obama campaign and eventually was hired as a speechwriter. He shares in humorous and self-deprecating anecdotes how he worked his way up to become one of the main writers, moving from making extreme nervous gaffes in the President’s presence to getting to know him better. Litt’s summary of Obama’s presidency was poignant and he makes an inspiring call to public service at the end of his book. Altogether an enjoyable book and a reminder that there are many who still hold on to hope for change.
“I’d often heard senior staff describe President Obama as the smartest guy in the room, but only now did I realize what they meant. He didn’t speak seven languages or know the Latin names of species or multiply large numbers in his head. What he did, more quickly than anyone, was strip away complicated issues to their essence and make the most of the information obtained. No one was better at getting to the point.”
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery
This is definitely one of the best books I have ever read. I had absolutely no idea how intelligent, social, and adaptive the octopus is! I read about their three hearts, the distribution of neurons along their arms, their suckers, and their curious intelligence. The author forms deep relationships with the staff and the octupuses at the aquarium and tells her observations with such heart that it brought tears to my eyes at times. I will never look at these creatures the same way.
Thanks for reading! As always, send your recommendations my way. I’m currently reading Becoming by Michelle Obama and enjoying her story.
