First thing this morning, while only half-conscious, I discovered I’d started my period. Blergh. An hour and a half later, after school drop-off, I scooped up a dead mouse from my front walkway. Blech. When my mom texted to check in, I joked that the universe was punishing me. It only felt that way because, the previous night, I’d also tested positive for COVID.
On an average week, this would have been just an average bummer. But my husband had just left for a five-day trip to Palm Springs and I was parenting alone. On top of that, I was slated to go to Philly on February 1 to interview personal sex ed superhero Emily Nagoski on her new book Come Together, as part of her book tour. And my god, I hate breaking a commitment.
As if that weren’t enough, upon confirming I had COVID, I also had to cancel several social plans, plus a reservation to do cat yoga at a brand new catfe!
CAT YOGA.
CATFE.
(Let us all take a moment of silence for my canceled cat yoga reservation.)
Still, when I coughed my way through my teletherapy session yesterday, my therapist observed that despite my health issues this past month (I’d also had the stomach flu because my immune system is hot garbage), I seemed in good spirits. And sure, that was before I realized I had COVID. Before I had to admit I wouldn’t recover in time for the event in Philly. Before I had to cancel cat yoga. But still, though I’ve been wheezing and coughing the whole dang month, I’m still excited for everything to come in 2024.
Since January 2020, I feel as if many of us have been collectively waiting for things to Get Better. Yet each successive year has brought its own disappointments, globally, nationally, and on a personal level.
But it’s easy to overlook the good stuff that still exists when you’re just waiting for the universe to corroborate your sour outlook.
After I write this, I’m going to lie down for several hours while my child is in school (COVID-negative, thank god, but masked nonetheless). I’m going to suck in that sweet humidified air and snuggle with my giant Squishmallow and maybe catch up on the sleep I didn’t get last night. And I’m going to remember that once COVID is behind me, I have a lot to look forward to.
What are you looking forward to this year?
—Steph 😘
P.S. The kind folks at Catfe Montclair were able to squeeze me into another cat yoga class on a later date! #blessed.
On the Internets
I dug this piece from Lyz Lenz that was about running, but also about the power of doing something as a group.
I feel as if this story is everywhere now, but I still found it fascinating: on how a reusable cup (the Stanley cup) became a symbol of overconsumption.
I linked to a related story last month, but here’s more on radical bookstore Bluestockings, and why it’s facing possible eviction.
And here’s an interesting/dispiriting article on why it may be difficult for certain folks to access this new pill that’s meant to help manage postpartum depression.
Everything I Accomplished Despite Life
While I may be missing out on Emily’s book tour, I did get to moderate a virtual event for Hippocampus with Chantha Nguon, Kim Green, and Clara Kim about their memoir Slow Noodles. The conversation was emotional as heck and I feel a lot of gratitude toward our guests for being so open and vulnerable and generous.
I gave my 2 cents on the best horror novels of 2023, over at Book Riot.
Also for Book Riot, I wrote about the works of 10 contemporary horror authors that I foresee becoming new classics.
And most exciting of all, I published my first ever horror story!
Necessary for My Sanity This Past Month
Now that my first horror story is out in the world, I’m already working on another one, with some super helpful feedback from my critique group. It’s fun to be playing around with something new.
The new choir season has begun! Hell, that’s probably where I got COVID! But I’m still so excited to be singing Billy Joel’s “Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel).”
You already know I’m taking an online sewing course. But I’m now somuchcloser to Making A Thing. Here’s the fabric I ordered for my first class project.
After falling for T. Kingfisher’s Saints of Steel series last month, I picked up TJ Klune’s The Lightning-Struck Heart and, my god, I have never experienced so much unhinged romantasy-tastic (romantastic?) fun. Luckily, there are five more books in the series.
And finally, after about two decades of wanting to get involved in this program, I’ve become a mentor for Girls Write Now. I was just matched with my mentee and we had our first session last week and I love everything about this.
Hot Takes
My Mood at This Very Moment
…and also…
You do sound like you're in good spirits! My favorite thing--enjoying a bad day. Thanks for sharing and writing this, I loved reading it. I hope you feel better soon and Ohmygod CAT YOGA!!!