what's good : 2023, part 1
Highlighting some books, foods, music, movies, and places
I’ve already explained that my new year has always begun in August so December 31st feels anticlimactic. (Thus, me in pajamas on my laptop at 9pm with Fred at my feet while the neighborhood lights fireworks). For my off-season reflection, I’ve decided to briefly list & link the things that stood out to me last year1 (January - June). I hope you find a few things to inspire your plans for 2024.
January
In movies & books: We got passes to see a documentary called Turn Every Page: The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb. It’s about the 50+ year relationship between a writer and his longtime editor as they finished the final volume of a 5-part Lyndon Johnson biographical series. You might now be raising an eyebrow and/or making the same politely disinterested face my husband did when I explained what we were going to watch, which would be entirely fair. However, you might also be as pleasantly surprised as he was afterward. It was fascinating [renewed my desire to be an editor, but only if I get a cool NYC office] and unexpectedly funny + poignant. We ordered all of their books (including the first collaboration not about LBJ, The Power Broker) on our way home in the car.
February
In places: Winter in Washington State can be less than inspiring as it tends to be more cold-wet-slushy than fun-crisp-snowy. But when you have good friends who are game for sharing space & meals and an occasional brisk walk, it’s a great time for getaways. In fact, I recommend2 using the actual Getaway service if you’re lucky enough to live or be visiting near one of their “outposts.” They have created small pods of tiny cabins in the woods outside cities where people can breathe fresh air & enjoy life at an intentionally slower pace - there are all of the comfort amentities of a comfortable hotel room (plus books, games, tips about ticks, and s’mores) except for Wi-Fi. Our friends rented a spot across from us at the “Portland” Getaway on Mt. Adams; we shared dinner & dessert one night and a stroll around the campground the next day. These activities settle a bit differently, more agreeably, when removed from everyday noises. Another weekend, we spent time with four other friends in a spacious Airbnb house on the Olympic Peninsula. There we took turns making breakfasts, lunches, dinners & drinks while listening to each other’s playlists, chatting, and watching B-movies. We walked dogs and explored creeks and looked up neighboring houses on Zillow [they did have Wi-Fi]. I took pictures of Nature and wrote with morning birdsong while watching for bears as the owners warned in their guidebook; it was marvelous. Treat yourself to a little timeout or two.
In music: I scored free tickets to see M.A.G.S. at the Doug Fir Lounge. Both of these things are generally directed at much younger folk than we but I took a good nap beforehand and made it through the night. It helped that the opener, Blvck Hippie, was wildly energetic. Take a listen because I will not properly do these artists justice by describing them with my old woman language.
March
In movies & poetry: I dragged my infinitely patient husband to another odd movie night to see Off the Charts: The Song-Poem Story at Hollywood Theatre. It’s a fascinating history that I’d never known, about the song-poem contest craze in the US. Afterward, local bands performed songs they created from poem snippets that people sent in ahead of time (including me but I can’t find my submissions to share here). It was perfectly odd + endearing, and very Portlandia.
April
In places: If you ever find yourself invited to the east coast of England - Norfolk, to be precise - do go, though bring a thick coat & gloves because even though there is a place called California there, the weather is all jolly English. (Read: Windy + Frigid)
It is packed with charming towns called things like Great Yarmouth sporting boardwalks and tourist trolleys and kindly firm traffic cops and donkeys to ride on the sand. There is also a place out there called Horsey Gap (no idea why) where seals come hang out on the beach, rolling, moaning, and occasionally trying to fight each other. It is amazing in the truest sense of that overused word. I took far too many pictures plus a couple of ridiculous videos. We chatted with a Friend of Horsey volunteer and I seriously contemplated a life there, doing that. Maybe during summers...
In books: I took Nyle DiMarco’s memoir Deaf Utopia on my trip to England and devoured it. Despite the ugly history that DiMarco exposes of how Deaf Americans have been treated, his story is overall beautifully moving & full of instructions for a better country for all of us. His voice is utterly delightful - he tells not only about a childhood with his all-Deaf family but also his college days, sexual explorations, plus experiences with modeling & TV - and makes me look forward to more ways he’ll be making moves in the future.
In music: Also while in England, we discovered there were £150 tickets available on the floor of The O2 for Elton John’s concert the next night; you might have heard of him? Definitely a highlight. File under Be Spontaneous and also Always Check Just In Case.
May
In movies: On Mother’s Day, I usually enjoy a meal with my family then go see a movie alone, one I don’t think they would care much about. Last year, maybe because our kids are actual adults with their own homes so we aren’t all together as often, everyone wanted to come to Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret with me. I reminded them that this was not just any movie - Judy Blume’s books in general were the bibles of my girlhood, but THIS ONE was the most holy. Despite its being published when I was not yet in kindergarten + referencing feminine products that had mercifully been updated by the time I needed them, and despite not knowing any Jews or what an A&P was, and despite not having a swinger3 grandma, I was Margaret at 11. Her angst and anxiety and fierce feelings were the same as mine. My family had to agree that if they found themselves uninterested in the movie at any point, they were to stay silent & still about it. No sighing, no squirming. And also no staring at me to see if I was crying. In the end everyone behaved. And I was relieved to find everything about the movie met my expectations, which I didn’t realize until the end were pretty high & intense. And of course I cried, happily.
June
In music & food/drinks: A friend who is a dedicated indie-artist follower alerted me to an appearance by one of her favorites, Matt Brown, at a local winery in 2022. I discovered he’s actually from a small town nearby and saw him perform again last spring at Giatti’s Speakasy, a cute little space behind a wine bar. We enjoyed his songs - mellow John Mayer/James Taylor vibe - and a huge homemade chocolate chip cookie sundae with craft cocktails.
Also went with my bestie to see Janet Jackson, with Ludicrous opening. It was everything our 80s teen/90s cool college selves wanted, minus wine coolers.
Come back next week soon4 for part 2 of what’s good 2023.
Maybe you’ll find your next favorite read/record/meal/movie/vacation/all of the above.
I started optimistically with sticky notes about all 12 months but then midnight came at April and I must sleep.
Please use this referral link to book your Getaway and score a discount for both of us!
This might be an exaggeration on my part, but no adult I grew up with was as open with her dating life + it was the 70s.
Still working on my Writer Schedule + doing some Con work; please be patient.