The Fracture: April 2024, Part 1
HuffPost Round 2? Exchanging music with my teen. Esther Perel talks about one of Modern Love's most controversial essays.
Oh my, this life. A lot of distractions. A lot of zombie-strolling through life. Looking forward to having real time to process and over-analyze some items in my brain… or I can just continue joyously avoiding them.
The links
So Sublime is headed up by Bradley Nowell’s son Jakob now. My teen son and I often share music, and this news prompted me to play “Doin’ Time” for him. (His response: head nodding.) This also brought back memories of myself around the same age as him when I went on a special mission to destroy my Sublime CD because I felt I was letting in evil spirits by playing the music on my boom box. (Read: tell me you grew up evangelical without telling me you grew up evangelical.) I should really share that story; it’s ridiculously funny. Yes, that will be forthcoming this weekend. I just put it in my calendar.
So many of you know Esther Perel, the Belgian-American psychotherapist who specializes in intimate relationships. Esther was recently featured on the NYT Modern Love podcast (don’t get me started… my attempt #3 needs some attention) commenting about one of the column’s most controversial essays, “What Sleeping With Married Men Taught Me About Infidelity” by Karin Jones. Not going to say I know what Karin’s talking about, but I know what Karin’s talking about.
I don’t like taking links from other “rundown” newsletters, but Roxane Gay posted this excerpt from Poets & Writers, featuring Steve Almond’s new book Truth Is the Arrow, Mercy Is the Bow: How to Write the Unbearable Story. So much good stuff. I copied most of the article into a Keep note. It’s definitely on my “To Read” list. Just need to finish some books before I buy more. One of the many quips from Steve: “The greater the resistance to the telling of a particular story, the greater the value in its being told.”
The music
Lil Yachty - “running out of time”
This came from my son’s recommendations. I played it too many times because I have to absorb a song after my brain determines I like it. The first lyric comes in at :31 with “Watch it, girl.” Yeah, I was hooked.
If I told you all of my secrets, baby girl
Would you look in my eyes and feel deceived?
Well, I can't let you leave, I told you far too much
Now you gotta stick with me, yeah-mm
…
Stay up with me
Stay up and watch the sun
Baby, lay up with me
Stay up with me
You been on my mind
And livin' here like it ain't much time left
Run your lips into mine
Stronger when we unite, hoo
And now a song that is very much on the opposite end of the spectrum (probably not, if you want to really get into it)… Evanescence’s “Call Me When You’re Sober.”
This popped up on my stream recently, and I was instantly transported to… 2006… ??? No, I refuse. I was already married. The Google machine must be wrong. The best part of the video is at the very end. Amy Lee releases a small laugh and goes deadpan. Signature Desiree look.
Don't cry to me, if you loved me
You would be here with me
You want me, come find me
Make up your mind
The art
Emily Coan was recently featured in the NYT article “A New Way of Looking at the Nude.” So yeah, I’m addicted. The article includes her naughty and empowering “Vice Grip” piece. Obviously, following her.
The random
So I was contacted by the editor of the HuffPost Personal column this past week. They post conversational reels of their viral pieces and share them on their social media platforms. I was asked if I wanted to work with their Audience team and compose one based on my piece. Sure, why not? For the experience, right? Looking forward to tackling this with many, many recordings this weekend.
My/our 20th wedding anniversary is coming up. Too busy to do much, but we’re/I’m planning a fancy dinner out and a “Look, haters, we made it” photo shoot with one of my most favorite people with epic photography skills.
I’ve been researching clothing optional resorts. Must I go out of the country? I don’t even have a passport. Is Florida my best option? Eww. (Don’t judge, Desiree.)
I saw your article was featured again - bravo! How does all of that feel (other than or in addition to what you have already mentioned)? Cheers