Five Things to Remember from September
For several months, I've been keeping track of five things I'd like to remember from that month. Here's what came up in September.
One. This year, I’m scratching that September “back to school“ itch by signing up for a couple of classes: weight training and drawing with coloured pencils. So far, they’re amazing. I've enjoyed the chance to review the anatomy of abdominal muscles. And I've made two colour wheels!! For example.
Two. All the “at the end of the summer I’ll handle x” things were staring me in the face but I got a reprieve when the weather finally turned warmer (August was chilly and damp). And of course I went back to “do this summer” to-dos (paint, tidying) along with going out in the boat. It was fabulous to have that second chance at summer.
Three. I’m in several different types of book clubs at the moment. One is a club where writers read and discuss writing advice books. That’s fun! I’m also in a long-standing book club that tackles difficult books that require thought and preparation. And I’m in the book club hosted by Entershine Bookshop, our local bookstore. My newest book club is more of a "what are you reading?" report, along with a brief "and what do you think of it?" It's interesting although it's definitely not helping my TBR list. This year there’s a little bit of overlap between the book lists, which is great because it gives me time to read following my own inclinations too. I’m hoping that all the different types of book clubs will balance each other out.
Four. One element of summer I really enjoy is exerting my will on the landscape around here. Not in the “I’m gonna clear cut this entire forest” way—more in the “I’m going to get this deadfall off the paths” way. Making a visible difference in something can be nice change from writing, where progress isn’t always something you can measure. (In spite of word counts.)
Five. We were at a memorial service this month, in my ongoing series of being struck by the impossibility of summing up a life in an obituary. Yes, the obituary provides facts—it might narrate stories or list what somebody’s favourite coffee flavour was or what their usual order was at their favourite restaurant. But that’s not enough. Memorial services are important. Of course, nothing—not a perfect service, not a perfect obituary, not the perfect photo display or slide deck, not a recording of their voice—will take away the grief.
Periodically (sometimes weekly, sometimes not) I post about the books I read on Instagram. Here are the books I’ve posted about lately.
- Lost Between the Cracks: The Tale of Being Hardy, Mona Hardy and ShaeMichelle Watson
- Farm: Lot 23, Tonya Lailey
- Junie, Chelene Knight
- Dissolution, Nicholas Binge
- The Widow’s Crayon Box, Molly Peacock