Hello Autumn
It’s 4:30 pm, the time of day in August in D.C. when the sun mercifully goes away, storm clouds roll in, and lamps get switched on. This can mean only one thing; autumn is on its way, and I love it. For me, maybe because my student days are not yet THAT far behind me, the autumn feels like more of a fresh start than January. It’s a time to declutter, to upgrade, to implement new routines - out with the old, in with the new. And this year, for a whole host of reasons, this feels even more pertinent. So, I’ve made a few changes, and, for fun, I would like to share them with you.
The news right now is… pretty devastating on all accounts. I think, well at least I hope, people are beginning to realise that the Coronavirus is not one and done, but is going to be sticking around for a while. We spent a year waiting for life to go back to ‘normal’, but I think we are now figuring out that, even with this remarkable vaccine (by the way, GET THE VACCINE), life simply cannot be what it was. Businesses must operate differently, travel is certainly more stressful (as I can personally attest to, having just recovered from a seriously disrupted trip), and maybe musicians have to keep searching for alternative ways to share their art. With that being said, it looks like working from home is not going anywhere, so I bought a new desk chair! And let me tell you, after two years of sitting on my little antique hardwood chair that was beginning to creak a little too threateningly whenever I gingerly perched on it, this large, cushioned, comfy desk chair feels like heaven.
I don’t know why it took me so long to fully lean into working from home - maybe I’ve been in denial - but it definitely seems like I’m making up for lost time. Because, on my (aforementioned) recent trip to Canada, I invested in the most wonderful sweat-suit from the one and only Roots, and I am just waiting for the colder weather to set in so I can live in it. But it also seems like workwear is changing even as people are returning to the office, so perhaps it’s time for some new sweats, whatever your situation is? I wonder if ‘concert black’ will still be the lifeless norm required for classical musicians…
Speaking of work, my current life as a teacher is evolving to include teaching an (online) group technique class - something that will be terrifyingly new to me. Remembering what my intensely high expectations were as a precocious teenager, I feel pretty daunted by managing a 10-week course for a group of people online. I think I’ve got a plan figured out, but can you ever really be fully prepared for this kind of situation? Still, it’s good to be challenged and pushed out of your comfort zone, and violin technique is absolutely my jam, so I’m excited for this one. Also, let’s normalise talking about performance anxiety in teachers!
Like I said before, it’s difficult to keep up with the world’s news right now. I’ve become really aware and appreciative of good journalism, especially over the past year, so I’ve decided to fork out the few dollars a month and subscribe to my favourite news sources. I want to recommend doing this if you can, not to have access to the big headlines, which are available for free everywhere, but to be able to read the really interesting stuff - the research studies, opinion pieces, the well-thought-out articles by talented writers. This is the stuff that really informs me and the way I think, and I believe it is really important.
Since spending some time on my friend’s farm earlier this summer, I have been completely convinced by the unmatchable quality of the produce that comes from local independent farms, and how important it is to support them. The stuff you get in the supermarket just doesn’t compare; it’s old, dies quickly, and actually, you end up wasting so much more by having to throw away rotten vegetables so often, and then spending more money on replacing them. This is why I decided to invest in a weekly vegetable box subscription from a local farm. I opted for the mystery box option, so I never know quite what I’m going to get, but I know it will be good. This is something that is so worth the money.
Lastly, I have a new system concerning my violin practice which I want to put into full effect this autumn. My practice takes place at the same time every day - first thing in the morning (after coffee, obviously) - and this time is sacred time. Nothing is allowed to come between me and my morning practice. I won’t look at or respond to emails, won’t worry about other tasks, won’t think about household chores, won’t make any big decisions, until my sacred practice time is finished and my violin is back in its case. I think that having this rule is the only way I can really care for my own practice and pay it the respect it deserves. Life is just too strange right now to try and get around to doing it later.
What’s Interesting?
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, by Elif Shafak, was a powerful read, with some really beautiful storytelling. It’s about a woman, living in Istanbul, who looks back on meaningful moments and relationships in her life during the 10 minutes and 38 seconds it takes her to die. I learned a lot about this country and culture, including about this heartwrenching place, ‘the cemetery of the companionless’, which, if you haven’t heard of it before, is quite shocking to read about.
This tiny desk concert from NPR featuring Anna B Savage, one of my current favourite artists, singing in the rain on the west coast of Ireland, was so very special.
This article from The Atlantic about reading translations of books and how these can change not just the literal words, but the whole story and message from the author, was really interesting, and something to be mindful of when reading something that is not in its original language! If only we could all speak every language in the world…
This banana liquor is surprisingly delicious!
One of “the most sophisticated department stores on earth” is being turned into one of the tackiest. I’m kind of here for it?
I recently got addicted to the Munchies YouTube channel, and Chef Tami Treadwell’s Fried Mac and Cheese Bites, which she makes with so much love and personality, spoke to me on many levels.
I know the Olympics already seem like a distant dream, but I don’t think enough attention was given to this moment. Interesting, how one athlete behaved with “radical courage”, dignity and grace, while another threw a temper tantrum like a child…
I love that the French word for thrift store is “Friperie”, or “Frip” for short. By the way, frippery in English is a pretty good word. Also, the best “Frip” in Montreal is Friperie Sidneys, just FYI.
This opinion piece from the NY Times about how restaurants are changing and we must change with them. I adore eating out, but I would prefer that people are paid properly, and the food I eat is real. Perhaps this is another autumnal change to consider…
Is there anything better than a post-lunch affogato?
Alright, let’s see what difference these small changes make! Happy autumn, everyone. Thanks for reading x
