How does this work? Each newsletter you’ll see one reader’s answer to the previous week’s question. Then you’ll see the question they have for the list, which you can respond to if you’d like. Or you can just read and enjoy. [Spring 2021 pledge: this is going to come out far more regularly!]
Previous ask:
What was the last photo you took (not counting selfies)?
Zach answers:
I took this photo of the Williamsburg bridge pillars from the east river park (on the manhattan side) this morning.
My most consistent activity during quarantine has been early morning walks on the east river. I started as a safe way to get out of the house; then, mid-August, I fell off my bike and broke my collar bone and replaced my longer bike rides and runs with long walks: 8 miles on weekday mornings and 16-20 miles on weekends. (I’d go down the east river, loop around battery park, then walk to a nice grassy area a bit past Chelsea Piers, then walk back.)
I’m always struck by how beautiful this spot beneath the Williamsburg bridge is. I see lots of folks stop here and look out at the water.
On one walk I wrote a short haiku:
“between the williamsburg bridge pillars / water flows / the other way.”
[ed note: We got a bunch of great responses to this, with some lovely stories. Usually we just feature one answer, but I’ll post a few of the photos here, as well]]
Zach asks:
Tell me about a friend you’ve made during quarantine.
If you’d like to answer this question, you can simply hit reply to this email and write it in. Be sure to also include a question that you’d like to submit next. And tell us a story — your answer will be the bulk of the next newsletter. We will only use your first name, but if you wish to answer anonymously, let us know.
Bits and Pieces
From time to time, I’ll throw some updates, links, and other notes at the bottom of the newsletter.
I recently shared my “Gaslight Daniel Tiger” parenting technique on twitter, and was then asked to come on the “Good Kids” podcast and tell a story. It was very fun. I also really love the format of that podcast — one voice, some smart scoring and sound design. I wish more shows would try this.
One year into the pandemic, we are all of course thinking about how our world and our lives have changed. It will be a long time before we understand what this phase has done to us. Lately, I’ve also been thinking about what I like to call “innocuous life phases.” So many phases in life are defined by big things — family, death, work, health, the larger world. But I also have noticed that there are these seemingly random and innocuous phases in life as well. For about two years, I drank water almost exclusively out of a Camelbak backpack-straw-type-deal. Why? I have no idea. Why did I stop? I have no idea. The Camelbak still sits next to my bed, as it always did. But one day that phase just ended. As we get older I think we accumulate a lot more of these innocuous phases, and I’ve come to love them as a marker of time. Not all of life is defined by the epic. Not everything has to change you to your core to still help shape you.
Some recent additions to the Perfect Songs playlist.
“After Laughter (Comes Tears")” by Wendy Rene
“Baby, You’re My Kind” by Blossom Dearie
“Excitable Boy” by Warren Zevon
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