The Newsletter I Didn't Have Time To Write

fall flavors, supporting adult kids, thumbs are useful, and making art (almost) every day

Issue #66

Dear Reader,

It’s been a couple of weeks since I last wrote something to share with you. I thought I’d stop in and tell you a few of the reasons why I don’t have time to write a newsletter this week.

I don’t have time to write this week because one of my adult kids is calling me (ages 23, 22, and 19). Maybe they need emotional support or help with something practical or they simply want to hang out together. It’s a true gift to be one of the people they turn to but it can also be exhausting when it’s all three in one day. It takes some work to figure out the best way to show up for them in this season of their life and it’s different for each child. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way because my other friends with young adult kids say the same thing. And yet I’ll keep answering the phone every time they call. Soon enough they will turn to their future spouses instead of us or live in another city or country (not just thirty minutes away). I plan to soak it up even if I’m a little extra tired.

A recent afternoon spent with one of my daughters. She took me to a fun bookstore, then a coffee shop that serves waffles where we did art side by side (the cat artwork is hers).).

I can’t write my newsletter this week because it’s October and the flavors of Fall are calling out to me. It’s time to go make Trader Joe’s pumpkin pancakes instead and eat every meal on these thrifted seasonal plates.

I can’t write my newsletter because I was in a car accident two weeks ago. Almost immediately after the accident, my left hand began to swell up and turn the color of blueberry jam. Did I mention I’m left-handed? You learn a lot about the importance of thumbs when one of your thumbs stops working. I’ve thought of my daughter often over the last few weeks. When she was a baby she had surgery to make her forefinger into a thumb on her left hand (she also had heart surgery that saved her life so we’re pretty big fans of the marvels of modern medicine). When I’ve tried to open zip lock bags or button clothes with only one thumb this past week I’ve gotten a small taste of some of her challenges.

I can’t write my newsletter this week because I’m thinking about Tillamook Mudslide ice cream, a problem which is entirely my husband’s fault. Last week we sent him to the store to get Chocolate Moose Tracks, my favorite kind of ice cream. That flavor was sold out so he carefully chose a different ice cream with many of the same delicious characteristics (chocolate ice cream and ribbons of chocolate ganache). Now Tillamook Mudslide is my new favorite flavor which should be a wonderful thing. Unfortunately I have a chronic pain condition that recently showed improvement when I stopped eating chocolate. Now I’m faced with a serious dilemma: to feel better for a few moments (eat the ice cream) or feel better for several days (skip the ice cream).

I can’t write my newsletter because I’m learning how to read again. I’ve always been a voracious reader but my ability to focus on books has been disappearing over the past five years. No doubt it’s due to the amount of tv shows and movies that I watch, especially during my nightly bouts of insomnia. Last week I decided to set a fifteen minute timer every day for reading and I chose East of Eden by John Steinbeck for my subject. So far the daily habit is helping. Sometimes I read beyond the fifteen minutes but even if I don’t it’s better than not reading at all that day. I’ve also increased my reading time by starting the morning with the Celtic Prayer Book and Tattoos on the Heart by Greg Boyle.

I can’t write this week because it’s Fall break here and our one remaining child who lives at home got sick this week. Next one of the college-aged kids showed up unexpectedly with a laundry basket and a cold as well. Now my husband has the sniffles and I’m busy taking vitamin C every four hours to see if I can be the one person in our house who outruns it.

I can’t write my newsletter because I’m trying to go on more dates with my husband. This week we went to the Vampire Weekend concert at an outdoor amphitheater and aside from walking through the craziness that is downtown Nashville on a Friday night, we had a blast.

Vampire Weekend Concert

I can’t write my newsletter because I’ve got to go draw another bird. Inktober is an annual art tradition in the month of October where people use the same drawing prompts and then share their work. There was something compelling about getting back to a daily art habit but I found myself tensing up when I read over the official prompts. Then I came across someone who had created bird related drawing prompts and called it Birdtober instead. Just the thought of drawing birds every day made me excited not stressed. I started without any particular medium or style but on day six I used collage elements and simple lines to complete the rest of the bird. I liked it so much I decided to keep going with those specific choices for the rest of the month (see below).

So that’s it! Those are all of the reasons I don’t have time to write a newsletter this week. 😉

Blessings from the Guest Nest,

-Aimee

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What about you? What Fall flavors are you eating? What art are you making? What’s filling up your time this month?

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Continue the Journey

The Ghost of Friendship Past

No One Told Me

Reading is a Feast

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Thanks so much for reading, sharing, and contributing to the conversation. You can support my art and writing by donating to my art supply fund and by sharing this newsletter with friends who might enjoy it.

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