Rich People, Babies, And More Babies
I would like to abolish fake stinky diapers.
While I write this on a Sunday night, I’m reflecting on what a whirlwind of a time it has been lately. It feels like a time of change and transformation--not necessarily positive but also not negative, either? Just as though things are shifting and changing, in a way that you can differentiate it from another time as the turning point. Marking and dividing a time before and after. It has felt like it’s been coming all summer for me. I don’t think I’ve tried to ignore it, but I wouldn’t say I’ve embraced it either. I don’t feel without choice, but rather with many choices laid out and needing to decipher my words, action, future. What a light and delicate time!
Yet, in this turmoil and tumultuousness, I feel some peace. Knowing that it will pass and life will continue (have I written enough cliches yet, ha). It’s what it will be and I will be here still. But I am still hoping for a calmer and more settling week ahead.
Reading
Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
A wealthy family experiences a trauma when their father is kidnapped. Many years later, their family has definitely not processed this event well. We hear mostly from the three children in their present day lives as adults in their 30s and 40s, as they struggle in their own special and insane ways (think drugs, anxiety, shame, etc). Life seems to be falling apart dramatically from them (or does it??)
This book is wild and maddening. It is twisty in a real-world perverse kind of way. The writing is brilliant, the character infuriating, despicable in a way that you will keep turning that page because you want to know what insanity they will cook up next. Themes definitely include rich people are the worst and family generational trauma. I especially enjoyed the sister’s portion in which she wrestles with how to cope with being wealthy and trying to cosplay being poor (a popular rich people hobby from what I can tell).
One little thing about this book that I didn’t like: the word ‘sphincter’ was used no less than 4 times! FOUR! WHY! To describe varying areas of the body. Once is enough! A law must be in place from here on out. I guess I hate that word.
Otherwise, I tore through this one and recommended it! It got me out of a mediocre streak of reading and was an entertaining time.
What Are Children For? On Ambivalence and Choice by Anastasua Berg & Rachel Wiseman
Well-researched and thoroughly explorative, this book covers philosophical and logical reasoning when it comes to having children. It’s dense with historical inputs, literary themes across time when it comes to women having children, as well as exploring common moral reasons/excuses for children, especially ones of the size like having children will cause bring them human pain or that it’s not good to have children because of the impact we have on the environment. The book is pretty neutral in stance, as much as it can be from two women who both decided to pursue and succeed in having children. It’s a pretty informed way of looking at a difficult and life-changing question and choice in life. It won’t decide anything for you, but I appreciated the context it could provide when thinking about your own choice.
Watching
Honestly, I have not been watching anything interesting so I guess this is another week of nothing much to say here. Although, I have thought I should have paid more attention to the Olympics because that is what everyone is talking about and I like to be included. But I fear it’s too late so maybe next time!
It’s Baby Season!
This was a weekend of baby showers (I realized the interesting coincidence after having a read a book about having children, but I guess my friends and family have decided ha). We had one celebration on Saturday for a friend and then my brother is having his second baby, so we went to theirs on Sunday. Lots of baby-themed games were played and I would like to highlight a few things on this:
That diaper game needs to end because it is sick! I’m talking about the one that has like squished up food in a diaper and you open up the diaper or smell it to decipher what previous normal thing you enjoyed has been ruined for you forever.
Baby stuff is expensive! We played a version of the Price Is Right and wow, we should have splurged more on our friends and family because that stuff is spendy!
Watching grown adults chug beer out of baby bottles is not something I want to participate in, but it is something I want to watch.
Overall, I had a great time celebrating such a big change in life! Can’t wait to have the babies earthside and see their little personalities.
Hope you have a great week and thanks for reading!