Probably snacking on feta cheese
Hey gang! Wow, what an eventful July. Since last we met here in your inbox, I broke my finger, celebrated the Fourth of July, had surgery on my finger, flew to Portugal, flew to Spain, got COVID on the flight home sometime around the Atlanta airport, broke out in hives, and got even more tan. Plus there’s three cool new babies in my life, all of whom I love, but especially Nealy. And now I am sitting here using the dictation feature on my iPad to write this issue of Five Things. Oh if I were to keep the typos in here oh OK.
Isn’t it wonderful to think that the God of the universe is looking down on me in love as I talk to my work-issued iPad? I’ve always been told I have “good use of voice” and now we get to see it in action. Anyway I’ve missed writing this newsletter over the last month but I’m also grateful to have timed my break so well. We have a lot of new faces around here, grateful for that, let’s get to Steppin.
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This sentence now has links to the my instagram, and old issues of the newsletter. Also my Nuuly referral link. I hope today is beautiful for you. I’ll see you soon.
Number One: go to Europe the week after you have noninvasive hand surgery
About a month ago I went in for a consult with a plastic surgeon’s office regarding my broken finger. I was more than confident that they would tell me I was healing better than they’ve ever seen a person heal before and all I needed to do was make sure I didn’t break it again anytime soon. As it turns out the way that I broke my finger required surgery (or never being able to hold a tennis racquet again); specifically a surgery where they put two, inch-long, protruding pins in my finger and try to it straighten out. Through crocodile tears I asked my new BFF, PA Marci, “is going to Europe two days after having surgery just the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard?” Marci didn’t seem to think so.
In fact, I would say going to Europe two days after having surgery is actually a really great idea because all you have to do in Europe is walk around and eat amazing food. And sure there were a lot of stairs in Portugal. I cannot emphasize how many stairs there are. But I just took it slow on the more slippery stairs, and it was very doable.
The thing about recovering from surgery is that unless you’re at a high risk for complications, you just have to make the best of an uncomfortable situation. Which is honestly we’re going to Europe is all about.
The Monday I got back I had this moment where I was like “well I can’t go to the gym, I can’t swim, I can’t hold a pen, writing an email is beyond cumbersome, I can’t play tennis, going on a walk with my dog is kind of stressful right now, what am I supposed to do?”
Would not recommend going to Europe if you have a sprained ankle or a broken femur or if you’re recovering from extreme weight loss surgery. But if you had a whatever surgery I had, I recommend going to the Iberian Peninsula, it makes a recovery go by a little bit quicker.
Number Two: Morgan Wade
“Wilder Days” has rightfully done it’s time on the Indigo playlist. I would also like to draw your attention to “Take Me Away” fabulous. I will be campaigning to make 2023 our year of Morgan (not Wallen).
Number Three: “Can Pickleball save America?”
I’ve recently come around and I’m no longer a person who only enjoys Pickleball when people are chill about the rules, and now I enjoy Pickleball even with people who are really annoying about the rules. Isn’t it so wild how Pickleball went from that one unit in Lifetime Sports in high school to like a cultural moment? Anyway, I really enjoyed this piece from the New Yorker about the sudden rise of Pickleball, and the two organizations warring to control the sport.
Ok we are going to try to use Substack’s poll feature:
Number Four: an interview with an antiquities enforcer
I like the Anne Helen Peterson newsletter, but if you sign up just know you’re gonna get a lot of emails. She’s not just an 8 PM on Sunday girl.
This interview with Matthew Bogdanos was just absolutely fascinating. Bogdanos is the head of the New York antiquities theft task force. IThink especially if you have any sort of interest in archaeology, art, Geo political intrigue, or just watching rich people get in trouble you’ll find this interview interesting.
Number Five: Europe Trip highlights
I know it’s cliché, but truly every meal was better than the last. Seville had an incredible tapas. I think to getting to eat tapas with a group of six it’s just absolutely perfect. We could order the anchovies on tomato and try it and not be in love with the concept of anchovies on tomato but not feel like we were wasting anything just by being a little adventurous with our pallette.
Of Lisbon, Seville, and Madrid I loved Seville the most. I was so surprised when we were planning the trip it felt like Sevilla was like Cincinnati; like sure it’s a place you can go but of all the places in the world is that really where you want to go? Absolutely, you cannot miss it. The vibe was just impeccable; every 500 feet there was a jewelry store that I made us all stop at and look into; I didn’t buy anything but you never know when you’re going to find the perfect pair of gold hoop earrings. Gelato every afternoon before nap time, bliss.
One night, when we were walking down a hill in Portugal, I saw a friend from the 2015 RUF Intern class. So naturally we agreed to talk about the casual, critical, and crucial over a cup of iced coffee. Getting to catch up with Samira was such a treat. It made me miss the sweet connectedness of our geographically disconnected intern class. That was such a sweet and special season of life that I don’t often get to commiserate on and it was so just precious to be reminded of how wonderful God’s work in my life has been. Seven years after moving to Pittsburgh, I’m still an RUF truther.
I don’t remember quite exactly what prompted me to do this, but in moments of quiet, in moments where anxiety felt high, I would say the Lord’s Prayer to myself or out loud. I probably said the prayer 100 times in 10 days. I said it on planes, on boats, on trains, in restaurants, in bars, on top of towers, while hiking up trails, while hiking down trails, once on an escalator. It was a sweet meditation. I think more than anything I felt more aware of God’s nearness and God’s unchanging qualities in these times. Technically, I tried to make it has a breathing exercise, but box breathing through the Lord’s Prayer takes a long time. So mostly I just said it.
Currently reading:
Job // Managing Leadership Anxiety // The Pilgrim at Tinker Creek