Friday Things #596

1. Dominic has been completing another round of immunotherapy this week and has tolerated it well so far (and managed to get some schoolwork done, too). His last infusion is tomorrow, and we’ll be home tomorrow night or Sunday morning; very thankful to have another round behind us and hopefully be a step closer to the end of treatment.
2. Every 9/11, I look at the sky and marvel at how blissfully blue it was that morning. I can’t believe it’s been 25 years; I still remember every detail of that day. Driving in to my morning class in college, I heard about the first plane on the radio, thinking it was a prop plane and freak accident. By the end of my first class, there were administrators outside of the rooms, telling people to return to dorms or leave campus if you didn’t live in the dorms. Taking HOURS to get home because of gridlock caused by everyone trying to get home. Cell phones not working. The eerie quiet of the backyard sky when we stood outside, then came the thundering sound of fighter jets. It was terrifying and surreal. Where were you? What do you remember?
3. My kids have all taken so well to the new school year and all seem to be enjoying it. I was most nervous about Joseph’s transition to middle school and while the workload has definitely increased, he has been SO happy, thoroughly enjoying everything, and doing really, really well with the work and higher expectations. I’m so proud of him.
4. I am about halfway done with Winter Garden and am loving it; I’m planning to read The Calamity Club once I finish. What are you reading right now?
5. I love the idea of a September reset.
6. How reading over coffee can help increase focus. There really was something to morning coffee over the newspaper!
7. Love this compilation of advice from James Clear:
- Unexpected forms of generosity from James Clear:
- Being early can be a form of generosity. You wait, so they don't have to.
- Leaving something unsaid can be a form of generosity. You don't always need the last word.
- Delivering your work on time can be a form of generosity. You make life easier for everyone downstream.
- Not taking things personally can be a form of generosity. You give people the space to say things imperfectly.
8. And one more nugget from one of his recent newsletters:
“Modern life is largely spent in three positions: sitting, standing, and lying down.
Try to break the mold. Spend more time this week doing something besides sitting, standing, or lying down. Go for a walk, stretch in the grass, swim in the pool, kneel in the garden, climb a hill. Or you can sit or stand, but add something to it. Paint while you stand. Bike while you sit.
Our physical abilities rarely vanish overnight. They usually fade away from disuse. The body trains for tomorrow based on what it is asked to do today.”
9. This week at the hospital, Dominic has been re-watching the movie McFarland, USA… it’s a Kevin Costner movie from about 10 years ago, based on a true story about a cross country team in California. It’s on Disney+ if you’re looking for something new to watch as a family.
10. TGIF! Judith likes to keep my pillow warm while I’m gone 🩷




Michelle,
Thank you for sharing the updates.mHappy to hear all your children have adjusted well to the new school year. May your family continue to receive good news regarding Dominic’s treatment and all of you be well.
September 11, 2001 was such a watershed moment for our nation and the world. I recall that morning clearly and the feelings of sadness and pain for all those lost. I hope the passage of time has eased some of that pain, but we shall never forget.
I’m happy to hear about Dominic and the rest of your kiddos. I pray for continuing healing and health for you all.
I was working in a bakery on 9/11. I was decorating cakes. It was about 6am MST. We had a small tv and we were still at only one plane hit the tower and it was confusion of what is happening, and as we were watching the second plane hit the other tower. We turned on the large tv at the front and everyone stood in disbelief of what was happening. My ex husband was in the air force and he had literally, 2 days prior, got out. Here we have Hill AFB and the F16s went on the hot pads to fly cover. I remember getting a call from his old commanding officer asking if I knew where he was working, he was nice but you could hear the stress. He asked me to bring my exs uniform to base, he still worked on base as a civilian. I didn’t see my then husband for 5 days. It was surreal. I lost 3 friends and one of my besties lost her mom and sister when the South tower fell. I’ve said many times to my son, that one thing that really hit me was the firefighters running into the towers knowing they may not come out. My heart goes out to everyone and I miss who we were as a country on 9/12.
Love this newsletter. Prayers for continued healing for Dominic. Peace and love to you and your family. I love many of your recipes!
This will sound straight outta Crazy Town but it’s true.
I was on disability from a work-related back injury. I was a paramedic in the fire department. I was driving home from my meeting with a retirement specialist for the city I worked for. I had just changed my end of employment date and was pretty tearful over it ending. As I drove I had a clear vision or daydream (while going 70!) of chunks of cement falling and clouds of dust. A soft voice whispered “It was time to get you out of there”, and then the vision was gone. I shrugged it off as some kind of trauma response. The next morning my alarm went off via radio and I thought I was dreaming about my vision: buildings coming down? What? It was too true. It was Sept 11.
The Winter Garden was so good! I’m sure this is an unpopular opinion, but I did not love The Calamity Club. I listened to the audiobook and the voices were fantastic. But I thought the last fourth of the book was unnecessarily long.
That September morning 25 eyars ago has to be forever etched on the minds of those of us old enough to really remember and understand. I do hope future generations will be able to continue to learn from the tragedy and the out pouring of generosity, support and unity that those days, weeks and months that became a symbol for what American was and needs to be again…so desperately.
My PT suggested The Calamity Club as a wonderful story but said she thought it was best enjoyed in the audio version.
She also suggested The Correspondant…which is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
Continued prayers for dear Dominic…such a strong soul.
I am doing “The Women on Platform Two” by Laura Anthony for book club tomorrow. Excellent book!
And just finished reading “ The Burning Side” by Sarah Damoff- so very good
Continued prayer for good reports following this round of treatment. Wonderful treatment advances less side effects such a wonder.
Glad transitions back to school have been good. Great ages for curiosity and excitement about learning.
Have a good weekend baking or just enjoying. Football starting so must really be fall
Sandy
I have very similar memories of 9/11 except I was working my outside sales job. I remember driving on one of the roads that are very heavily traveled w lots of red lights, and people being very nice in traffic, and listening to the radio and hearing what was unfolding and getting to the end of that busy road and seeing a large American flag being adjusted so that it was at half-mast.
I’m reading Once We Were Brothers. I don’t do coffee, so I’m reading over Pepsi or iced tea.
So glad to hear Dominic is doing well with treatment! I just finished reading “Dolly All the Time”. It was kind of fun – takes place on the east coast, where I’d love to live. I’m quite a bit older than your average reader I think. On 911 I was walking back from seeing my kids off on the school bus, thinking what a gorgeous day it was. Had just lost my mom and was thinking about her and all that she was missing with her grandkids. Got home, started doing things around the house when my husband called from work and said there was a plane crash into a building and put the tv on. Couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Today is a rough day for sure. On a lighter note, I love how Judith lays on your pillow – she misses you!
I read 2 of 3 book series, Shield of Sparrows and Rites of a Starling by Deveny Perry. Very good. Fantasy, Romance novel. I didn’t think I’d like this type of book, with monsters and kings/queens but it was surprisingly really good. Looking forward to the third book comes out in March 2027. Anyway sending good thoughts and prayers your way 🙏🏻
I love starting my day with your message. Inspiring and uplifting.
I’m also reading Calamity Club. Have you read Whistler? Very good.
Thank you for sharing.
Sending prayers for Dominic-hopefully the treatments will be at an end. Also, I love the generosity thoughts-so perfect!
And finally-I absolutely LOVED the Calamity Club-I think you will as well.