While there were some low moments this week that weathered me a bit, I think the highs won out this time… or for now at least. These lows will keep tugging at me in the coming days, but this week a sparkling snow blanketed the world and covered the cracks and the dirt and the other imperfections. And while I don’t relish being another year older, I am grateful for what this birthday week brought me.
Sunday
We have a book club through the gym. Often, we read nonfiction books that I feel get a bit laborious and would be better served as podcasts, but we tackled an adult novel this time — a book titled The Silent Patient. It was a quick read and kept me interested, but in the end I didn’t love it. I’m not a huge fan of an unreliable narrator and I didn’t find myself rooting for any of the characters.
That being said, I did love talking about it. I tried to speak last, to ensure others had a chance to share their thoughts, and I tried to be concise with my review so as not to monopolize the conversation once it was turned over to me, but I still found myself apologizing in case anyone found me too verbose or excitable or generally over-the-top. That can happen. I’m a bit extra sometimes — a bit too much. But my fellow readers made me feel not just better, but good when they told me earnestly that they appreciated my insights and enjoyed my perspective.
Monday
All was quiet on my street. After a good, but long day, full to the brim with school, an appointment, my writer’s group, and yoga, I felt gratitude for the calm.
Tuesday
I was home with sleeping cats and didn’t feel like being by myself with my thoughts. Nick and Ashley to the rescue! I met them at Minar for Indian food. It’s good to have good people in your life.
Wednesday
Downstairs you’ll find a lovely little Italian restaurant right on the canal. The food is amazing and the service is great. It has beautiful exposed brick, but also tacky Italian decorations that should distract but instead just make the place exactly what it is — which is my favorite place for a special dinner. My parents treated Brian, Amanda and me to my birthday dinner at Aqua Vino. I’m not sure if two years in a row makes it a tradition, but I’d be happy if it became one.
Thursday
20th anniversary tour of RENT came to the Stanley. Holy freaking shit. It was amazing! I might go so far as to say it was the best production of the show I’ve ever seen, including my first encounter with it on Broadway back when I was in high school. Brian had to work, so Amanda accompanied Judith and me. It was the first time either of them had ever seen it, and I loved experiencing it both through my seasoned eyes and their fresh ones. It blew me away. I laughed, I cried, I rejoiced. I wanted them to start over again as soon as they finished.
Friday
Snow day!!!
Saturday
I pass this cemetery entrance most days in the wee hours of the morning before I’m fully awake. It’s eery and majestic and something you can’t not look at. Today, instead of driving this road at 5:15 AM on my way to the gym, I drove it in the afternoon on my way to the grocery store. I got stuck at what I consider the “stoptional” light that always seems to be red for no reason, and instead of sneaking through it, I decided to use the moment to get a picture of the gate in all its snow-covered glory.