Summer Recap
And a new Substack name
You may have noticed that this newsletter, which used to be called Erin Digs It, has a new name. It’s a reference to a line from Mary Oliver’s poem “When Death Comes”: When it's over, I want to say: all my life/I was a bride married to amazement. This is a poem that’s very close to my heart and a line that speaks to how I try to live my life.
(Aside: Matt came up behind me while I was working on the header graphic in Canva, saw the title for the first time, and said, “Oh, is it about me??” This man.)
This has been a busy summer. I traveled to Cleveland to compete in the Barbershop Harmony Society international competition with my chorus, Great River Voices. We finished 16th out of 35 choruses — a thrilling accomplishment for a new chorus. (You can see the performance of our two contest songs here and here if you’re interested.)
I also took a trip to Panama City Beach with Matt and his family, which featured seafood, sunburn, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, 18 holes at the country’s oldest miniature golf course, a kiddo with mono, that same kiddo’s ninth birthday, and a living room TV caught in an ongoing struggle between Bluey and the Olympics. It was a time. I honestly don’t think this was a trip that any of us is eager to repeat (eight people, one condo, trying to coordinate around a lot of disparate needs and desires — it was a lot), but I do count myself lucky to have married into this big, loving family.
Other summer highlights have included a pool day with my besties, a trip to Lexington to see the Jayhawks, a Golden Hours writing workshop, the Taste of Independents festival, various parties, some landscaping projects, and a lot of patio cocktails.
Reading: I’ve read a few books that aren’t really worth mentioning and a few that are. Unmasking Autism by Devon Price was fantastic, and I highly recommend it if you’re any flavor of neurodiverse or love someone who is. I read this primarily for my clients, because I have a lot who are on the spectrum or suspect they are (a surprise bonus niche that comes with specializing in gender issues!), but it’s also just a great, accessible book about accepting and advocating for yourself.
I’m also almost done with Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne. I just happened to see this audiobook on Spotify, and even though I don’t usually listen to audiobooks because I don’t have a lot of opportunities for focused listening, I was intrigued and pressed Play. It’s certainly a compelling story; the author describes her experiences as a self-diagnosed (and maybe, eventually, formally diagnosed?) sociopath, starting in childhood. In her quest for self-understanding and advocacy for fellow sociopaths, she pursues a PhD in psychology and becomes a therapist. Or so she says. Intrepid internet researchers have raised questions about the veracity of her PhD, her clinical practice, her diagnosis, and many of the fantastical stories she relates. The funny thing is, she’s either the sociopath she says she is or… she’s conning all of us and is still a sociopath? I honestly don’t know what to make of the whole thing, but it’s been a very entertaining listen.
Eating: Have you ever had sweety drop peppers?
These little guys are about the size of blueberries and they are my favorite charcuterie board accompaniment. They’re sweet and tangy and have a gentle crunch and they’re just delicious. We usually only buy them for snacking but you could also happily throw them into salads or pasta dishes. Sometimes you see them in cans or jars, but Kroger sells them in plastic packages in the deli department. If you’ve never had them, pick some up. I bet you’ll like them.
We also made this white bean chicken soup this week. It’s an excellent transitional-season soup; substantial but not too heavy, and bright with lemon juice.
Listening: I haven’t been listening to much in the way of new music lately (though hopefully New Bands for Old Heads will change that shortly), but I did revisit Aerosmith recently after learning that Steven Tyler has suffered a permanent vocal injury and will no longer be performing. I’ve loved Aerosmith since I was a kid and I was really hoping to see them on their farewell tour, which has since been canceled. I was surprisingly affected by this news, maybe in part because I sing, but also because Steven’s voice is so unique, versatile, and emotive. It really feels like a loss.
Please enjoy this performance of “What It Takes,” which was recorded in 2015, when Steven was 67. What an icon.
I never really set out to publish this newsletter on any set schedule, but I do have an intention to start writing here more regularly. I have gotten off social media for the most part, which has been life changing in a number of ways (I’ll probably write about it eventually), but it has resulted in me being somewhat disconnected from the steady flow of life updates that I used to get from people. If this post lands in your email inbox, feel free to comment and let me know what’s been happening in your world.
I didn’t know you loved Aerosmith! I do too! (Even though Billy says unkind things about them.)l I agree that the loss of Steve Tyler’s voice is a real loss to music.
Thanks for sharing these peppers— I had never seen these cuties before!