Notes
Images: As with all of the drawings I’ve made for this newsletter, these are based on real things that I have seen. One image, however, isn’t like the others, in that it isn’t a Halloween decoration. While I don’t know for sure, I read it as a memorial to a child.
To me there’s a strangeness in a multibillion-dollar entertainment-retail holiday (estimated at $12B in the US this year) centered on costumes and candy, and the strangeness is heightened by the actual violent death happening around us, from guns to wars.
I would be into a holiday celebrating those who’ve come before us and those we’ve loved who are gone, especially at this time of year. On that note, earlier this month
wrote movingly about one such tradition in Guatemala; and ‘s Articles of Interest explored cyclicality and cultural closeness to death in a completely different, surprising and wonderful way.A boon: I was very fortunate to have a job I could do remotely and that remained steady through the pandemic lock down, and my son, who was in the middle of sixth grade at the time, was pretty self-sufficient with remote school. But just being with him all day, even if we weren’t interacting, made me very aware of the fact that I had spent all of his lifetime, except for my four-month maternity leave (more than many women get) and my four annual weeks of vacation (again more than many get), separated from him from early to late five days out of 7, at a minimum.
Helicopters: Here is a clip of local coverage that includes the footage gathered by the news crews over Steinway Street.
If, like me, you are struggling to fathom the horror of what humans are capable of doing to each other, especially children, seen on Oct. 7 in Israel and since then in Gaza; and if, like me, you are seeking deeper understanding, and also hope for a future where we all, especially children, are safe from the terrible violence of antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of dehumanizing hatred, here are a few good things I’ve found.
This commentary from
, who routinely writes with integrity, honesty and humanity about difficult things.This video from
, who writes The Beinart Notebook Substack.This episode of the Ezra Klein Show podcast (which also includes conversation with Peter Beinart).
This article about Muslim and Jewish student groups coming together at a Brooklyn high school.
This post from
on singing in dark times. In it, she quotes the poet Toi Derricotte: “Joy is an act of resistance.” I’m trying to hold onto that thought, and hug the people I love.What are you reading or listening to?
Thank you for being here with me.
Beautiful writing and images, and you for the links as well ❤️
Any chance of a link, or specific title of the Trufekman piece?