Sunday Smatterings
Blessed Sunday to you all!
Well, it’s been a week. One of incredible highs and terrible lows. Sadly, the lows win.
I know everyone’s heard about the terrible tornado that blew through downtown Nashville Monday night. We came through unscathed, but wow. The devastation is extraordinary. Many businesses we frequent are destroyed, homes are flattened, people are still missing. We always use the terminology “it looks like a war zone” Well, I’ve never been in a war zone, so I don’t have that comparison to make. And every community in the country has its share of tragedy. But this is twice in a decade that Nashville is dealing with the fallout of a massive natural disaster, and trust me when I say, it is bad. It’s incredibly emotional, too, knowing only a few miles from here, people have lost everything. Thanks for all your notes, emails, and texts. They were much appreciated.
I’m going to re-up this article from 2012 on how to build an emergency kit for you and your family. In the time of COVID-19 and terrifying natural disasters, having a plan, having some supplies, and having some peace of mind go a long way. And there are links below if you’d like to donate or volunteer to help.
Middle Tennessee Emergency Fund
COVID19: Don’t get me started on the virus. I’ve been banging my drum for weeks now, telling everyone I know to be prepared. We’ve canceled all our upcoming travel, and have our supplies (though some of them are going to disaster relief this weekend; we can restock.) We’ve entered full-blown allergy season here, too, with pollen counts off the charts, so every sneeze is tinged with a bit of panic. I’m drowning in Dr. Bronner’s.
Honestly, I’m not as concerned about getting the disease as I am getting quarantined, which, if you live in New York or Washington, you’re dealing with right now. Granted, introverts are better equipped for such things—I’ve had my zombie apocalypse reading library in place for years--but this isn’t anything to joke around with. It’s serious, and we need to all be careful.
Unrelated to both issues, I lost two friends, as well, which is just heartbreaking.
Chester Campbell: Chester was one of the first writers I met in Nashville, through Sisters in Crime (Chester was our most famous Mister). He was a great writer and a great guy. Drank coffee at every meal. Never hesitated to embrace the necessities of the writing life, from writing whenever he had the chance to promote —I remember his car with its magnetic CTA signs always made me giggle. I always enjoyed my dinners with he and Sarah. I’m sorry to see him go.
Laura Caldwell: Laura and I started out at MIRA together, and she was as wild and crazy a red-head as I’ve ever met. She was also incredibly smart, and deep, and driven. We shared many a laugh, and many a glass of wine, and I was always struck by her verve for life. She went at everything 1,000 miles an hour, and I guess it burned her out too early. A wonderful writer, a tireless advocate, and a dear friend. She will be missed.
So...onward, which is all we can do.
I mentioned last week how much I was enjoying Lori Gottleib’s new book, and now that I’m done, I went looking for something just as engaging. I found it in Tracy Walder’s THE UNEXPECTED SPY. I’ve discovered Tracy and I share some very eerie similarities, even down to our first three cars (Oldsmobile —> Honda Accord —> Acura) and the circumstances surrounding their demises (engine fires, crashed by friends), so it’s been a lot of fun seeing the world I had once considered as a career path through her eyes. (I was about to take the Foreign Service exam when I met Mr. Ellison.)
I have so many books in the queue right now, including WHEN YOU SEE ME, THIS IS HOW I LIED, MY DARK VANESSA, CRESCENT CITY, THE GLASS HOTEL, WRITERS AND LOVERS, DEACON KING KONG, that I don’t know how I can fit them all in! I need a vacation, clearly.
So with that, I’m off to read. March newsletter will be headed your way Thursday. If you’re not on the list yet, you can sign up here.
On to the links!
THE LATEST ON THE INTERNET:
24 New Mysteries Readers Are Loving. What a list! It amazes me how many great books release every week.
Yoga practices to ease coronavirus fears: breathing and meditation techniques that calm your emotional state. This is seriously helpful.
Fact-Checking 'Contagion,' The Movie About A Global Virus Outbreak. This is a superb but scary film that gets most of the details correct.
5 Thrillers with Obsessive Characters Who Will Shake You to Your Core. I will never be able to listen to Huey Lewis and the News again.
Why Cozy Mysteries Are The Hottest TV Genre Of 2020. Have you watched any of these shows?
What Traditional Papermaking Looks Like in 2019. Very cool! I love this.
9 Airbnbs With Libraries That Belle & The Beast Would Totally Book. These places look incredible.
That’s it from me. Make a donation (don’t forget the animals!), say a little prayer for all involved, take care making your homemade hand sanitizer, and I’ll see you next week!
Peace and hugs,
J.T.