I won’t be able to write from the grave
so let me tell you what I love:
oil, vinegar, salt, lettuce, brown bread, butter,
cheese and wine, a windy day, a fireplace,
the children nearby, poems and songs,
a friend sleeping in my bed—
and the short northern nights.
-Fanny Howe
A la Fanny Howe: what are the things you love right now?
Let me tell you what I love, at 40 years old, a mother to two, a loving wife, and a daily communicant with the blank page:
My son’s freckles, the salvation of trees outside my studio window, a sandwich with my Dad,
a clear sentence, a cloudy day, my children pedaling around the cul de sac outside our home,
a long sit in the sun after a four mile run, my mother’s voice, the redbirds in our yard,
an hour-long phone call with my sister, the hard work that pays off, the friends who say: “tell me everything,”
notes from my daughter left on my work desk, raw oysters and champagne, reading in bed above the sheets but beneath the comforter,
the mug my husband fills with hot water to pre-warm it for my coffee, the neighbors who turn out to be guardian angels, the right word,
vinegar, the primacy of my children’s joy, the promise of morning,
my husband and my husband and my husband, and the outrageous joy of being loved by him daily
benedictions, all —
and together, quite possibly, the meaning of life
Post-Scripts.
+There are many ways to say I love you.
+What has surprised you most about getting older?
+What’s something weird that you love about your significant other?
Shopping Break.
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+If you keep coming up dry on what to get your bestie or your sister, just get them an Ugg slipper. What we all really want and love — trust. I own and love the platform Tazz, and I also really love the look of these, too.
+I wore these earmuffs to the skating rink over the weekend and Mr. Magpie said he loved them?! I paired with this red puffer jacket from Varley, which I have been stopped by women about multiple times! It almost looks velvet (but isn’t).
+Back to Apparis and slippers: how cute are these? Apres ski vibes.
+Speaking of winter sports: these are our favorite winter parkas for the kids for skiing/skating/snow fun.
+And I just got this fun sherpa tote for schlepping loose mittens, spare socks, sticker books, snacks, etc to and from the ice rink.
+What I bought my bestie: Hermes nail polish, Dior cuticle balm (we both LOVE manicures / talking nails), and my favorite dry shampoo.
+Rhone’s DreamGlow collection caught my eye — have a polished vibe somewhere between Spanx and Varley for those of us looking for dressier athleisure.
+Dolce Vita sent me a pair of their waterproof suede boots and I’m very impressed. I love the shape of the bootie — elongating, flattering, and perfect for pairing with wide leg jeans. Plus: waterproof! Look much more expensive than they are.
+I initially got these with the intent of giving my MIL (we love to play this one card game called O Hell), but now I have them in my living room by the game table! Pretty enough to double as decor.
+This Talbots cape is giving Alice Walk vibes for half the price.
+Snagged this cute seashell print mini from La Maregold — already loosely shopping for our Disney trip this spring.
+Still love this scoat from Gap!