First things first. Merry Christmas everyone!
I hope all your wishes come true. A snippet of wisdom I found on Instagram, (I would prefer to say I discovered it in reading – or rereading Michel de Montaigne, the French philosopher, but no. Even better, it was cribbed from someone else who got it from someone else, who saw it neatly chalked on a pavement.)
It said, “I thought 2020 would be the year I got everything I wanted.” [Pause to ask, “why?”]. Now I know 2020 is the year I appreciate everything I have.” I would amend that by saying 2020 was a difficult and oppressive year for all of us, and we are almost through it, and grateful we are still here. And beyond-grateful that the various Covid vaccines are beginning to be deployed around the world.
What I want for the holidays I cannot have; that would be to spend time in the flesh, nose to nose with my exhibits™, whom I miss like crazy. But they are staying safe and keeping me safe by staying away. However, in the meantime, we just became parents to a puppy dog, an 8-week old Cavapoo named Sheila. She is my current headline. I forgot what it was like to be the parent of a newborn -- one who doesn’t wear a diaper -- and her bathroom habits keep me focused on her for now. I can barely look away lest she have a little accident. But I’m stealing time away from her while she naps to tell you about this podcast.
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Some weeks ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Joyce Carol Oates for the Miami Book Fair, to discuss her recent novel, Night, Sleep, Death, The Stars. Having never met this grande dame of American letters, and being mindful of the audience who was watching our Zoom presentation, I could not retrofit it into a typical “Five Things podcast”.
Joyce Carol Oates, 82, is not only famous for her writing, she is famously a prodigious writer, with at least 58 novels published so far, and more in the pipeline. She writes poetry, novellas, essays, and teaches as well. I found her ideas about fiction illuminating and very modern. If this kind of talk floats your boat too, I think you’ll enjoy our conversation. And yes, if you would prefer to watch it, you can do so right here:
So only my 5 things that make life better this week. (But only this week.)
1 . I’m loving some podcasts I’ve listened to. Traveling to Poughkeepsie, where our wonderful dog breeders live, we listened to “Smartless”. It’s a funny and messy conversation among co-hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett – friends all – and a guest. The banter between the 3 hosts reminded me of my high school classmates who are still close friends with one another –funny, dirty, immature. We listened to their interview with the marvelous Maya Rudolph. She was in no way intimidated by them; she was able to meet them where they were. And “Nice White Parents” is a fascinating investigation from the New York Times.
2. Chocolate covered almonds. My fella loves dark chocolate ones, as do most cosmopolites I know. Me, I like milk chocolate. And also, I seem to eat these in the winter alone.
3 The joy that a new puppy brings to people all around. It’s the trickle-down effect, much like having a baby in a stroller; a beacon of simple joy. It gives people the chance to coo and forget about their troubles for a moment. Birth = optimism. Youth = optimism.
4. Dr. Anthony Fauci. I couldn’t be happier or more stoked that America’s doctor, who has done so much research about both HIV-AIDs and COVID-19, has been re-upped by the incoming administration. How he has been abused and demeaned by Trump, et. al. He deserves our respect. When he told a little boy that he personally administered a COVID vaccine to Santa Claus in the North Pole in advance of Christmas Eve, it made me a believer in St. Nicholas
5. Stella Artois Cidre. Have you tried this drink? Its low alcohol content (4.5%) and not too sweet flavor make this cider a nice late afternoon drink in the winter. Does it taste like apples? Not exactly. But thank you Anthony for introducing this hard cider to us. And I’m sure it’s refreshing in the summer too, but to me it’s for staying cozily at home. (I mean, where else are you going to go? Amirite?)
The 5 Things That Make Life Better podcast is recorded and produced at The Field in NYC.
My team is Shpresa Oruci, Michael Porte, Sam Haft and Boco Haft.