to be sorted later #25
in which I'm seriously considering if shoulder pads will come back in fashion
“She seemed fine, not at all vulnerable to being hijacked by other people’s expectations.”
— Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Dream Count
An interesting task, to consider what I’ve been sorting through lately, as I am in the midst of quite literally sorting through all of my possessions. Yes, ARH HQ is moving, which is to say I am moving, out of my beloved apartment that’s been home now for the last 8 years as of this month.
Why, you might ask, would you ever leave this apartment? What’s the problem?!
“You really want to know? Even though you won’t be able to do anything to help?
The truth is, actually, I’m in love.” – Sam, Love Actually
Yes, it’s true, in one month’s time, I may no longer be able to accurately refer to my home as my spinster abode, as soon I will be cohabitating with my love, an actual human man. And of course, cats. The cats will also live there.
I’d argue with Sammy-O that there is something far, far “worse than the total agony of being in love” — and it’s the total agony of moving. He wouldn’t know that, of course, being both a child and a fictional character.
So far I have donated three car loads of stuff, and after several long reckonings with my personal library, have donated as many books — I’d say close to 30! — as I can possibly consider parting with for now, or maybe ever.
When I’m not sorting through all my belongings, what the hell am I even doing?
What I’m Sorting Through, Currently …
Watching Every Episode of The Golden Girls
I decided now was my time to watch The Golden Girls in its entirety. This idea came to me when I was half-conscious with COVID, and I have zero regrets. I’m now on season six. I hope that my neighbors have had the theme song in their heads as much as I have lately, as they’ve inevitably heard it playing as they walk past my apartment on any given evening this past month. Really shaking things up in my final days here — a change from the soothing sounds of Frasier coming from my first-floor dwelling!
The Golden Girls is just what I need right now, in this in-between time. It’s hilarious, it’s nostalgic, it had me googling “dorothy’s green silk outfit” and seriously considering pitching to Phil that we design our bedroom like Blanche’s.
Bet you’ll never guess who my favorite golden girl is!
On Repeat
Holy shit, this song rules:
I was listening to it yesterday, on my way downtown, the Chicago skyline in my view — a rather epic experience on its own, it simply must be said, especially when you’re a gal from a little speed-trap town.
Yes, I’ve now lived in Chicago for 17 years. It doesn’t matter.
Every time I return to the city after a trip home and I make it to that view, I feel romantic about Chicago all over again — yet conflicted by these feelings, still so fresh from being back home. I’m 18 and I’m 24 and I’m 41 and I’m thinking future thoughts.
I digress —
Feeling down? This song will give you serious main character energy. You will feel like the star of this show, goddammit, or at least you will for the next 3 minutes and 33 seconds! You will have the confidence of Blanche Devereaux, the wit of Dorothy Zbornak, the sweetness of Rose Nylund, the sass of Sophia Petrillo.
DRAMA! I dare you not to enjoy it.
Right before the 3-minute mark on my second or maybe tenth listen of “Drama,” I realized it had me thinking of another song I haven’t thought about in some time. (Oops!)
In Pursuit of … Whatever
Four more things that have my attention for at least the next four minutes:
“Alba said that she couldn’t get a sense of the city, of its age and mood. One minute it seemed ancient, then suddenly youthful.” | “Marseille,” Ayşegül Savaş, The New Yorker
“I stopped at a bar for a drink and felt worse after finishing it, as I knew I would, given alcohol’s peerless capacity to italicize whatever mood the drinker is already in.” | “My Miserable Week in the ‘Happiest Country on Earth’,” Molly Young, NYT Mag
“I think that my way of getting over things, of understanding, of exploring my own soul, my past, and also, most important, of remembering is writing.” | “The Interview: Isabel Allende Understands How Fear Changes a Society,” NYT Mag
“Oh hum, the rest of my life keeps coming. It feels just like I knew it would.” | “Goatsong,” Leila Chatti
previously:
I never watched The Golden Girls but enjoyed and had a laugh from the segment you shared. Maybe I should watch it! Last spring on a bus tour from Portland to San Francisco that I took with two girlfriends, one of the other ladies (who was traveling with her husband), called us the Golden Girls. I could never decide if it was a compliment or not! Best wishes on the move, Alison! And by the way, I always kind of liked shoulder pads-ha!