This I Learned This Week
Zombies, flâneuring, reading, WWII, and Geese
Getting back into the swing of things around here. Still enjoying the last of the tomatoes, making pots, finishing quilting projects, and birdwatching with my son.
My husband has picked up on The New York Times often using the term flâneur, a French word meaning an urban explorer or a connoisseur of the street. A somewhat pompous term, he felt in a weird way that it reflected our idea of travel, which is really more about wandering and taking things in rather than going and seeing and doing or sitting, which we both hate. (You will never find us sitting by a pool for days on end.) Though, at this point, I’m not really into going anywhere for a good long while, so consider me taking a long hiatus from any flâneuring.
Another thing I learned about on our sojourn was the White Rose, a nonviolent German resistance group during World War II who opposed the Nazi regime through leaflet and graffiti campaigns. Led by siblings Hans Scholl and Sophie Scholl, along with students and professors at the University of Munich, they called for resistance against Nazi dictatorship on a level that eventually led to their arrest by the Gestapo in February 1943, followed by the execution of key members, including Hans and Sophie Scholl. We need more of this energy right now. Hoping to view the 1982 German film about it (The White Rose) ASAP if I can get my hands on a copy.
Speaking of Germany, I wanted to shout out the woman we stayed with for a few nights while we were there. As a (sort of) quilter, I love running into other quilters and was delighted to meet a kindred spirit in Bärbel Bitzer. Often, I get so obsessed with making things perfect, and her lovely, rustic style reminded me that quilting is about more than bold colors and neat lines. Her use of vintage napkins, found items, and patterned seams really inspired me not to be so precious about the whole thing. I am leaning away from things that look exact into things that feel thoughtful and warm.
Leaning into reading books by my professors for the fall, and the first one up is Jennifer Dubois’s The Last Language. I only finished this one on my trip, as my husband and I flew to Europe with no plans, booking hotels and making itineraries at the last minute. As a result, much of my downtime went into daily scheduling and figuring out where we would spend the night. And, full disclosure: I read the whole book on the plane ride over and then read nothing else for the rest of the trip, but that’s beside the point. It’s an excellent novel about the linguistic love affair between a wordless man and the woman who unravels his mind. It’s also a kind of thriller that, with its first-person confessional narration, reminded me a bit of Dostoyevsky or Nabokov. Almost the tone of Crime and Punishment or Lolita, if Rodion were an American graduate student and Lolita was a 30-year-old nonverbal man.
The most beautiful film I’ve seen this year is a zombie movie. Not only are the cinematography and soundtrack on point, but the acting is sublime; Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer, and newcomer Alfie Williams. Part movie about the running dead, part arthouse film, part family drama, I cried through a good part of the last bit. My husband hates zombie movies, and he loved it. My son has seen it three times. Go see 28 Years Later— a relationship with the two previous installments is not necessary.
And my son’s musical loves continue to inspire me. Been listening to his current fave, Cameron Winter, and dipping into his other musical entanglement, Geese. Unlike his solo stuff, which can get heavy, the band's music is more celebratory and, at times, absurd. After my son created the above collage inspired by their song “I See Myself,” I watched the music video, which my son described as “just a bunch of old people bowling.” And boy is it. This shit will make you feel good, and that’s something we could all use more of.
Lastly, if you want to help with flood recovery efforts here in Texas, the best place to send funds is to the Kerrville County Flood Relief Fund. They are keeping at it.
Quote of the week?
“The real damage is done by those millions who want to 'survive.' The honest men who just want to be left in peace. Those who don’t want their little lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves. Those with no sides and no causes. Those who won’t take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those who don’t like to make waves—or enemies. Those for whom freedom, honour, truth, and principles are only literature. Those who live small, mate small, die small. It’s the reductionist approach to life: if you keep it small, you’ll keep it under control. If you don’t make any noise, the bogeyman won’t find you. But it’s all an illusion, because they die too, those people who roll up their spirits into tiny little balls so as to be safe. Safe?! From what? Life is always on the edge of death; narrow streets lead to the same place as wide avenues, and a little candle burns itself out just like a flaming torch does. I choose my own way to burn.” ― Sophie Scholl
‘Til Tuesday kids.
Burgin
(I finished college at 50+ and am headed to grad school… follow along and read my story here.)