Northeast USA, Earth weather and temperatures are in the sweet spot now, cool and mellow. The seasonal passage into Fall is always appreciated, although it is accompanied by an absolute hurricane of repopulated schedules and quotidian commitments. The past several weeks have felt like months as our family clambers back into our routine. I am glad we return to such great schools and work, but it is quite an orchestration to get everybody synced. Ivy has ventured into Middle School, which is exciting and involves a new independence, while Miles has joined his first organized sports team, Flag Football, and I have found great joy in my first coaching experience! Alaina is the only one whose work commitment stays consistent through the summer and she steadily captains our crew through the turbulent reentry with great resilience and stage managerial expertise.
It was a sweet trip to Europe!
Fun events over the past month included a Red Bulls game, a NY Liberty game, and concerts by The Lemonheads at LPR, Blues Traveler at Pier 17, The National and War On Drugs at Forest Hills, and Pulp at Kings Theater. Next weekend we have family tickets for a Vampire Weekend matinee show at MSG, and the following weekend takes us on an excursion to Cape Cod.
Some books I have recently consumed:
Rigor of Angels by William Egginton – Quantum Physics via Philosophy, Literature, Art and Life.
Not The End of The World by Hannah Ritchie – Optimistic and hopeful messaging on a bleak climate outlook; evidence suggests that we are capable of making impactful changes and our targets may be achievable.
The Big Picture: On The Origins of Life, Meaning and The Universe Itself by Sean Carroll – A holistic survey of our most current understanding of basically everything, through the engaging narrative of a poetic naturalist.
In My Time of Dying by Sebastian Junger – Recommended by Pete, who provides Death Doula services; a personal account of the author’s near-death experience to consider the possibilities for our only eventuality.
2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke – Having watched the movie 30 years ago and being perplexed by some of the plot points, this book clarified and deepened my appreciation for the masterpiece of cinema, but the story stands on its own as a brilliant science fiction construction.
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut (1973) – My first Vonnegut and I was highly bemused, and deeply saddened by this fun house mirror to our own society where racism is so prevalent and interwoven into every description and transaction.
Miles by Miles Davis with Quincy Troupe – This is truly one of the most incredible books I have ever read; looking back over a lifetime that featured some of the most revolutionary directions in music history interspersed with some of the heaviest addictions and personal struggles that have ever been described. It is a history of jazz, intertwining with other legends and evolving styles, and a grim commentary on racism in this country; the honesty and blunt approach of the narrative is true to his character and unlike anything I have ever read. I have always loved Miles’ music and I feel even more appreciative of what he went through to make it.