Funny how the universe puts things in your path that you need, whether or not you know to ask for them. I’m about to turn 56, watching parents age, nieces and nephews launch into grown up lives and feeling lots of things I can’t always give language to. Thanks for doing that here, as always.
So ready for cool weather. Love wondering about God's imaginary rock. I hope Joel Edgerton is in the Lonesome Dove remake. The original series is a hard act to follow. Thanks as always for your work.
Aaron Neville is great at everything ... but there's something just a little off about this version. Maybe a little too fast? I'm not skilled enough to tell. I also think what I like about the Tony Jackson version is the spare arrangement. Country music had way too many strings for a while there.
"Because that not-knowing, as painful as it can be, seems like the most delicious part of being human."
About relationships and daily life, this seems true. BUT . . . I'm concerned about the many Americans who find the news so depressing that they don't want to think about the future of our country. They refuse to read about or listen to the news. Sure, it's frightening, but how else can we influence future events?
Well, I think you can embrace not knowing the future but still try to do something about it. You're right, it is an exhausting time ... but not a time to be shied away from.
Tommy, Tom Junod's "The Falling Man" remains the best thing I've ever read about 9/11. But a close second is "For Thou Art With Us," a blog post by Sarah Bunting, who was in lower Manhattan when the attacks happened and posted about it three days later. https://tomatonation.com/stories-true-and-otherwise/for-thou-art-with-us/
As the others have said, thank you for such a great description of a feeling that's also been blowing around my head but I just haven't been able to identify. I've been finding myself often thinking of the managers at the end of Dirty Dancing, musing about all the changes and how they don't know if they can keep up. I've felt that way as the seasons seem to fly by faster and faster these past few years and the losses and huge changes seem to roll one after the other. Of course, as Swayze quickly jumps up on the stage and proves, change can also be exciting and beautiful, but it's also little scary and bittersweet all the same.
And it might be way too obvious, but I think Matthew McConaughey would be an amazing Gus. He's definitely got his wit, he's definitely got a way with the ladies, and as his role in at least Dallas Buyers Club proves, I think he'd be pretty reliable in a fight.
I think McConaughey would definitely get some traction as Gus! And thanks for the kind words about the piece ... I think that's the first time anything I've written has been compared to Dirty Dancing :)
Hi Tommy. I read your article on GLP-1s and listened to both interviews . It was all so helpful and insightful. I was on Contrave for many weeks. Not a GLP 1 but a combination of two meds that work on brain pathways regarding food noise and cravings. That was less expensive than GLP1 and worked well until it stopped working. I then started Foundayo, a newer GLP1 in pill form. Side effects have been minimal and best of all Medicare covers most of the cost for me. It has been wonderful and Im 4 lbs from my goal having lost almost 70 lbs.
No more food noise, no more weight cycling!
I love your newsletter and it was fun to hear your interviews as well. Good luck to you on your continued weight loss journey!
George Jones “He Stopped Loving Her Today” beats them all. But “Grand Tour” is a nice runner up. As for 9/11 writing, I try to steer clear, but “Falling Man” is a classic for inducing insomnia. My good buddy Chuck Culpepper has been staying with me this week in Paris and added to my nightmares by sending me a link to th Atlantic piece “What Bobby McIlvaine Left Behind” that’s probably the best thing I’ve read about the grief and loss and trauma that followed the events 25 years ago.
Thank you for reminding me to enjoy each of these days of late summer. I’m listening to the crickets’ chirps, slower as the nighttime temperatures fall.
Thank you for your mention of my 9/11 survivor story! I started working on it in the Grady School program. And I'm sorry to graduate just as you are joining. Your presentation in my first on-campus week has stayed with me. "what's the REAL story?" is a question I ask myself all the time now. I'm subscribing to your newsletter! Doreen Gentzler
Gosh I love your “tumble” through the summers ending. First word of a great song so many of us have had on repeat recently.
Have to say, I was also intrigued by the apology for using a masculine pronoun for God.
God is spirit, that’s very true. On the other hand, I guess for me I’ve always thought of Jesus famously saying to Mary Magdalene (one of his many female disciples btw and the person who had the honor of being the first person to witness the Resurrection):
“I’m ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17).
Jesus seems to be saying here that Father (albeit a perfect father, nothing like our flawed ones on earth) is the best way to conceive of an invisible God?
Especially considering his obvious love and care for her, the sisters and close friends Mary and Martha, and other faithful women who, unlike most of his male disciples, did not abandon him at the cross.
Love a good obit -- especially one that gives you a sense of who the person was, beyond accolades and the other usual metrics. As local news outlets vanish, we're losing places for communities to remember their people. Thanks for sharing this one!
Funny how the universe puts things in your path that you need, whether or not you know to ask for them. I’m about to turn 56, watching parents age, nieces and nephews launch into grown up lives and feeling lots of things I can’t always give language to. Thanks for doing that here, as always.
Thank you, Laurie. I can't always give language to them either ...
I think it’s Tony Jackson, not Troy. But he’s fantastic!
You're right, Anne. Thank you for the catch! I've edited the original post to make the change...
So ready for cool weather. Love wondering about God's imaginary rock. I hope Joel Edgerton is in the Lonesome Dove remake. The original series is a hard act to follow. Thanks as always for your work.
I'm going to have to watch the series before I come up with any casting suggestions :)
The first time I heard The Grand Tour was by Aaron Neville.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhUlQ_Cay74
Aaron Neville is great at everything ... but there's something just a little off about this version. Maybe a little too fast? I'm not skilled enough to tell. I also think what I like about the Tony Jackson version is the spare arrangement. Country music had way too many strings for a while there.
"Because that not-knowing, as painful as it can be, seems like the most delicious part of being human."
About relationships and daily life, this seems true. BUT . . . I'm concerned about the many Americans who find the news so depressing that they don't want to think about the future of our country. They refuse to read about or listen to the news. Sure, it's frightening, but how else can we influence future events?
Well, I think you can embrace not knowing the future but still try to do something about it. You're right, it is an exhausting time ... but not a time to be shied away from.
Tommy, Tom Junod's "The Falling Man" remains the best thing I've ever read about 9/11. But a close second is "For Thou Art With Us," a blog post by Sarah Bunting, who was in lower Manhattan when the attacks happened and posted about it three days later. https://tomatonation.com/stories-true-and-otherwise/for-thou-art-with-us/
Wow. I'd never read that. Thank you so much for sharing it.
I think I’ve skipped past Fall and moved to the beginning of Winter.
I started to "like" this but not sure that's the right reaction :)
Well, it has most to do with hating this hot weather and ready to move to full-blown winter -- preferably somewhere with snow!
As the others have said, thank you for such a great description of a feeling that's also been blowing around my head but I just haven't been able to identify. I've been finding myself often thinking of the managers at the end of Dirty Dancing, musing about all the changes and how they don't know if they can keep up. I've felt that way as the seasons seem to fly by faster and faster these past few years and the losses and huge changes seem to roll one after the other. Of course, as Swayze quickly jumps up on the stage and proves, change can also be exciting and beautiful, but it's also little scary and bittersweet all the same.
And it might be way too obvious, but I think Matthew McConaughey would be an amazing Gus. He's definitely got his wit, he's definitely got a way with the ladies, and as his role in at least Dallas Buyers Club proves, I think he'd be pretty reliable in a fight.
I think McConaughey would definitely get some traction as Gus! And thanks for the kind words about the piece ... I think that's the first time anything I've written has been compared to Dirty Dancing :)
Hi Tommy. I read your article on GLP-1s and listened to both interviews . It was all so helpful and insightful. I was on Contrave for many weeks. Not a GLP 1 but a combination of two meds that work on brain pathways regarding food noise and cravings. That was less expensive than GLP1 and worked well until it stopped working. I then started Foundayo, a newer GLP1 in pill form. Side effects have been minimal and best of all Medicare covers most of the cost for me. It has been wonderful and Im 4 lbs from my goal having lost almost 70 lbs.
No more food noise, no more weight cycling!
I love your newsletter and it was fun to hear your interviews as well. Good luck to you on your continued weight loss journey!
Ellen DuFour
Congrats on the journey! I'm so glad you found a way that works for you and is affordable ...
George Jones “He Stopped Loving Her Today” beats them all. But “Grand Tour” is a nice runner up. As for 9/11 writing, I try to steer clear, but “Falling Man” is a classic for inducing insomnia. My good buddy Chuck Culpepper has been staying with me this week in Paris and added to my nightmares by sending me a link to th Atlantic piece “What Bobby McIlvaine Left Behind” that’s probably the best thing I’ve read about the grief and loss and trauma that followed the events 25 years ago.
I also just read “What Bobby McIlvaine Left Behind” from 2021 in the Atlantic. An amazing, wise piece with so many twists and turns!
Oh yeah, that Bobby McIlvaine story is fantastic. And so glad you're spending time with Chuck--one of the best humans ever created.
Thank you for reminding me to enjoy each of these days of late summer. I’m listening to the crickets’ chirps, slower as the nighttime temperatures fall.
FYI, thanks to Shedhead Anne for catching an error: The country singer at the end is TONY Jackson, not Troy. I've edited the post to reflect that.
Thank you for your mention of my 9/11 survivor story! I started working on it in the Grady School program. And I'm sorry to graduate just as you are joining. Your presentation in my first on-campus week has stayed with me. "what's the REAL story?" is a question I ask myself all the time now. I'm subscribing to your newsletter! Doreen Gentzler
Gosh I love your “tumble” through the summers ending. First word of a great song so many of us have had on repeat recently.
Have to say, I was also intrigued by the apology for using a masculine pronoun for God.
God is spirit, that’s very true. On the other hand, I guess for me I’ve always thought of Jesus famously saying to Mary Magdalene (one of his many female disciples btw and the person who had the honor of being the first person to witness the Resurrection):
“I’m ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17).
Jesus seems to be saying here that Father (albeit a perfect father, nothing like our flawed ones on earth) is the best way to conceive of an invisible God?
Especially considering his obvious love and care for her, the sisters and close friends Mary and Martha, and other faithful women who, unlike most of his male disciples, did not abandon him at the cross.
Giving casting a shot
-Gus Kyle Chandler (he's playing the antihero so well in Lanterns)
-Woodrow Josh Brolin
-Deets Lamonica Garrett (yeah, he played the same role in 1883 but he was so damn good there.). If that's too much, go with Stirling K Brown
-Lorena Wood Mia McKenna Bruce (watched her in Seven Dials. She was great in that role)
-Dish Barry Keoghan . I wouldn't even change the accent, it's a time of imigration anyway.
-Blue Duck Zahn McClarnon. if not him, go with Gil Birmingham
-Clara Connie Britton or Laura Dern.
Love a good obit -- especially one that gives you a sense of who the person was, beyond accolades and the other usual metrics. As local news outlets vanish, we're losing places for communities to remember their people. Thanks for sharing this one!