Geez, where was I that I just started tuning in to Geography of Home in 2023? I hope you'll post a lot of these from the past so I can catch up. I enjoy them so much.
I completely agree about the roller coaster but after yesterday's caucuses in Iowa the downward plunge has heightened and I'm screaming with my eyes closed. I can't see the upward trajectory. I entirely agree that some fresh air and a change of pace (walking) helps calm my rising horror. My other trick is to listen the news in the gym when all that adrenalin is flowing and I can take out my anger or sadness on the stationery bike, the handweights, or the leg extension or curl machines. When things get really bad, I do burpies. I haven't reached that point often but I might soon. At least that will be good for my physical and mental health. Something!
I love your idea of smashing out frustration at the gym! I’ll remember to think about that when I have my next weights class! I have been insulating myself somewhat from the news as we travel but at some point the reckoning will show up. Now I’ll keep my weights handy! 🤣🤣🤣
So true Pam! You have to plan just a bit more carefully about when and where to get things. But it also feels very manageable, with fewer decisions to make, and I particularly like that. Wishing you and Hugh a lovely Christmas!
Sabrina, what a delightful piece! Thank you for this peek into your island.
I take for granted being able to jump into my car and head to Trader Joe’s and get lazy about ordering from Amazon (don’t tell my daughter... she hates contributing to a billionaire). One of the things I loved about my time in Europe was walking to the shops and getting to know the locals.
This really takes me back to watching the fields and farms roll by, from my place on the train or bus! And I wish I could have enjoyed your trip back home listening to the hilarity. It sounds delightful!
Thanks Patti! And conversely, I have enjoyed watching your experiences come to life through your painting...they are windows into your world that I enjoy greatly!
I'm refreshed by taking a minute away from work to read your piece! It's been so many many many years since I've been in your company. I truly have no idea how your life has unfolded to put you atop a double decker bus trundling through the UK. A geographer no less!
What I DO know is this: I'm touched by your writing! Your writer's voice, tone and POV is genuine. Landscape and characters jump off the screen and spirit me far away from Cyclopure's labs in Skokie, Illinois. I love your prescription for dealing with the vast darkness of human unrest that plagues us all. I wish I could jump up from my desk and run down a field hocky pitch wacking a puck your way!
Oh Katie!!! I can just hear your voice after all these years! Thank you so much for the very kind words. I was very touched you took the time to write this. I'm glad you spent a few moments away from the lab work and spent it with me in the countryside. I love your memory of the field hockey pitch-whew, those were the days. I did get to see an Olympic women's field hockey game at the 2012 Olympics in London-those ladies had some skills! Wishing you a lovely holiday season and some peace in the new year.
Thank you for the uplifting and so thoughtful post Sabrina! I too love buying local and knowing our shop owners, or at least having us all be familiar with each other. And that change of scene....priceless indeed!
Thanks Martha! Yes, there is so much to be said for the connections with your local businesses. Hmmm, good idea for another essay! Enjoy your holidays!
Such a great post, Sabrina! We’re all kind of unsettled, aren’t we, with the events going on right now? I’m all for supporting local businesses, but often it’s a balancing act between that, affordability and convenience. I hope I strike it the right way.
I loved this line and read it with deep envy: ‘My geographers brain was in a happy place, creating a new mental map of my end of the island.’
Thanks Rebecca! I love your comment that you haven't been able to create a mental map! Our brains are all wired so differently and that's what makes us so interesting to each other, or at least I find it fascinating. I've also found that different places need a different orientation, at least if you are using a map. When I moved to the UK from the big open spaces of California, I was constantly lost and could NOT read a map to save my life. Eventually I realised the scales were so different that my cues from maps were contributing to the mystery, and I had to use my 'spidey' sense (or my internal compass which can be pretty useful at times) to guide me. But I still get lost. Hope you find some sense of calm over the holiday season!
Geez, where was I that I just started tuning in to Geography of Home in 2023? I hope you'll post a lot of these from the past so I can catch up. I enjoy them so much.
I completely agree about the roller coaster but after yesterday's caucuses in Iowa the downward plunge has heightened and I'm screaming with my eyes closed. I can't see the upward trajectory. I entirely agree that some fresh air and a change of pace (walking) helps calm my rising horror. My other trick is to listen the news in the gym when all that adrenalin is flowing and I can take out my anger or sadness on the stationery bike, the handweights, or the leg extension or curl machines. When things get really bad, I do burpies. I haven't reached that point often but I might soon. At least that will be good for my physical and mental health. Something!
I love your idea of smashing out frustration at the gym! I’ll remember to think about that when I have my next weights class! I have been insulating myself somewhat from the news as we travel but at some point the reckoning will show up. Now I’ll keep my weights handy! 🤣🤣🤣
I love that you and I are both living on islands — it’s a different and very special way of life.
So true Pam! You have to plan just a bit more carefully about when and where to get things. But it also feels very manageable, with fewer decisions to make, and I particularly like that. Wishing you and Hugh a lovely Christmas!
Sabrina, what a delightful piece! Thank you for this peek into your island.
I take for granted being able to jump into my car and head to Trader Joe’s and get lazy about ordering from Amazon (don’t tell my daughter... she hates contributing to a billionaire). One of the things I loved about my time in Europe was walking to the shops and getting to know the locals.
This really takes me back to watching the fields and farms roll by, from my place on the train or bus! And I wish I could have enjoyed your trip back home listening to the hilarity. It sounds delightful!
Thanks Patti! And conversely, I have enjoyed watching your experiences come to life through your painting...they are windows into your world that I enjoy greatly!
I'm refreshed by taking a minute away from work to read your piece! It's been so many many many years since I've been in your company. I truly have no idea how your life has unfolded to put you atop a double decker bus trundling through the UK. A geographer no less!
What I DO know is this: I'm touched by your writing! Your writer's voice, tone and POV is genuine. Landscape and characters jump off the screen and spirit me far away from Cyclopure's labs in Skokie, Illinois. I love your prescription for dealing with the vast darkness of human unrest that plagues us all. I wish I could jump up from my desk and run down a field hocky pitch wacking a puck your way!
Oh Katie!!! I can just hear your voice after all these years! Thank you so much for the very kind words. I was very touched you took the time to write this. I'm glad you spent a few moments away from the lab work and spent it with me in the countryside. I love your memory of the field hockey pitch-whew, those were the days. I did get to see an Olympic women's field hockey game at the 2012 Olympics in London-those ladies had some skills! Wishing you a lovely holiday season and some peace in the new year.
Thank you for the uplifting and so thoughtful post Sabrina! I too love buying local and knowing our shop owners, or at least having us all be familiar with each other. And that change of scene....priceless indeed!
Thanks Martha! Yes, there is so much to be said for the connections with your local businesses. Hmmm, good idea for another essay! Enjoy your holidays!
Such a great post, Sabrina! We’re all kind of unsettled, aren’t we, with the events going on right now? I’m all for supporting local businesses, but often it’s a balancing act between that, affordability and convenience. I hope I strike it the right way.
I loved this line and read it with deep envy: ‘My geographers brain was in a happy place, creating a new mental map of my end of the island.’
I haven’t created a mental map IN MY LIFE!!! 🤣
Thanks Rebecca! I love your comment that you haven't been able to create a mental map! Our brains are all wired so differently and that's what makes us so interesting to each other, or at least I find it fascinating. I've also found that different places need a different orientation, at least if you are using a map. When I moved to the UK from the big open spaces of California, I was constantly lost and could NOT read a map to save my life. Eventually I realised the scales were so different that my cues from maps were contributing to the mystery, and I had to use my 'spidey' sense (or my internal compass which can be pretty useful at times) to guide me. But I still get lost. Hope you find some sense of calm over the holiday season!