A Bold Reader: Week 38.

This past week, I finished Best Small Fictions 2015. Now, I only have BSF16. I hope '18 comes soon. I love flash fiction more and more.

This summer, I read 104 short (and short-short) stories. I feel I honored my short story summer focus.

Fall began: the focus is diaries and memoirs, which I may open up to creative non-fiction. I began reading Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham. I binge watched her series, Girls, which is inappropriate for all audiences. This is going to be quite a read!

I've continued reading Boy on the Bridge with Bruce.

I got to 48 books for the year last week. What will I read in the remaining months? Anything! Maybe fairy tales. Maybe more about ancient Egypt. Maybe horror.Maybe Brontes and Austen. Maybe books that have long been on my guilt list.

In any case, I will keep reading. Who knows how far I'll go?

Best Gifts: Experiences.

These are a few of my favorite experience gifts.

• I recently wrote about swimming at Lake Norman. That experience still makes me happy.
• I've been to high tea twice, once at the Biltmore hotel and the other at a tea room with my Nanna. I don't actually like tea, but I sipped it anyway and enjoyed the tiny sandwiches and treats. I'd like to do that again soon.
• Our parents gave Josh and me an enchanted honeymoon. Josh's parents sent us to Disney, and my parents sent us to Portofino Bay hotel. The thrill is still present.
• My grandparents took me to five countries in Europe when I was 13. It must have changed me.
• My parents took me to Irish dance competitions in NC, GA, and FL. They were so engaged. 
• Bruce often treats me to movies. He also took over driving, so I wouldn't have that stressor.
• My parents supported or at least tolerated my weird obsessions, like my Harriet the Spy phase.
• When I was a teenager, Melissa used to drive me all around NC and SC, so we could chatter and shop. I was happy.
• Josh gives me almost limitless back massages and tickets. This is a highly effective way to ease my spirit.

Best Gifts.

This is a list of some of the best gifts I've received. I'll try to stick to physical objects rather than experiences--they deserve their own list.

• My mom give me a drawing she'd made--antique frame, black hair, green eyes.
• My dad gave me a tiny iPod Shuffle some years ago. He loaded it with a ton of the music we like. I keep it in the car and listen to it whenever a drive (which is a lot).
• Mom and Shane gave me a beautiful white secretary desk. It was deep drawers to hold stationery, pens, notebooks, and ink. 
• Josh often buys me a Best Johnson necklaces for our anniversaries. One of my favorites has a mermaid pedant with wild gold-brown and a green and pink tail.
• Before I began teaching, Mom gave me some work essentials for Christmas: black heels and a black blazer.
• When I was pregnant, Mom gave me nice maternity clothes for my birthday.
• Bruce went to a museum in Raleigh and got me a strangely beautiful jellyfish journal. And it's Peter Pauper Press, possibly my favorite journal brand. 
• Mom gave me a lovely Cinderella Madame Alexander doll--something I thought I'd never have.
• Kay gave us a hanging candle holder of green beads for our wedding. 
• My dad took me to see Sunset Boulevard and then bought me all the souvenirs I wanted. I was shocked and thrilled.
• When I was 16, I showed Dad a beautiful purple Hard Candy eyeshadow palette, and he bought it for me!
• Shane bought us a new washer and dryer when ours gave out.
• Grandpa made sure I always had a Walkman and showtunes.
• Nanna and Grandpa made sure I had good movies and TV shows (Little House!) to watch.
• And of course, many family members and friends have donated money to help us with Oliver's treatment.

Best Purchases.

This is a list I'm making of some of my best purchases as they come to mind.

• Jeans that fit. This is one of my best purchases I can make. Comfortable jeans are so perfectly basic.
• Polka dot raincoat. I bought this from The Limited some years ago. I thought I needed a grown-up raincoat. It's reversible to solid black.
• My gray jacket with Ariel art and teal stitching. This is my favorite casual jacket.
• Ring bath bombs. These give me such joy. I've ordered from Fragrant Jewels and from Charmed Aroma. It appeals to my little self searching for treasures.
• Every journal I've filled. They inspired me and became my companions for weeks or months. 
• Hard Candy Eyeshadow Quartet in Pixie. HC only exists at Walmart now, but when I was 16, HC was at Sephora. HC was my introduction to fancy makeup and unlocked so much fun and joy for me.
• Collection of poetry. I have a variety of poetry books. Josh often shops our shelves to find poetry to read. Normally (and this is pretty new), I take books I've finished (unless they're special) to 2nd and Charles. But I keep the poetry. It's rare and glimmering.
• Disney Princess journals. They disappear so quickly, and they are often among my favorites.
• Pens collection: I have many pens in a variety of colors and finishes. I have some in almost every room, in a pretty mug or a pretty pouch, to remind me to write.
• Lady in the Water, Jane Eyre (with Ruth Wilson--my favorite Jane), and Passengers. I bought these movies, and I'm glad to have the DVDs in my house.  I've almost been able to share them.
• Most of the gifts I've given. I usually love finding and giving gifts. I always think carefully about the best gift. I don't always succeed, but I can feel good about the thought and effort.

Restoration: Week 37.

This past week was good for reading. I finished a book and started another with Bruce. I've not read a novel in a while. I feel good about my reading.

Hurricane Florence has kept us indoors mostly. We lost power power--only for a day, so we're lucky. I took a candle-lit bath. I have the boys at home, probably for the week.

I actually looked through an entire issue of Lucky. It was fun, and Oliver was excited to have another magazine to shred.

I found the movie On Chesil Beach for free on Amazon Prime. I read the book years ago. The movie was at least as awkward and uncomforatble as the book. I feel good after I've watched a movie, alone or with others.

We have much more water than we need. That restores my sense of security despite the storm and its aftermath.

A Bold Reader: Week 37.

This past week, Bruce and I finished The Midnight Disease. It was interesting, and I learned a little about neurobiology. Bruce and I have now read 13 books together!

We also started a new book together: The Boy on the Bridge. It has grabbed my attention. We'll probably read the book quickly. It's set in the same world as The Girl with All the Gifts, which I'll probably read eventually.

I'm still reading poems by Charles Simic and Kay. I've added Best New Poets 2008.

I have begun so many books. I have a lot of catching up to do. Every book I finish boosts my confidence as a reader.

I'm 94% done with my annual reading goal: 47 of 50 books! I'll be able to go beyond the goal and maybe make time for some challenging readers.

Story Snippet: Warm Water.

A couple of years ago, I was insane (maybe literally) about swimming. I sometimes went to the pool twice a day. So when Dad and Michelle got some kind of boat subscription and invited us to along, my first question was, "Can we swim?"

Oliver loved the wind. He called, "Full steam ahead!" He wore a little life vest.

Dad had said that the lake felt like bathwater. It did! We all swam. I treaded water for an hour. I remember Michelle wore an adorable swimsuit--a red one-piece with a flutter of skirt. Josh video taped Dad dropping Oliver from the boat into the lake. Oliver went under and then popped right up and swam to Michelle. Then, he swam back to the boat and climbed in with no help.

I loved all the space to move my limbs. I felt strong and free. My body and I were on the same team. Everything calmed down in my head and heart.