recent magics
gifts from the sea, vampire holidays, and {more} yelling about capitalism
CW: food mentions in this section and in the list of holidays. The “things i’ve written” section is clear.
I discover a backbone on the beach. Not a complete spine, just one vertebra, gently knobbed and marvelously chambered. A seal’s, maybe. On that same walk I find a dark stone that has been sea-shaped into a perfect cylinder, like a blackboard-colored piece of chalk.
Two crows are waiting at the bus stop. Just idling there, right under the sign, looking impatient.
The phlebotomist has taped a Where’s Waldo poster to the wall to give nervous patients something to focus on as she draws their blood.
The headache ebbs.
Opening my box of colored pencils for the first time in years, I notice tiny gouges in Spanish Orange and Dark Brown. Once upon a time, I had two pet rats who loved to eat art supplies.
Hallway mirror, afternoon light: the white strands gathering at my temples gleam like tinsel.
The muscle spasms subside, for the moment. The pain slinks away.
The best part of fresh spinach is the stem. Break it off from the rest of the leaf and try it by itself; it tastes like springtime, like pure possibility, like the color green. Eating it, you feel the wild strangeness of being an animal on this earth.
Phoebe pauses, then sings the hardest-won word. Happy.
On windy days when I walk to the mailbox I can smell the sea.
things i’ve written
My friend Lunden has just published a phenomenal book about illness, rest, and American capitalism. You can read the first half of our conversation about it here.
Lunden offered some excellent advice on writing about illness. If you want more on that topic, here’s a story I wrote for The Open Notebook in 2019.
tenderness toward existence days
Your tiny holidays for the next few weeks:
Mother Ocean Day (May 13)
National Chicken Dance Day (14)
Bring Flowers to Someone Day (15)
International Pickle Day (16)
National Rescue Dog Day (20)
National Strawberries & Cream Day (21)
Lucky Penny Day, also World Turtle Day (23)
Put a Pillow On Your Fridge Day (29)
May is, also, inexplicably, a great month to be a vampire:
Sun Awareness Day, also Stay Up All Night (May 13)
Shades Day (14)
World Goth Day (22)
World Dracula Day (26)
Sunscreen Protection Day (27)
Thank you to everyone who’s signed up for a paid subscription; I’m alarmed, mortified, and touched by your support. Thank you, too, to anyone who shares small magic with a friend, leaves a comment, or replies by email. It fills my salty little heart to hear that these words mean something to you. I am so glad you’re here.
Beach and window photos from Unsplash.
Kate,
Your perspective amazes me and motivated me to appreciate every moment. You are wise and generous. Thank you
Kate, I can't remember if I found you through that story in The Open Notebook or a bat post on Last Word on Nothing, but I know you're one of the writers who drew me to Substack, and I'm glad we're both here.