In his New Yorker essay Take the F, Ian Frazier describes life in his Brooklyn neighborhood and building, before relaying the story of a neighbor who had taken ill. While she was in the hospital, the whole building was “expectant, spooky, quiet”.
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The neighbor finally returned, pale but on the mend. In celebration, Frazier “walked to the garden, seeing glory everywhere.” He “took a big Betsy McCall rose to (his) face and breathed into it as if it were an oxygen mask.”
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I read this essay 25 years ago, and I still think about its life-affirming qualities often. I look forward to once again surrounding myself with roses, like these in the Sonoma (CA) Plaza, captured during the fullness of May.
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What do you look forward to?
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I 💗 this one. So clever! Bay to Breakers race May 15. More history and culture of the race a few posts back. 🏃♀️Boxy. ⏹The iconic Karl the Fog, in Sunday’s Bay to Breakers race. More history and culture of the race two posts back. 🌫Women form a human shield to protect this man from others as he attempts to tell women what to do with their bodies. March for Reproductive Rights May 14.The Bay to Breakers footrace began in 1912, as a way to cheer the public after the 1906 earthquake. The 7.5 mile (12 K) race, from the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean, runs through multiple iconic neighborhoods and Golden Gate Park. It’s one the most popular races in the country. People in costumes, others wearing nothing but running shoes and fanny packs, walkers, people with multiple body types and abilities, and centipede groups of 13-15 who run the whole race tied together greatly outnumber the kind of runner you see in other races. Even spectators dress up. People play music along the route. There’s a party atmosphere that has been derided, especially by those who live along the route. Perhaps that’s toned down, as this was the first race in three years, due to Covid. I saw only spirited fun.“What do you do when you’re picnicking in the park and there’s a march for abortion rights?”Anger, joy, community, creativity, identity, rage, resolve. It always feels good (though sadly necessary) to take to the streets with your people to let it be known that we refuse to go back. Bans off our Bodies: Women’s March for Reproductive Rights May 14, 2022.Morning Paper. 🗞Cherry blossom time. 🌸Buy the Book
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