What I'm Digging
A round up of this and that catching my eye this week
Happy Friday, friends. You’re here. You made it.
My little sister, Theo, is getting married tomorrow. Family and friends are on their way here to the mountains from locations both near and far. It’s a wild thing to see your youngest sibling take such an adult step. We’re 14 years apart. We have the same father, but different mothers, and it just so happened that my older brother and I had flown down to Florida on spring break back in ‘91 when my stepmom went into labor. And now this tiny baby is signing documents, exchanging vows, and putting on rings. What a world.
My middle sister and I are the maids of honor, and one of my longtime friends is the officiant, so this weekend will be a busy one. There’s a rehearsal dinner tonight, the wedding tomorrow, and then a brunch on Sunday, Mother’s Day. Much to do, much to celebrate.
With that in mind, let’s tuck right in to the round-up, shall we?
*After discovering the book Into the Magic Shop is what inspired the BTS song Magic Shop (which just so happened to be the surprise/secret/randomly selected song chosen when I saw them April 25 in Tampa), and looking into its subject matter, I knew I needed to read it. Part memoir, part manual for discovery and meditative practice, the book shares the story of neurosurgeon James Doty and his encounter with a woman named Ruth in a magic shop who changed the entire trajectory of his life. I’m about 60 pages in, and am already wholly consumed by the narrative and subject matter:
Growing up in the high desert of California, Jim Doty was poor, with an alcoholic father and a mother chronically depressed and paralyzed by a stroke. Today he is the director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE) at Stanford University, of which the Dalai Lama is a founding benefactor. But back then his life was at a dead end until at twelve he wandered into a magic shop looking for a plastic thumb. Instead he met Ruth, a woman who taught him a series of exercises to ease his own suffering and manifest his greatest desires. Her final mandate was that he keep his heart open and teach these techniques to others. She gave him his first glimpse of the unique relationship between the brain and the heart.
*I’ve also been looking into Earth’s relationship with the moon, and how it affects human and non-human behavior alike. I picked up a used copy of Rebecca Boyle’s book Our Moon: How Earth’s Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are to deepen my awareness and understanding of this intwined, interconnected partnership we’re in with our perennial celestial companion.
*If you live in an area where ramps are grown or foraged, it’s their time to shine. Here are several ways I preserve the harvest of these pungent, highly aromatic woodland alliums.
*Every autumn, I head to an old grove of hawthorns found around Craggy Gardens on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I harvest those that have fallen from the trees, and render them into hawthorn tincture, a remedy long used for cardiac support (heart issues run in the maternal side of my family). Yesterday, I found this sparkling hawthorn drink at a local Asian foods store. It’s tart but balanced gently with a bit of sweetness. Reminiscent of cranberry juice but with a floral note below. I’ll definitely try making it once its hawthorn-harvesting time again.
*This past Friday, just before sunset, Glenn and I went out for drinks and mountain views at Wildwood Still (I had the Pardon My French and haven’t stopped thinking about it) before crossing the street to catch the opening of three new exhibits at Blue Spiral 1 gallery. Opened in 1990, Blue Spiral has been an integral part of the art scene in Asheville since its inception, and can be credited in many ways with Asheville’s revitalization in the ensuing years. Covering 3 floors, with around 25 exhibits annually, I highly recommend stopping by to browse. It’s open to the public and free to view. Go with a friend. Go with your partner. Go by yourself. Go with a contemplative mind and an open heart. You’ll no doubt come away changed.
*Spring allergies getting to you? They are me and mine! Here’s a link to make my nettle infusion and tincture. Don’t suffer in silence, let the plants help see you through.
*Fan of loud cackling (that you’ll be doing) and irreverent humor? Then this British reality tv show wherein 10 ace comics try to get each other to laugh is for you. When I was down in Florida two weeks ago to see BTS, I stayed with my middle sister, Devan, and her husband, Mark (who is Scottish). They introduced me to Last One Laughing and it is, with zero hyperbole, amongst the funniest comedy shows I’ve had the pleasure of gasping for air to.
*Need something to put on while you’re cleaning the house/driving/writing a Substack/living your life? Might I suggest Memorabilia? A very good background track to groove/take a mental carpet ride/decompress to, imho.
*Black licorice is the best licorice. One of the best candies in the world, honestly. I know this is a strong statement, and I stand by it. If you feel the same way, I invite you to treat yourself to this Dutch honey-infused version. It’s gluten- and gelatin-free, as well, for those for whom such considerations are significant.
Alright, I’m off to get ready for the day/weekend. So many people to see, places to go, things to do! Good things are afoot.
Wherever you go this weekend, whatever you do, and whomever you do it with, may it be grand!