OCTOBER 2022

A busy week necessitates a busy blog.

SONG INSPIRATION

This month’s blog is inspired by “Body Language” by Doja Cat from her debut album, Amala.

PREMATURE RELOCATION

If you’re reading this, then I’m en route to northern Idaho.  For a month, I’ll fancy myself a lecturer.  In addition to my normal research/service responsibilities, I will be teaching 2 courses:  exploring the solar system and volcanology.  This opportunity is intended to ease me back into the (science) classroom before I start my new position in the spring.  I’m excited for the opportunity to interact with my research group in-person, engage with students, and collaborate closely with my supervisor.  This’ll also serve as a testbed for life in a small town.  I did it for undergrad, but I’ve lived in car-centric urban sprawl for nearly a decade.  I’m also moving to a higher latitude which will mean adjusting to a climate I’ve never experienced.  All this to say that I’m super curious/excited/anxious about my month-long adventure.

WRITING

Thanks in part to my writing partner/spiritual guru, a helpful podcast, and self-imposed accountability, writing continues at a steady pace on all fronts.  In the world of nonfiction, I’m actively working on 2 manuscripts.  One is awaiting feedback from a collaborator and the other is in the ‘Figure production’ stage.  I’m prepping both for a relatively quick *fingers crossed to the point of breakage* turnaround since they build off my most recent publication.

On the fiction front, my novel stands at ~60-65% completion.  I will participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this November with the hope of excreting 50,000 words, which should wrap it up.  Recently, I’ve decided to dust off a completed novella that I’ve been sitting on for nearly 15 years.  I’m hoping to start editing that next year.  All in all, I’m feeling optimistic about accomplishing my writing goals for the calendar year.  I just have to keep my discipline.

THE DYNAMICS OF FRIENDSHIP

In recent weeks, I’ve ramped up my social obligations in preparation for traveling for an extended period.  I’ve learned so much about people that I care about and so much about how my relationships are evolving.  An unintended result is that I’ve also learned about myself, but we can table that for another blog.  The icing on top was a visit from a close friend this past week – a visit full of deep, emotional conversation.  And one of the realizations that came out of this visit was that we’re actually best friends!

What am I trying to say here?  Sometimes we treat friendship too casually.  But friendship is just another form of a relationship that requires investment.  Larger amounts of time and energy are required to maintain friendships with age.  And the dynamics of those relationships may not be what you’d expect.  Intimacy and vulnerability, something typically associated with romance, is a critical part of maintaining strong relationships.  But there may also be attraction (either physical, emotional, or intellectual) which can make things more confusing.

Too often we operate in a dichotomy of platonic vs non-platonic relationships and we assign attributes to one or the other.  But there is no clear distinction.  Several of my friends are platonic soul mates – I jive with them on a different level (hive mind so to speak) and feel I can be my true vulnerable self with them.  Then, there are friends I’m deeply attracted to (no, not necessarily sexually) who fill my head with exciting ideas and inspire me to take on spiritual and intellectual adventures.

All of these aspects of friendship change over time and vary from person to person.  When examining my criteria for a best friend, I realized that someone I’ve always considered a close friend is, in fact, one of my very best friends.  I just hadn’t interrogated myself enough to see it.

CURRENT SHOWS AND BOOKS

Recently finished:  Ted Lasso (s2); The Aliens; Victoria (s1)

Currently watching:  Columbo (s3); House of Dragons; Victoria (s2)

Currently reading:  A Modern History of Japan – 2^nd edition; Wine for Dummies

As always, thank you very much for reading.  My next blog is scheduled for Thursday, November 17^th.  Until next time….