Welcome to a new series! Inspired by
’s “Slow Sunday Scroll,” “Letter of Recommendation” is a new monthly feature in which I’ll share a few things I’ve been loving lately and some random thoughts about…whatever else comes up.First, some professional news: my Sarasota Magazine story about my husband’s experience taking ketamine for treatment-resistant depression is a finalist for a City and Regional Magazine Association for best feature in our circulation category. This story also won a Florida Magazine Association for Best In-Depth Reporting last year and I continue to be immensely proud of it and so happy it’s resonated the way it has. If you have any questions about it or want to talk about Rob’s experience and how it’s changed his life, please feel free to comment or email me. And click here to read the story, if you’d like.
Second, speaking of mental health, I officially got diagnosed with ADHD last month after suspecting I’ve had it for a while, and wow, it’s giving me some Big Feelings. To realize at age 40 that my lack of focus (my brain is a magpie), or perpetual state of disorganization (Rob tells me I leave a “trail of terror” through the house; usually it’s clothes and shoes), or never-ending sense of overwhelm (truly, it’s almost all the time) is not some huge moral failing on my part but actually probably my brain being wired differently than others’ is…quite the revelation. It’s also shined a new light on all the coping mechanisms I’ve developed over the course of my life which, of course, I didn’t realize were coping mechanisms at the time.
Anyway, I started meds two weeks ago, and I’m sure I’ll write more about my experience because that’s how I process (see ketamine article above). Let me know if it’s something you’d like to read about and/or discuss. I think the biggest thing I’m starting to realize it that, actually, maybe I’m not a huge failure who’s been scraping by my entire life before someone figures out that I have no idea what I’m doing—maybe I just need a little extra help.
Whew. OK. Let’s get to some links.
First, a shameless plug for the first three Interview interviews with Nisha, Quelcy and Ta’lor.
“Let people eat”: José Andrés on the seven World Central Kitchen team members—Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, John Chapman, Jacob Flickinger, Zomi Frankcom, James Henderson, James Kirby and Damian Sobol—who were killed by the IDF in Gaza this week. (The New York Times gift link)
The great Leslie Jamieson on gaslighting. (The New Yorker)
“Motherhood was never a dot on the horizon for me”:
on being child-free by choice. (The Hyphen)An ode to women who walk. (LitHub)
Twelve questions for Jia Tolentino. (
)Black holes are even weirder than we imagined. (The New Yorker)
Speaking of the cosmos, are you excited about the eclipse on Monday? I sure am, even though we won’t get totality in Pittsburgh. (The Atlantic gift link)
Right before our wedding in 2016, Rob and I got to take to go to Cumberland Island, Georgia, and stay at the historic Greyfield Inn for a story I was writing—a trip I think about all the time. One night, there was an oyster roast and it was amazing—it was my first time eating them, and I popped them into my mouth as fast as Rob—who did not care for them and, rightfully, did not want me wielding an oyster knife, for everyone’s safety—could shuck them. This article makes me want to throw my own oyster roast in our backyard. (The New York Times gift link)
I would very much like to live in this house. (House & Garden)
I read Dolly Alderton’s Good Material in one sitting. The main character, Andy, who’s going through a painful breakup, is likeable—if also pretty insufferable—and the people he surrounds himself with are, too. Alderton is good at inner monologues and good at writing from the perspective of the opposite sex (minus a few truly strange turns of phrase), and at the end of the book she deploys a Fleishman Is in Trouble-style POV shift that offers even more clarity about Andy and his ex’s situation but also gives a jolt to the narrative and helps neatly wrap up the story. It’s easy and enjoyable.
- ’s I’ll Just Be Five More Minutes: And Other Tales From My ADHD Brain was enjoyable, funny and had me going, “Ohhhh my God” in recognition more than a few times.
My Last Innocent Year by Daisy Alpert Florin was another read-in-one-sitting book. Isabel Rosen, an English major and aspiring writer at a small Northeastern liberal arts college, is left to cope with the physical and emotional fallout of another student forcing himself on her one night in his dorm. The book propels itself forward from that evening, exploring friendships, student-teacher relationships, marriage, power dynamics and more. As an English major who also attended a small university, I’m a sucker for this type of story, and I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend.
Nineteen-year-old American figure skater Ilia Malanin skates to the Succession theme song and does a lot of really hard jumps and is a joy to behold.
I think about this episode of
’s “Culture Study” podcast all the time. It’s called “Why Do Clothes Suck Now?” and the title says it all. (Think about your clothes from the early to mid-2000s vs. the pieces you’ve bought in the last few years and you’ll see what I mean.)Mr. & Mrs. Smith on Amazon Prime is a delight—even if you’ve never watched the original, like me—and the guest stars are the cherry on top, particularly Sarah Paulson as the couple’s shrink.
Dan Levy on Elizabeth Day’s “How to Fail” podcast is just wonderful.
If you’re into British comedies like we are, there’s a new season of Taskmaster airing now, with new eps on YouTube every Friday in the U.S. (And if you’re new to the show, start with season 4. Trust me.)
This lip balm from Nivea is the best berry lip color I’ve ever used—and trust me, I’ve tried ‘em all, from Clinique Black Honey to Dior Lip Glow—and it’s $4.29 at CVS. Buy in bulk so you can keep one on you at all times.
If you’re in Pittsburgh, go see the Titanic exhibit at the Carnegie Science Center before it closes on April 15—it’s so cool to see actual artifacts from the ship, and the entire show is really moving. Make sure to book your tickets in advance.
Okay, this was a FUN read. I have taken several recommendations away, clicked on my share of links, and have the berry balm on my list.
And I cannot go without commending you for the courage to not only write a deeply personal article about your husband’s ketamine journey (congrats on the nominations!), but to also put your ADHD diagnosis out there. Well done you.