Dear Readers, It's been a summer in the city for me, which means long walks along Chicago's lakefront, see above. This year we had a canine houseguest for two months. While I've never considered myself a dog person, I did warm up to that little creature and
took many a walk with him! Walking Smudgie, my son's girlfriend's Shih Tzu My tennis elbow still plagues me, so I will keep this newsletter short again because typing continues to bother it. I have embarked on another therapy, for those of you who've so kindly written to me about this ailment. Currently I'm on Naproxen and getting hand therapy. The jury is out on whether that is
actually helping. Everyone I have seen about this (orthopedic doctor, physical therapist, and hand therapist) have told me this will heal eventually but can take up to two years! I'm on eight months now... Nevertheless, I
continue to try to work, write, and create online courses. I tried not working in the spring. That was good for a few weeks, when I was traveling. Otherwise, it drives me crazy! I guess it's all about learning to work differently, in smaller portions, for example! My online course From Family Letter to Fascinating Story was great fun to create and run, and wrapped up earlier this month. I hope to be able
to share at least one student's resulting story with you soon! On that note, I wanted to let you know that my Advanced Memoir Workshop has one seat left! It meets once a month for 8 sessions, beginning in October. I've been
running this workshop since 2010. Participants have either studied with me before, or they submit a manuscript for my consideration to be admitted. The course is focused on workshopping student manuscripts. It is geared towards writers committed to the craft of memoir, who want to work with an equally dedicated group of writers. Find out more here. If you're interested, please email me. I only have one spot left; first come, first served. Unfortunately my cooking has suffered greatly
due to the tennis elbow plague. Easy recipes have ruled my kitchen! Case in point, since we've still got some summery warm days ahead of us, I've got two cold soups for you that spare you the hot kitchen. In addition, they might help you deal with some of your (or your neighbors') bumper crop: Cucumber Soup (courtesy of the Moosewood Cookbook) - note: I used 2 English cucumbers and did not peel nor
seed them. And one garlic clove only. Prepare the day before for better taste! Zucchini Mint Soup (courtesy of Martha Stewart) - tastes really great the next day!
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I have been reading, and I found a new favorite author! It's been a long time since I found someone whose work I find so thought-provoking that I am constantly underlining phrases. The kind of
writer whose every book I am going to buy! So, if at the end of our summer now you feel like a bit of a chill, pick up Katherine May's Wintering. Or get it to prepare for the colder months. I am on her most recent book right now: The Electricity of Every Living Thing. Here's one example of the kind of insight she offers that I really appreciate: Regarding her strenuous hike of England's South West Coast Path, she says of those crises one tends to suffer: "Maybe [...] the aim of this is to bring about tiny, manageable moments of crisis in our lives, so that we're ready when the inundations come again." p. 33
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Oh, and speaking of Theodore Roosevelt: I recently finished listening to Edmund Morris's 3-volume biography of TR. Really, really terrific! In case you think a divided country or machine politics are anything new, think again. My older son is currently listening to the first volume
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt and told me it has him rethinking how he might want to educate his children. Makes me happy to hear he wants to have kids... And what a remarkable family the Roosevelts were! I am now listening to David McCullough's Mornings on Horseback, which is more of a portrait of the whole family, in
particular, TR's father. It is so interesting to read about the same subject from a different angle! David McCullough, who passed away recently, has been one of the best American history writers ever! Years ago, the family and I listened to his book 1776 on a road trip. Another terrific book that brings history alive! I listen to audiobooks whenever I have a longer car drive, so it takes me a while to get through them, but it's also lovely to know that a juicy story is waiting for me in the car! So much for today--enjoy the rest of your summer!
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