Hi Amy, I have not received your newsletter for June 6 or 13. Did I overlook a notice that you are taking a break? I really look forward to to these creative windows to your beautiful and wise heart and soul❣️J.
Thank you Amy for honoring a son of Syracuse (my hometown) during your visit to Normandy. Thankfully, my relatives survived WW1, WW2 and Korea. We celebrate them on Veteran’s Day. On a much lighter note, I entirely disagree with your correspondent’s take on Dazed and Confused. Probably because that is my era of high school. The part of the “contract” to play sports hsppened
Hi Phil -- Dazed and Confused is set during my high school era, also. I appreciate the performances, but honestly -- it might be a "guy thing," but I've never much liked the movie, either.
To me during HS and I kind of talked like the nerdy guy who decried this as fascist. The movie is a gem, marking career debuts of future Oscar winners McConnauhagh (so)and Affleck. It’s soundtrack is spot on and it has a fantastic screenplay.
Hey Phil - 'Dazed' correspondent RJ Savage here - I agree that the screenplay and soundtrack move together in a way that makes the film both immersive, and highly effective. But even gems can gather dust, or get cracked after too many tumbles. My take is firmly rooted in 2021 in that I think it's alright to view representations of cultural moments through a contemporary lens. I agree that retrospective cringing is hard, but my view is that it's better to hold our darlings accountable through analysis and reflection, rather than kill them outright. Many thanks for reading!
I agree that some movies do not age well, I just do not see that with this movie. Linklater has made several movies that are significantly better than Dazed--the three Sunrise/Sunset movies and Boyhood. Dazed is probably his most popular--if only for the writing and the dead to rights take on suburban 70's youth. I have not seen his movie about guys on a college baseball team in the 80's, some have said it is an extension of Dazed. I appreciated reading your take--Amy said in a comment that it might be a male/female thing--I could see that, despite the pretty blatant sexism of folks like Wooderson, there are plenty of pretty positive female characters.
Your newsletters are always wonderful, but this week you really knocked it out of the park. Between the Normandy graves, More Dazed, the AM baseball games, The Fallen you gave us a thoughtful, deep, warm start to (unofficial) summer 2021. Bless you : )
I really enjoy your newsletter, Amy. You sometimes make me laugh and you often give me serious things to think about as I go through the day. Thank you for the beautiful Memorial Day tribute to our fallen warriors! My father and three of his brothers served in World War I, two of my great-grandfathers fought in the Civil War (one was killed at the Battle of Shiloh), and I've lost count of how many of my ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War and other conflicts. God Bless America!
I have just shared today’s column on my Facebook page. When I list ALL the ways in which you bring humor, wisdom, understanding, and reflection to the lives of your readers and listeners, it is quite amazing. Thinking you may have another book coming out soon. Sure hope so! Those of us from northeastern Colorado are also following the tradition of visiting family members at cemeteries. The distances can be quite large. We live exactly one block from our local cemetery, and we walk there often. I visit my grandparents, parents, and a brother whose brief life was over a year before I was born.
My childhood best friend’s family stone is just to the left and behind ours, and I visit her and have a wreath placed there this year. Our 70-year friendship, begun when we were across the street neighbors at age 2, ended in January when she died in a fall down her stairs. She was quite deaf, and read lips along with straining to hear via ineffective hearing aids, was somewhat disabled by a hereditary hip issue, and was flummoxed by the Covid era because of its isolation. Always always thinking of you, and now visiting you frequently, Dear Cindy.
Hi Corlie -- thank you so much for sharing my work. I genuinely appreciate it. And I'm happy you are able to maintain your loyal connection and memories of your old friend, now truly "home."
What you did in Normandy was so touching, as was the sand art of 9,000 fallen soldiers. Thank you for sharing that. It does the opposite of glorifying war.
I always get excited to see your newsletter in my inbox. Your advice column is how I start my day, and the peek into your life and longer musings is a highlight of the week. I love how you write, Amy. I'd be willing to pay for some premium content.
Is there any way to simplify the formatting and headings? I find my brain gets taxed by trying to parse the many headings and subheading (and styles) for your contributors. (It's the copy editor in me.). Putting them in one line would be great!
DEPARTMENT | JUNK FOOD: Stuff I consume to feel better by Railey Jane Savage
DEPARTMENT | LAURA LIKES: Where my friend Laura tells me about good stuff
Hi Micheila -- Thank you for your kind comments! And also for your suggestion. Please remember that people consume this newsletter on a variety of devices. I believe the formatting I've chosen works best for most. Mainly, I like it -- but I'll certainly consider your idea, and I do appreciate your point of view.
Thanks, Amy! I am tickled to know you read and respond to your readers. I get that about the platforms, very good point. Thanks for the explanation and the reply.
"I do not actually commune with my dead relatives, nor do I talk aloud to them in the way that people in movies do. But I do use these visits to reassure myself that — as long as people are present to remember them — my beloved family members aren’t really gone." Those sentiments expressed my thoughts about those we've lost during my entire life. Thank you. We live on in our DNA if we shared and as long as someone one remembers us, whether rightly or wrongly. Philip South Carolina
Thanks for sharing your moving experience visiting Normandy. That was heartfelt! I also loved Laura's column describing her listening to baseball on AM radio. That brought back fond memories of listening to the Redsox during summers on Cape Cod and later listening to every Reds game on WLW when I lived in Ohio. We still have my husband's grandparents old tube radio but unfortunately can't find the right tubes for it. Nevertheless, it still has a place of honor in our living room.
My father was a bombardier in the Pacific during WWII, and he came back to meet and marry my mother. Dad died five years ago at age 95. While I'm glad he lived that long, and truly healthy for most of it, my heart breaks for those men who didn't come home and their families. War is so senseless!
I love that you visited specific graves in Normandy for family members. If I ever go back to Normandy I'm going to make the same offer. It was such a moving experience, but now I feel like a wasted opportunity to connect a hero there with a descendant.
HI Kim -- thank you. Honestly, visiting the graves on behalf of others was just a flash of an idea ... and it grew. And I think it's one of the most impactful and rewarding gestures I've ever made. I was truly honored to do it.
Thank you, Amy! Wonderful remembrances of the real reason we celebrate Memorial Day; and the start of a new season.
Hi Amy, I have not received your newsletter for June 6 or 13. Did I overlook a notice that you are taking a break? I really look forward to to these creative windows to your beautiful and wise heart and soul❣️J.
Me too💜
I missed your June 6th newsletter. I hope we see another soon. They have been so refreshing.
Thank you Amy for honoring a son of Syracuse (my hometown) during your visit to Normandy. Thankfully, my relatives survived WW1, WW2 and Korea. We celebrate them on Veteran’s Day. On a much lighter note, I entirely disagree with your correspondent’s take on Dazed and Confused. Probably because that is my era of high school. The part of the “contract” to play sports hsppened
Hi Phil -- Dazed and Confused is set during my high school era, also. I appreciate the performances, but honestly -- it might be a "guy thing," but I've never much liked the movie, either.
To me during HS and I kind of talked like the nerdy guy who decried this as fascist. The movie is a gem, marking career debuts of future Oscar winners McConnauhagh (so)and Affleck. It’s soundtrack is spot on and it has a fantastic screenplay.
Hey Phil - 'Dazed' correspondent RJ Savage here - I agree that the screenplay and soundtrack move together in a way that makes the film both immersive, and highly effective. But even gems can gather dust, or get cracked after too many tumbles. My take is firmly rooted in 2021 in that I think it's alright to view representations of cultural moments through a contemporary lens. I agree that retrospective cringing is hard, but my view is that it's better to hold our darlings accountable through analysis and reflection, rather than kill them outright. Many thanks for reading!
I agree that some movies do not age well, I just do not see that with this movie. Linklater has made several movies that are significantly better than Dazed--the three Sunrise/Sunset movies and Boyhood. Dazed is probably his most popular--if only for the writing and the dead to rights take on suburban 70's youth. I have not seen his movie about guys on a college baseball team in the 80's, some have said it is an extension of Dazed. I appreciated reading your take--Amy said in a comment that it might be a male/female thing--I could see that, despite the pretty blatant sexism of folks like Wooderson, there are plenty of pretty positive female characters.
Your newsletters are always wonderful, but this week you really knocked it out of the park. Between the Normandy graves, More Dazed, the AM baseball games, The Fallen you gave us a thoughtful, deep, warm start to (unofficial) summer 2021. Bless you : )
HI Moira -- thank you so much. I especially appreciate that you've enjoyed my contributors' work. I think they're ... amazing.
I really enjoy your newsletter, Amy. You sometimes make me laugh and you often give me serious things to think about as I go through the day. Thank you for the beautiful Memorial Day tribute to our fallen warriors! My father and three of his brothers served in World War I, two of my great-grandfathers fought in the Civil War (one was killed at the Battle of Shiloh), and I've lost count of how many of my ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War and other conflicts. God Bless America!
Hi Sue -- so many patriots in your family! Quite a legacy of service. God Bless America, indeed!
Your columns are always so fun to read. I feel like we could be friends, except I live in California.
HI Cynthia -- I appreciate the feeling of connection, and I know exactly how you feel! Thanks so much.
I have just shared today’s column on my Facebook page. When I list ALL the ways in which you bring humor, wisdom, understanding, and reflection to the lives of your readers and listeners, it is quite amazing. Thinking you may have another book coming out soon. Sure hope so! Those of us from northeastern Colorado are also following the tradition of visiting family members at cemeteries. The distances can be quite large. We live exactly one block from our local cemetery, and we walk there often. I visit my grandparents, parents, and a brother whose brief life was over a year before I was born.
My childhood best friend’s family stone is just to the left and behind ours, and I visit her and have a wreath placed there this year. Our 70-year friendship, begun when we were across the street neighbors at age 2, ended in January when she died in a fall down her stairs. She was quite deaf, and read lips along with straining to hear via ineffective hearing aids, was somewhat disabled by a hereditary hip issue, and was flummoxed by the Covid era because of its isolation. Always always thinking of you, and now visiting you frequently, Dear Cindy.
Hi Corlie -- thank you so much for sharing my work. I genuinely appreciate it. And I'm happy you are able to maintain your loyal connection and memories of your old friend, now truly "home."
Wanted to add that Cindy “came home” to her family plot in our local cemetery from a city 150 miles, thus allowing me to visit her often.
What you did in Normandy was so touching, as was the sand art of 9,000 fallen soldiers. Thank you for sharing that. It does the opposite of glorifying war.
I always get excited to see your newsletter in my inbox. Your advice column is how I start my day, and the peek into your life and longer musings is a highlight of the week. I love how you write, Amy. I'd be willing to pay for some premium content.
Is there any way to simplify the formatting and headings? I find my brain gets taxed by trying to parse the many headings and subheading (and styles) for your contributors. (It's the copy editor in me.). Putting them in one line would be great!
DEPARTMENT | JUNK FOOD: Stuff I consume to feel better by Railey Jane Savage
DEPARTMENT | LAURA LIKES: Where my friend Laura tells me about good stuff
Hi Micheila -- Thank you for your kind comments! And also for your suggestion. Please remember that people consume this newsletter on a variety of devices. I believe the formatting I've chosen works best for most. Mainly, I like it -- but I'll certainly consider your idea, and I do appreciate your point of view.
Thanks, Amy! I am tickled to know you read and respond to your readers. I get that about the platforms, very good point. Thanks for the explanation and the reply.
"I do not actually commune with my dead relatives, nor do I talk aloud to them in the way that people in movies do. But I do use these visits to reassure myself that — as long as people are present to remember them — my beloved family members aren’t really gone." Those sentiments expressed my thoughts about those we've lost during my entire life. Thank you. We live on in our DNA if we shared and as long as someone one remembers us, whether rightly or wrongly. Philip South Carolina
Here's hoping we see another edition of the newsletter soon!!
❤️❤️.... always!
Thanks for sharing your moving experience visiting Normandy. That was heartfelt! I also loved Laura's column describing her listening to baseball on AM radio. That brought back fond memories of listening to the Redsox during summers on Cape Cod and later listening to every Reds game on WLW when I lived in Ohio. We still have my husband's grandparents old tube radio but unfortunately can't find the right tubes for it. Nevertheless, it still has a place of honor in our living room.
My father was a bombardier in the Pacific during WWII, and he came back to meet and marry my mother. Dad died five years ago at age 95. While I'm glad he lived that long, and truly healthy for most of it, my heart breaks for those men who didn't come home and their families. War is so senseless!
I have a “favorite things” support budget and I’ll be glad to subscribe to the Premium Content!!
I'm honored that my work might become one of your "favorite things." Thank you.
I love that you visited specific graves in Normandy for family members. If I ever go back to Normandy I'm going to make the same offer. It was such a moving experience, but now I feel like a wasted opportunity to connect a hero there with a descendant.
HI Kim -- thank you. Honestly, visiting the graves on behalf of others was just a flash of an idea ... and it grew. And I think it's one of the most impactful and rewarding gestures I've ever made. I was truly honored to do it.