Sunday Strolls #1

A roundup of things I'm reading, writing, and loving

Hello lovely readers, and welcome to the first edition of Sunday Strolls!

Sunday Strolls is a nod to one of my favorite writers on Substack - Emma Gannon’s Slow Sunday Scrolls - in which she shares a weekly round-up of links, podcasts, and books.

Since my delicious days of uninterrupted hours of reading, writing, and scrolling are long gone, my Sunday Scrolls are more like Sunday Strolls which mostly consist of me sweating and panting as I push my son, Jaad, up these God forsaken hills in Lisbon in his largely American stroller.

So really the name of this should be Sunday Sweats, but let’s go with Sunday Strolls anyway!

Here I’ll share with you what I’m thinking about, writing, reading, or loving in general. I’ll mix it up. I’ll try new things with you. I hope you enjoy it. Let’s see where this goes!

What I’m Reading 

I am still slowly making my way through 12 Memoirs in 12 Months, and this month I am half way through Belonging: A Daughter's Search for Identity Through Loss and Love by American broadcast journalist Michelle Miller. But since I am a serial book hopper, I am also reading James Baldwin’s You Don’t Know My Name, a series of deeply moving essays published in 1961 on topics ranging from race relations in the United States to Baldwin’s experiences as a writer which has resonated with me on many levels. 

Last week Portugal celebrated its 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, but as with every revolution, its’ history is complex and so I am reading this feature, ‘No turning back: Carnation Revolution divides Portugal again, 50 years on’ to try to gain a deeper understanding.

What I’m Writing

I’ve been working on an essay tentatively titled The Impossible Things which is about how shared trauma can deepen our empathy and connection to each other if we allow it to. 

Also in writing - an essay I wrote about costuming as Palestine Sunbirds this past Mardi Gras titled, When Celebration is Survival was published this week in The New Orleans Review (NOR), a journal of contemporary literature and culture that features poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art, photography, film and book reviews by established and emerging writers and artists. Special thank you to the NOR staff and their efforts to elevate Palestinian voices in this critical time.

What I’m Thinking A lot About

I am feeling deeply moved and inspired by student protestors who have shown up across U.S. university campuses in calls for a ceasefire, divestment from Israel, and solidarity for Palestine. Most of their efforts have been peaceful, despite a dismal response by conservative politicians and violent counter protestors. These brave, morally conscious students are restoring my faith in humanity.

What I’m Listening To

I recently stumbled across Read Me a Poem by Amanda Holmes and I only wish I had found it sooner. The show’s motto is we could all use a little more poetry, and I couldn’t agree more. Host Amanda Holmes reads poems that are requested by the audience, and sometimes her producer reads the translation of works too. Amanda’s voice is so soothing and it is everything my spirit needs these days. I particularly enjoyed Amanda’s reading of Egyptian-American poet’s Lahia Lababidi, “The Limits of Love”.

What I’m Loving

I recently returned to my favorite neighborhood coffee shop, Copenhagen, which consistently serves delicious coffee, bread, and pastries. I almost cried when, after returning from a three month hiatus due to illness and traveling home to the states, two of the baristas told me they missed me and were curious about where I had been. It was a subtle but moving reminder of the meaningful connections we all need in order to feel like we belong to a community.

What I’m Discovering

I’ve been looking for street art to fill our bare walls with and I recently discovered Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto, or more commonly, Vhils, whose work I’d come across in Lisbon before but didn’t recognize. Vhils’ captivating designs in his signature bas-relief carving technique, a sculptural method in which the art is only slightly raised above the surface, can be spotted throughout various neighborhoods in Lisbon. It turns out his studio, filled with tons of gorgeous street art, and recommended by my hip niece Joana, is just a jump, hop, and skip away from us. I’ll be hauling Jaad and his stroller there very soon.

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Until next time, happy strolling!