Read the comments

I always go into a comment section with apprehension. But seeing this as the first one on a story I wrote this week made me smile so big:

"I knew I'd love this article after the first sentence."

It had multiple likes, too. And as nice as it is to get feedback from strangers, it was even greater to hear from friends and colleagues who thought it was good. Hooray.

Power

Glad I didn't lose power today, as so many did. Some coworkers had to go to the office because there was no electricity at their houses - where we've been working since March. What a concept - having to go to the office as a backup for the first time in ages. I'm sure it would have been nice to see some friendly faces. But the snacks are better at home. 

This weekend

I watched a movie outside, picked some apples, sat around a fire and talked with friends. If not for the masks and the distance, it might have felt like any other October. It wasn't ideal -- after all, there's still a pandemic -- but it was something.

Newsrooms

There's a lot happening today, and it's maybe not something that makes me smile -- but man, am I grateful right now for all the big news days when I've been able to be in a newsroom. No matter the newsroom, it's a group of thoughtful, engaged, curious people who are willing to talk about the biggest happenings of the moment. 

I'm missing it right now, in month seven of working from home, but not in the same way I did when I was home on an election night (for example). Then, I knew the conversations were happening and I was not part of them. Sure, there are conversations happening all over the country. But very few of them are the newsroom conversations I long for. It's not that I'm left out of them. They don't exist. (At least not in my newsroom, today.)

So I'm grateful for all the times I could turn to the reporter next to me and raise my eyebrows and point and begin a tirade or a winding conversation that would inevitably end up somewhere unexpected. I hope I get to have that again. I don't expect it to be soon.

In the meantime: What a hell of a day. What a week. What a year.

Humans

You know what's nice? Relationships with people. 

I had two work-related incidents today that reminded me of that. One with someone I haven't talked to in several months, who remembered something about me I'm not sure I knew she knew. Another with a coworker who took time to answer a question that wasn't at all related to work, where he could have just blown me off.

It made me happy on both counts that the relationships existed and were more than surface-level in those ways that mattered today.

Why yes, he is

I got an email today from someone whose email address included the phrase "he's retired now" (minus the apostrophe, of course) and I thought it was delightful.

I also got a TON of emails from people who had questions or opinions or weren't happy with work-related things. When I replied to them, many of them said thank you. One told me he appreciated my professional response. One became a daylong exchange. And only one replied telling me "bullshit." It could have been so many more!

Plus, one led to an email exchange with a higher-up that made me smile, too.

Email

Our email was down at work today. And you know what? It was kind of fabulous.

Since I didn't have to spend so much time reading and deleting and being distracted by pop-up notifications, I wrote a story more quickly than I normally would. And I had time to call and check in on a couple coworkers, too.

I'm sure I'll be less thrilled Monday, when I can see the flood of things I should have known about today. But until then, it was a very nice break.

T-shirt

I got a package in the mail today, when I wasn't expecting one. That's always a nice thing. When I opened it, I was surprised to see that it was from my employer -- they made T-shirts to send to us, with a note to say we're appreciated.

And it's a little corny, but they definitely didn't have to do that. So it made me smile.

Sharing is caring

I had a socially distanced picnic this evening, and there was another group doing the same in the same park. They were kind enough to walk over to us with a bottle of margaritas, ice and glasses and offer to share their bounty.

We chatted a little, and it's the first time I've *really* talked to strangers -- at least in a non-work setting -- for months. It was a nice gesture in the midst of continuing madness.

Tayari Jones

I went to an online discussion with the author Tayari Jones tonight. I'd heard her speak before in person, and she was so thoughtful and funny. I expected that today, and got it -- but got another surprise, too, when she shouted out a coworker in response to a question.

So I got to send my coworker a note to tell her she'd made the bigtime, which made her laugh. It feels good to spread happiness, especially this week, which is hard for so many.

Plus, if you haven't read An American Marriage, it's a great time to do it. It's a nuanced, thoughtful story.

Tomatoes

A friend gave me a tomato plant this weekend, and I repotted it today -- a first for me. I tend to have bad luck keeping things alive, so here's hoping.

Seeing Newnan

Over the past few years, a friend and I have created what we call adventure club, where we look for interesting things to do around town. As you might imagine, that's a little harder in a pandemic. But today, we found a way.

Several of us went to see a public art exhibit, Seeing Newnan, of 17 portraits of residents taken in the town. May I just tell you: it was fabulous.

On their own, the pictures are well-done portraits on the side of buildings. But this was so much more than that.

The artist spent two years in the city, getting to know people and taking pictures. And the context for her project is really interesting; Newnan is a city of about 40,000 that's about 60 percent white; it was also the site of a neo-Nazi gathering in 2018. But as this story will tell you, the perception of the city hasn't kept pace with the population of the city. And that's where Mary Beth Meehan came in. Her website has really fabulous biographies of everyone she shot, and the context made for a really wonderful experience -- particularly, for me, in some of the placement of the portraits.

In this one, a fifth grader in her Cotillion clothes is on the side of a building she wouldn't have been allowed into in another era. And that's just one.

If you're in Atlanta, it's worth the field trip.

For me, the other thing that was so great about it was the humanness. No, I couldn't give my friends hugs, but I could walk around town with them (an acceptable distance apart) and have a picnic (same) in an empty park and share one of the only social experiences I've been able to of the pandemic.

Plus someone brought houseplants, so now there's something green (and alive!) in my house. Not shabby at all.

Peanut butter M&Ms

Yeah, I know, there's a lot of food on here these days. What're you gonna do? It's how we're all spending a lot of our time.

Among the snacks I got to get me through quarantine was a giant bag of peanut butter M&Ms.

They've long been my favorite M&Ms because they are delicious (first of all). They remind me of a friend from high school, who would always let me borrow money to get some from the vending machine when we we stayed after school (as long as she got to eat the green ones). And the Bee's social media team has gotten in the habit of bringing all the interesting M&Ms flavors to the workroom, so they make me think of that, too.

I had a long meeting to watch today (four hours!) so I rationed a handful of peanut butter M&Ms to help me get through it. They did the trick.

Work

My job has periodic weekend shifts and I worked one of them today. It was quiet, as far as those things go. But I'm thinking today more about gratitude than happiness. And in the midst of this ridiculous time, I'm grateful for my job, even after a Sunday shift.

I talked to another reporter friend today whose employer is laying people off and I've seen plenty of it in the industry. Journalism is not steady and likely won't be for some time -- if at all. But for the time being, I'm not worried about losing my job each day and that really means a lot.

This evening, I interviewed someone who's seen a lot of impact from the coronavirus. We talked for an hour and we'll talk again. And I'm grateful to her, and plenty of others over the years, for trusting me with her story.

The best kind of petty

A friend was lamenting that her boss is making people write up short bios for daily updates that are getting sent out. They include hobbies, something the employee is grateful for and an inspiring read.

While well-meaning, my friend reports that it's actually awkward and inauthentic.

One of her coworkers, similarly frustrated with the edict, decided to troll the boss with her book pick.

She thought about Lolita. 50 Shades of Gray. The Bible. But her ultimate pick of A Little Life was so much better than all of those.

If you haven't read it, A Little Life -- which sounds like it could be an inspiring read! -- is pretty much the darkest book I've ever read. It's absolutely gorgeous, with wonderful statements about friendship and how people grow. (Like, so good that I took pictures of paragraphs and sent them to people!)

It's also absolutely gutting, and not in a Nicholas Sparks kind of way. It's an inspired choice.

But please don't read it to feel better about anything. Unless other people's (fictional) misery somehow makes you happier.

Sing Street

Luckily, my friends have better memories than I do. Because one texted me tonight to tell me that a movie she'd told me about before was finally streaming and I should drop everything and watch it. (OK, she didn't quite say that, but it was definitely implied.)

The movie was Sing Street; it's Irish and about a boy who forms a band to impress a girl he thinks is cute and it made me smile so big. It takes place in the '80s and the characters try on all these '80s music personas, which is adorable. And the songs are good! Which is great.

Anyway, if you have some free time (and perhaps you do, what with not leaving the house), it's worth a watch.

Keys

Do you see this?

This is a tiny piece of paradise.

I spent the early part of the week in the Florida Keys on the invitation of a friend who I love to pieces, and hadn't seen in too many years. Being there made me smile, of course -- I mean, that was the back porch. Look. It's gorgeous. -- but it was the invitation that made me happiest. It's so nice to know that connections are kept, through distance and time.

We swam, and swam, and swam. We talked. We explored. We ate delicious things. And, I like to think, we refueled a friendship that I hope will last a long, long time.

Also, she shared this with me.

That's a book recommendation by Judy Blume. Who owns the bookstore. That we were standing in. (I've read the book and loved it. Judy and I are essentially BFFs now.)

We missed seeing her there, but being in her space was pretty awesome, too.

Books, books, books (and a bonus)

A post in three parts (and a bonus):

Today -- for the fourth time in recent memory, which is indeed a dangerous thing -- I stumbled upon Bag Day at my local library. This means that you can fill a grocery bag full of for-sale books for super cheap. In today's case, I spent $12 on two paper bags full of books. Luckily (because my shelf space is severely limited), I intend to give some of them away. I also came out with the John Green book I went in for, which was the original purpose of the library visit.

In the free book bin, I found a book of poems by Billy Collins. I was lucky enough to see him converse with Paul Simon last year, and I really loved the poems he read then. But I haven't sought out any others, despite intent. When I picked up the book, the co-worker who put it there saw my face. "It's gone to the right place," she said.

I got in the mail a book I lent out maybe two years ago. I'd forgotten just how beautiful it is. You should definitely read it. And now I have my copy back to lend again.

And! What else should come in the mail but a blue canary! For putting in the outlet by the light switch! (It's already there.) It was totally unexpected and I am super stoked!

Of people and ice cream

I've been absent for a while, but meaning to return. Today, a few things convinced me that it was time for a post.

Driving into work this morning, I saw a well-dressed man walking on a wall, instead of the sidewalk next to it. He hopped up like a little kid. It was grand.

At the office, a co-worker who I don't know very well rushed over to me excited. She'd overheard a conversation I had yesterday about the opening of Jeni's ice cream here. And what should arrive in the office, but six pints in dry ice?

It's delicious and amazing and wonderful and a little taste of home, of course. But it's the thought, too. And Jeni's opens tomorrow, so now I can go any time I need a fix.

And speaking of fixes, in another sense: I've been reminded in recent weeks and months that I know some really wonderful people. I really have been valuing the time I get to spend with them, and wishing I was closer to -- and therefore got more time with -- others of them. So thanks, people. It means a lot.

Feb. 14

I brought these to work last week, and gave them away to co-workers and friends. More than the Valentines (which are so cute!), I loved the box they came in. No batteries required! Paper-folding action!

Just wanted to send my love to those of you I couldn't hand a Valentine to, too.