I’m not going to lie. It was kind of nice waking up this morning and having nowhere to go. Even better realizing that all of my little birds were safely back in the nest. Grace made it home from Spain late Friday night in what I think was nothing short of a miracle. In fact, I know there was some divine intervention involved. Yesterday, while I was cleaning out my kitchen cabinets, I couldn’t help but notice this large, bright red cardinal outside my window. This was definitely my grandfather making sure I knew Grace’s guardian angel had been working over time, getting my sweet girl home before Spain closed its borders and the customs lines in Chicago were more than eight hours long. The least I can do is lean into this new normal of ours, where we wash our hands, don’t touch our faces, and stay home as much as possible. A friend of mine posted this morning that if in three, six, or 12 months we look back and think this was all an overreaction, then what we did actually worked. Here’s hoping!
In all of this, I realize that being hunkered down with my family all week isn’t going to be easy, so I thought I’d share a few distractions when you need it. It’s so important that you take care of yourself so that you can continue to watch over and take care of others, too.
Books to Read
Just for fun, here are a few books sitting on my nightstand that I now have time to read. And don’t forget to check in with The Lake Forest Book Store for more recommendations:
- American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins–This is my blog’s book pick for March. There is going to be much to discuss!
- And They Called It Camelot by Stephanie Marie Thornton–a novel about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, could it get any better?
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald–Yes, I read this in high school, but I recently interviewed someone for an upcoming story who told me that Ernest Hemingway once said F. Scott Fitzgerald had no imagination. Fitzgerald wrote about the people and places he saw, which were primarily the 1920s debutantes in Lake Forest. I want to reread this classic with my new-found filter.
Shows to Watch
Although I’m going to try to limit screen time with all of the teens in my house during this lockdown, if you find yourself craving an escape, here some ideas to get your fix.
- Miss Americana (on Netflix): This is the Taylor Swift documentary and I was completely blown away. I’m so used to these young stars being packaged as talent, but she is the real deal. She writes (on her phone!), composes, and sings most of her hits. Taylor is a mad genius with an incredible work ethic. This documentary realistically tells her story–the good, the bad, and the not-so-pretty. This is great to watch with your daughters, too.
- The Morning Show (on AppleTV): A friend of mine was raving about Apple TV’s The Morning Show and she was right! I’ve always been mildly obsessed with broadcasting and this behind-the-scenes look at morning news doesn’t disappoint. It’s loosely based on the Matt Lauer debacle at The Today Show. It’s truly great television with an all-star cast including Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell, and Reese Witherspoon. Just be warned, this show’s favorite word has four letters and starts with an “F.”
- 90-Day Fiance, Before the 90 Days (on TLC): If you watch one episode, I guarantee you’ll be hooked. This unlikely cast is looking for love in the most unusual places and you will find yourself rooting for every single one of them (more or less).
Hang in there, friends and stay positive! We’re all in this together.
xo,
Photography of Ann Marie by Jenn Marie Photography
