Hello friends and happy Friday. I’m glad to be here with another peek into right now:
Thinking about … hope. I came across the word in an unexpected place yesterday morning reading Marilynne Robinson’s essay A Proof, A Test, an Instruction* (which is largely about her respect for and friendship with President Obama). Near the end, she writes “Insofar as we feel the difference between what our country is and what these ideals proclaim — human equality realized in sacred and inalienable rights — they are always in advance of us. It is in this sense that the genius of our past is the promise of our future. It is in this sense that we can always speak of hope.” (emphasis mine).
So I had the word in my head and noticed when it came up again today, in another unexpected place. I was listening to Krista Tippett’s latest podcast episode with US Poet Laureate Ada Limón. and near the end, I heard this short exchange:
… and there’s that word again. together with awe, wonder, curiosity. Limón makes it seem like hope is harder thing, and it seems to me that sometimes awe, wonder, and curiosity are just as hard (especially in the context that Robinson was writing).
Grateful for … lunch out with Katie & Sara today. The food was delicious and of course the company was the best!
Inspired by … that sweater I wore to lunch (on Ravelry here), the one I’m knitting now with Coast doubled, and a few days this week of False Spring to want another version, in black Coast (wool/cotton) doubled. Wouldn’t that be cute with white jeans for spring?!
Fun … Katie & I are headed to Thomasville dark early tomorrow to meet up in person with a friend we’ve made through Fiction Matters online community. The Bookshelf is our first stop, then lunch, maybe the yarn shop, and just generally checking out downtown. Wish us luck!
I love how Anne Bogel signs off her Friday emails, “May your weekend be filled with grace, peace, rest, and good books.” What “good books” might your weekend hold?
and finally, from yesterday’s afternoon walk
*Here’s a link to the essay published in The Nation back in December 2016 – only three free views allowed each month, so I wanted to be sure you knew that before you clicked!
mere-et-filles 
We’re going to have a much colder weekend after several warm days, so I’m glad to have some good books. I’m about 1/3 done with The Love Songs of W.E.B DuBois and I just got I’m Glad My Mom Died from the library. I don’t know Jennette McCurdy at all, but I wanted to read a book with such a remarkable title. Enjoy your outing tomorrow!
I was listening to that podcast this afternoon – another poet to explore. Those smiles, your weekend adventure, Lucy and the pink petals – lots of joy here
I listened to that On Being episode last night and absolutely loved it. I particularly enjoyed their little exchange about aging as it is on my mind these days. How fun to have lunch with your daughters. And daffodils – oh my. Yesterday about 9 inches of snow fell on our little city. The moisture is most welcome but Spring will also be welcomed.
Beautiful smiles, you three…and gorgeous sweater with that double strand of pearls! I do love black on top/white on bottom (though I hate the reverse!). I say yes to that sweater.
Safe, enjoyable travels tomorrow! What fun!!
Love the photo of you and your daughters — it must be so wonderful to be able to get together with them and to have them both close by! I hope the trip is a great one, and I can’t wait to see what you come home with!
I’m hoping to finish The Tsar of Love and Techno today (I’ve only got about 20 pages left) and also make a dent in War and Peace this weekend.
Your season is about 3-4 weeks ahead of ours. I expect Daffodils to bloom around mid-March, but they might be behind this year as it is so cold now. They are beautiful and I love Lucy’s standing in a carpet of pink. Have a fabulous trip and I can’t wait to hear about the bookstore and your meetup!
It’s so nice to see your smiling faces, Mary! What a great time you three must’ve had at lunch together. 🙂
what a beautiful photo of you and your daughters!! Can you believe we are peeking at the end of February already? Where does the time go??
I listened to that On Being episode over the weekend and it was an amazing interview. I’m hoping to get to The Hurting Kind soon! I read The Carrying a couple of years ago and adored it, despite being a poetry novice.
What a lovely lunch! And I loved the picture posted on Discord of you all at the bookstore. It looks like such a fun weekend!
I’ll bet your weekend was fun and I’ll look forward to seeing what you came home with. Lovely picture of you and your girls. Also Lucy with the carpet of pink beneath her paws! How quickly those blossoms come down. I finished the latest Louise Penny over the weekend, so I’m back to “The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois” which is so, so good!
Not a lot of reading over the weekend, but thinking about books counts too right?! Good reminder to never lose hope.