Things I Learned in 2023

-A group of flamingos is called a flamboyance. Now that is a bullseye collective noun!

-Attending a wedding reception that has a 360-degree photo booth makes my crazy neighbors even more fun. 

-I am a newly minted US national park geek.

-For someone who hates long car rides, driving over 2200 breathtaking miles and visiting many national and state parks in Northern AZ and Southern UT in March taught me that I do have some car travel tolerance. 

-An October leaf-peeping car ride of 2000 miles through VA, NC, TN, and WVa had more unexpected vistas than I could have imagined. Thank you Shenandoah NP, Great Smokey Mts. NP, and New River Gorge NP.

-I believe I'm being groomed by a long-distance car travel endurance program.

-iPod earbuds can go through a full wash cycle and continue to work flawlessly one year later.

-Jim James of My Morning Jacket is my fantasy Kentucky BFF (he doesn't know it yet) Seeing MMJ twice this year fed my soul.

-"You can get the monkey off your back, but the circus never leaves town."          ~Author Anne Lamott

-I can hold my own standing in line with enthusiastic children also waiting to stamp their national park passports.

-Pink, a true rock star, is the goddess of stadium concerts. Sing with me now:   Na-na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na.

-An unseen benefit of having family working abroad for the US State Department is the use of their car - thanks to Beth and Aaron!

-One big personal plus from touring the high desert is frizz-less hair - Every. Single. Day. Ladies, I know you hear me. 

-Wedding vows are usually solemn and sweet. When a bride’s vows noted one of the things she loved about her groom was his unrecognizable attempt to use a British accent and then goaded him into sharing it with their guests (which he did) I learned that wedding vows can also be very entertaining. 

-Staying one day/night in Pigeon Forge TN delighted me until I saw that Dollywood was closed on that one day/night. Next time Dolly!

-Sean Hayes' dramatic portrayal of a dour Oscar Levant in Good Night, Oscar was formidable with an equally formidable finale as he played Rhapsody in Blue.*

-The Smartless podcast guys – Jason, Sean, and Will – are this year’s additions to my fantasy dinner party. It will be a second seating with just those three delightful knuckleheads b/c their antics will definitely dominate the conversation.

-Author Abraham Verghese (The Covenant of Water) is also invited to my fantasy dinner party - first seating. 

-My car has a keyless entry.  I learned this after driving a friend’s car (with keyless entry) and wondering why my car didn’t have this feature. Alas, it did/does. Yes, it is disturbing to discover this 15 months after purchasing the car.

-Cars are complicated.

-I am more of a dilettante than a sports enthusiast except when a Philly team is in the championship hunt. Red October was an extremely joyful/painful time.

-I am shocked to write that I am a regular listener to the New Heights weekly podcast. Ahhright nah.  

-When James Taylor is a last-minute sub for Noah Kahan at the Newport Folk Fest, it makes me wonder who else is on Executive Director Jay Sweet's phone contact list. 

-Raised garden beds surrounded by chicken wire proved vital for a bombastic zinnia season. 

-A performance by Diana Ross, who is nearly 80 years old, is a marvel and a love fest.  

-Overheard while hiking in Zion National Park as a tired, exasperated youngster told her parent, “Mom, allllllll the rocks look the saaaaaame.” She’s not wrong. 

-The James Webb Space Telescope brings universal wonder into focus every day. I believe the images confirm we are playing a silly short game here on Earth.  https://webbtelescope.org/news/first-images/gallery

-Andrea Gibson’s poetry is relentlessly powerful. Please consider adding You Better Be Lightening to your list of “must-read” books in 2024.                                                                                      

-I was reminded of Tommy Smothers' incredible talent. I love this clip.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oghxf-HS6go 

Thank you dear Reader for making it this far into this annual vanity project. Time becomes more precious and vexing each trip around the sun and I love the following advice from a favorite author. May time be a worthy companion for you and those you love.

How to stop time: kiss

How to travel in time: read

How to escape time: music

How to feel time: write

                                       How to release time: breathe                                       From the novel Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig 

*Sean Hayes as Oscar Levant in Good Night, Oscar playing Rhapsody in Blue.