Somewhere Between Indiana Dunes and Learning How to Read Again
Where I've been for the past week...or three or four
Enjoy this little tune while reading about my recent musings and where I’ve been.
Hej Hej!
Over the past few weeks I’ve noticed the leaves start to turn, squirrels furiously collecting acorns, and “Harvest Moon” playing at nearly every coffee shop I step foot into. It seems that the air of autumn has arrived despite the stubbornness of summer heat.
As fall has crept up on me, I’ve felt overwhelmed by the mundane. I watch as daylight gradually resigns to night and shadows grow longer. Time seems to slip through my hands, but in the midst of this panic, I find comfort in the crooning of mourning doves. Their song is perennial just like the peonies that sit by the pond near my house.
Lately, life’s been moving incredibly fast. In these moments I often forget to slow down and take the time to reflect. Whether it’s the quiet of evening dog walks or driving down the long stretches of road with my sister beside me, I’m learning to embrace the stillness and appreciate these pauses.
On that note, this issue is dedicated to this little stretch of my life over the past couple of weeks. From the foods I’ve loved to the concerts I’ve gone to and the places I’ve explored. Enjoy!
Peter Cat and Lamp Live!
One thing about me: I’m a die-hard concert goer and music enthusiast. Whether it’s Zamrock, hyperpop, or experimental bluegrass, I’m all in! I was so ecstatic to see Peter Cat Recording Co. and Lamp in the same week. Here are some highlights:
My Mundane
Pastries, matcha, bookshops, The Real Real store, and pizza.
Indiana Dunes and Sunsets on the Water
Over the past few weeks, I’ve made it a priority to savor autumn breezes in nature. I’ve been sitting on park benches, watching sunsets at the dock, and reading outside.
On a recent roadtrip home with my sister from Chicago to Columbus we took a small detour to the Indiana Dunes—just 20 minutes off our route, but well worth it. A beautiful, tranquil shoreline, dotted with fabulous sun-hatted older ladies basking in the sunshine. Here are some pictures.
Learning How to Read Again
Since finishing my master’s in May, it’s been a slow recovery from the heavy reading load. I set a small goal to get through a 90-page novella, and while it took me a couple of months, it finally broke my reading block. Now, I'm back on track.
When it comes to leisure reads, I usually reach for books that feel out of touch with reality. Whether it’s surrealist science fiction, offbeat mysteries, or the bizarre mundane—these are the stories that I find myself gravitating towards. I think it’s because these genres let my mind wander between the lines.
The Hole by Hiroko Oyamada was the perfect little novella to ease me back into reading. It follows a woman who quits her job and moves to the Japanese countryside with her husband. The lines between reality and the imagined are blurred as the protagonist navigates isolation and uncertainty. Great read if you enjoy the same genres as me!
I’m traveling most of the month of October—so hopefully I read a bit more! These are the books that are on my nightstand:
Death in Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh
Hit Parade of Tears by Izumi Suzuki
Annie Muktuk and Other Stories by Norma Dunning
Let me know if you have any other recs for books:
I’ll report back soon!
- Sareena
Ciao Sareena! A lovely post with a lovely sound that somehow both capture the flight of a singular orange leaf flitting down to the ground on a particularly sunny October day <3