This week has been a dream! With a to-do list that’s been scratched off almost entirely, I’m feeling oh so inspired, lively, and pleased that this is June. We’re six months into the year, and the weather is perfect, I’ve got outdoor plants coming up to my ears, and lately, my inhibitions have frittered away someplace where I can’t seem to find them. I’ve always struggled to take the initiative (hello youngest child syndrome), so feeling more at the helm of my life is an excellent reward after years of emotional battle. It’s nice to feel content, loved, and happy. The world can be a scary place, riddled with uncertainty, so I’m thankful for these moments and appreciate the peace that I’ve been granted lately.
And are you sick of flowers yet? Because this Friday’s photos are from our local iris garden! The beds are in season, and though it’s not as epic as last year’s full bloom, Jon and I took a short visit to scout out the scene for macro photography. I’m hoping to get a few close-up shots like this one, but with more of the flower in focus. I’ll also be using a tripod, maybe adding dew, and playing with flash, so that’s exciting! The afternoon we took these photos, the light was a little flat, so we’ll be heading out pre-dawn to get the best illumination possible. A few great images would be nice, but I’d settle for one good one that I can submit to our photography club in the fall!
With some shooting planned for the weekend, I’ve also got my hands full of rose planting! I’m attempting to trellis a climbing rose, despite never having planted one before. Given how successful I was on my first attempt at a cosplay costume build, I once again am relying on YouTube to educate me thoroughly on the topic. Roses are notoriously finicky, but only because they require good drainage, can get sick quickly, and prefer certain PH levels to the soil. Anyway, I’m always braced for failure, but I’ll give it a good try. Wish me luck!
In other news of the week, how incredible is to think that Sex and the City premiered 20-years ago? Every day of senior year, my two best friends and I would pick up sandwiches and huddle around our friend’s living room television watching re-runs at lunch. The show always brings up happy memories of that time and the humor never gets old. This week I also enjoyed a two-part article about the 1985 murder of teacher Mickey Bryan, whose husband, Joe, was tried and committed to life in prison. Joe’s guilt is under reevaluation in a fascinating profile, so if you’re interested in a bit of true crime, read here: Part 1 & Part 2. And if you’re in the New York area this weekend with nothing much to do on Sunday, might I suggest one of these lovely hikes? There’s always time for fresh air and trees in my schedule!
With that, I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of blooming roses, triumphant accomplishments, and a dose of sleeping in. I’ll see you on the flip side, my friends!
P.S. I wanted to take a moment and share that I am deeply saddened by the tragic suicide of handbag designer Kate Spade. Like others, I enjoyed this NPR podcast about how she built her business from the ground up, and I found it awe-inspiring and motivating. My heart goes out to her family and her young daughter who are grappling with the loss. It’s terrible to imagine that she felt there was no other escape from her pain. Hopefully, she has found the peace she was seeking.
Spade seemed like a lovely person with so much to live for, but depression can happen to anyone. It doesn’t care about your success, it doesn’t discriminate based on financials, and it very rarely goes away on its own. I touch here and there on this blog about my own battle with “the sads,” but I’m hoping to open up and discuss it more in-depth on a personal level. While I consider myself on the other side of that battle after years in the fight, there’s always the chance for relapse. For now, I keep track of the downs, speak up about it with my support system, and try to distinguish between passing worries and chronic depressive thoughts. It breaks my heart to know we’ve lost another brilliant creative to depression, but I hope that with continued dialogue, more people will get the help they need in times of crisis. If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicide, please call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit their website here.
