Truth and Strangers, No Fiction

May 2021

Hey! I’m so glad you’re here!

I keep staring at trees. A month ago, it seemed impossible that tangles of dull branches would ever provide shade, but leaves are BACK, baby.
And suddenly it feels like they’ve always been here.
This month, I’m excited about new people and new(ish) places and new things (sooo…nouns? Uh, sure). It feels wild and new but also very, very familiar.
Welcome back, summer.

Sincerely,
Tenley Schwartz
Editor-in-Chief and Assistant Spellchecker

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In This Issue:

Strangers: A reminder about people

Snaps: In which I accidentally chose the best possible outfit

Dad Rock: SCHOOLED, that’s all I’ve got to say

Errand Run: A few quick stops turn into an awfully nice resting place

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Less masking restrictions means that strangers feel like they can talk to me again, and apparently I’m all for it. Here are three moments that made me really glad for the sweet, silly ways we cross paths with each other:

1. Limber Lady

2. Coffee Shop Spy

3. Car Compliment

People!!! You’re pretty dope yourselves.

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Snaps

Thanks, 80s jumpsuit designer. Who knew you’d be creating exactly what the future needed?

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Dad Rock

And now I have a list of music he actually liked that I get to check out.
(Sidenote: I picked ‘teenage wasteland’ as sample lyrics to tell you to go watch this video, which happens to be one of the best things I’ve ever seen. There’s longer version that I think is worth paying for, too).

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Of course, because it’s never that easy, I went to a different, ‘closer’ Target that had no chairs. Drove across town to the Target that started it all, bought my chairs, finagled them into the side door of my station wagon (yes, my trunk is broken, it’s fiiiiine), and decided to look for an outdoor rug, too.

Bed, Bath, & Beyond was a strikeout. I always go in with high hopes and leave with a distaste for mass-appeal design.

World Market though? Lulled me in with a false sense of individuality and had a rug in the perfect size and cheery orange shade. SOLD to the sucker in the station wagon!

House projects are slow going, but in my impatience to get done and start welcoming people over, I had a sweet realization: I get to welcome you with the stories of this house even now. Thanks for visiting, it makes all the projects worth it already.

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Thanks for stopping by this month!
May you meet good strangers and be a good stranger.
💜, Ten