In Which It's Fall, But It's Not Fall

I'll take the sweatshirt, but hold the pumpkin.

We’re all saying summer was too short, and maybe that’s because it’s true. I thought the transition back to school was going to be a challenge, but my kids led the way with joy and anticipation. They had a great first week, and it’s hard to be bummed when they’re excited for what’s next.

A highlight of our trip down the shore was going crabbing, catching thirty-five crabs (!), and then making our own crabcakes.

We had two great trips at the end of the summer: one to our favorite town down the shore and one into Manhattan to visit the Intrepid and the Met, at both of which my children found and thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits on weapons. At our house, we have a rule that all the weapons go downstairs (except the rosaries—the greatest weapon at our disposal), and so I was delighted to find this sign on the upper deck of the Intrepid, showing that on this great ship as well, the weapons go downstairs.

I left myself a note a few weeks back to include in this edition that my youngest told me that I “should really eat another pancake and go to class,” the context of which I cannot recall. But we did have pancakes for his birthday dinner, and I am back in class, the last course proper of my graduate program, studying the philosophy of art and beauty. So I guess he was right? Or something?

1. Some updates

   Since June 1, I’ve been writing for fifteen minutes a day so that I’ll have a complete draft of my novel when it’s due to my thesis advisor in January. Today marks day 100. There should probably be a celebratory latte, which I’ll take care of when this post is out.

2. What I’m reading

   My older boys (re)read the Hunger Games books this summer, partially in anticipation of the new volume scheduled for the spring. It’s been a while since I’ve read them, so I’m listening to them while I run. Connecting with my kids over books is one of my very favorite things.

3. What my kids are reading watching

   John and I instituted “Movie Monday” this summer, in which he and I chose what we take to be classic movies that we wanted our kids to see. (One child immediately despaired, thinking we were condemning him to a summer of black and white films; wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world!). These were in addition to “Friday Afternoon Movie,” a long-standing Schlegel tradition—bonuses are always fun. We shared boxes of candy and popcorn while we watched and thoroughly enjoyed:

   • All three Mighty Ducks movies

   • E.T.

   • Hook

   • Three Ninjas

   • Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (for the big kids)

   The books we read and share are a part of who we are as a family. Movies are too, and it was fun to share these movies with them.

4. Something I love

   For Christmas I asked for a day-by-day calendar of art from the Met. We keep it on the front table and if I don’t flip the page in the morning, someone else will. It’s been a subtle but effective way to expose us all to more styles of art. I’ve also been pleasantly surprised to see a few that lined up liturgically.

5. What I’m creating (knitting, lettering, embroidery, etc.)

   You can’t see it here, but I AM GOING TO FINISH A SWEATER. SOON. Soonish. Before I’m forty, how about?

6. Where my work is

CatholicMom.com - Daily Gospel Reflection for July 26, 2024

WINE - “Learning to Be a Pilgrim of Hope”

Radiant - “This Is the Rom-Com You’ve Been Waiting For”

Relevant Radio - “Tips on going back to school with kids and having the right attitude so that you can help your children and yourself go back optimistically.”

Word on Fire - “Is My Generation Capable of a Happy Death?”

Ave Maria in the Afternoon with Dr. Marcus Peter - The day the above Word on Fire article was published, I was invited to be on Ave Maria in the Afternoon with Dr. Marcus Peter. The producer was gracious in finding a time that works for me, and somehow I ended up referencing Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile in an interview about how our culture views death (no crocodiles were harmed). Thank God the host followed my reference. There really is so much wisdom to be gained from children’s lit! 

7. What I’m working on

Now that the academic year has started for the kids, (I think) I have more time to write :) I mean, I do, but not a ton. Either way, this week and next I’ll be working on reflections for CatholicMom.com and WINE for next year, some copy editing, and a new book review column I’ll share more about next month!

8. A quote to sit and sip with

Speaking of editing, I was struck by these lines from Horace’s Ars Poetica, which I read for class:

A forthright reasonable man will tell you

Candidly when you’ve written lifeless verses,

Or harsh or graceless verses; he’ll take his pen

And draw a firm black line right straight across them;

He’ll excise fancy writing; he’ll demand

That you clarify what’s ambiguous or obscure;

He’ll make a mark wherever a change is needed;

He’ll be an Aristarchus. He’ll never say,

“Why should I hurt the feelings of a friend

Over such little things?” Such “little things”

Are serious matters if the work of his friend

Is going to be the object of derision.

—translated by David Ferry