You are too much. You bring to my notice the most remarkable things — in this case writers. For instance Elisa Gabbert who, in one essay, “Infinite abundance in a narrow ledge,” pulls together Rilke , Bachelard, and A Pattern Language, all catnip for this reader.
And then (!) John Durham Peters. TheLA Times interview is amazing in its depth and patience. I immediately ordered Peters’ new book.
A stamp carousel is a fitting gift commemorating another turn around the sun on this carousel, merry-go-round world! I'll add to the list of circular, spinning things - the Bhavachakra, the Tibetan Wheel of Life, representing the Samsara [which by the way if you haven't seen this non-narrative documentary film with footage of life across the world, do!]. The Samsara, as I understand it, refers to the different phases of life, death, reincarnation. Spinning wheels like merry-go-rounds are a fantastic metaphor for living life; that is, the key is to try to sit and stay in the center, that singular point of existence that is you, where there is stillness and balance. It's only when you leave you to go sit out on the outer edges that you feel like you are flying at a dizzying speed out of control around the merry-go-round (or if you're me, you'll also yak and/or fall off). I'm no Buddhist, so there is a million more things someone else could say about this. But, I love the basic concept... and wrote a short story about a merry-go-round for just that reason!
The stamp carousel is the coolest gift! Nice one, Meg!
I took the kids to an antique store yesterday and they were in heaven. My son was enamored by the vintage pocket knives and my daughter by vintage clothes, gloves and dolls. My head was snapping this way and that, by their calls. "Mom! Look at this! Mom! Mom! Mom!"
Then I came across a box of cassette tapes when I thought of you and your mixed tapes. There was a factory sealed The Bodyguard soundtrack, with the lovely Whitney Houston on the front. Would have been a good one.
My son found me a typewriter. It was $50, but I didn't get it. It wasn't the one I really wanted. I was proud of myself for not buying something I didn't LOVE. Holding out for the one I really want. The kids were shocked I didn't buy it, as I talk quite often about how I want a vintage typewriter. I'll know it when I see it.
Donald Sutherland was one of my favorites. I really loved him in Ordinary People. It was a softer role than you usually see him in. Absolutely excellent. I also loved him Pride and Prejudice.💗 RIP, Donald.
I love all the ways you acknowledge what Meg brings to your art! Thank you for letting us see the difference a supportive spouse makes. Recently you commented on how you protect your new ideas by only talking to her, because she's the only other person who knows what you're really wanting to do. I thought that was just great.
Sometimes I think our spouses know even better what we want to do and help us clarify our intentions.
Thanks a lot, Austin! Now I am on eBay searching the Rubber Stamp Carousels, and I know one won't be enough, and I will soon have a collection, and I will need to ask The Husband to build me an extra room to display them. Damn you!
It’s amazing how memory works. I’ve never given a whiff of a thought to a stamp carousel, but just reading the words I thought, oh, I remember those at the librarian’s desk, when I’d check out books as a kid! They’d stamp the cards in the book with the due date and whatever little card they kept. By the time I got into the working world, most of them had gone but not all. I recall them in the Drafting Department. I’ve never used one but what I could really use is a nice old-fashioned Rolodex! Somehow that seems faster and easier than digging through my phone for an address. Snail mail has never gotten old for me.
In 2007 I volunteered to work The Alabama Book Festival here in Montgomery, AL. Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. was living and working in Akron, Alabama at the time, and he designed the promotional poster for the event. All volunteers received one as a thank you for working the Festival!
Will go revisit that post. Thank you for the reminder! Related, in the movie "Midnight In Paris" there's a scene when they are walking Versailles and discuss "Golden Age Thinking" https://youtu.be/trZ_oeQNf0w?si=MKpPz--YpU3Dj1pa
If at first you don't succeed...I thought I had successfully posted a comment, but it went missing in cyberspace! I just wanted to mention that in 2007 I volunteered to work The Alabama Book Festival here in Montgomery, Alabama. Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. was living and working in Akron, AL, and he created the promotional poster for the event. All of us volunteers received one as a thank you for working the Festival!
Austin, new topic...is the 20% promotional rate for new subscribers only?
I enjoy the newsletter, and very much enjoy your closings that talk about how the newsletter comes together. So I want to “Steal Lije an Artist” and use todays closing but change the names to protect the innocent. Thanks in advance!
You are too much. You bring to my notice the most remarkable things — in this case writers. For instance Elisa Gabbert who, in one essay, “Infinite abundance in a narrow ledge,” pulls together Rilke , Bachelard, and A Pattern Language, all catnip for this reader.
And then (!) John Durham Peters. TheLA Times interview is amazing in its depth and patience. I immediately ordered Peters’ new book.
Thank you for helping to nourish my brain!
Ann Turkle
Ann, what's the Gabbert essay that braids those three?
I think it’s called “Infinite Abundance on a Narrow Ledge” and it’s in the new collection ANY PERSON IS THE ONLY SELF
doh — it's *right there* in the post, sorry
A stamp carousel is a fitting gift commemorating another turn around the sun on this carousel, merry-go-round world! I'll add to the list of circular, spinning things - the Bhavachakra, the Tibetan Wheel of Life, representing the Samsara [which by the way if you haven't seen this non-narrative documentary film with footage of life across the world, do!]. The Samsara, as I understand it, refers to the different phases of life, death, reincarnation. Spinning wheels like merry-go-rounds are a fantastic metaphor for living life; that is, the key is to try to sit and stay in the center, that singular point of existence that is you, where there is stillness and balance. It's only when you leave you to go sit out on the outer edges that you feel like you are flying at a dizzying speed out of control around the merry-go-round (or if you're me, you'll also yak and/or fall off). I'm no Buddhist, so there is a million more things someone else could say about this. But, I love the basic concept... and wrote a short story about a merry-go-round for just that reason!
The stamp carousel is the coolest gift! Nice one, Meg!
I took the kids to an antique store yesterday and they were in heaven. My son was enamored by the vintage pocket knives and my daughter by vintage clothes, gloves and dolls. My head was snapping this way and that, by their calls. "Mom! Look at this! Mom! Mom! Mom!"
Then I came across a box of cassette tapes when I thought of you and your mixed tapes. There was a factory sealed The Bodyguard soundtrack, with the lovely Whitney Houston on the front. Would have been a good one.
My son found me a typewriter. It was $50, but I didn't get it. It wasn't the one I really wanted. I was proud of myself for not buying something I didn't LOVE. Holding out for the one I really want. The kids were shocked I didn't buy it, as I talk quite often about how I want a vintage typewriter. I'll know it when I see it.
Donald Sutherland was one of my favorites. I really loved him in Ordinary People. It was a softer role than you usually see him in. Absolutely excellent. I also loved him Pride and Prejudice.💗 RIP, Donald.
Factory sealed BODYGUARD?!? Oooh. (Although much depends on price — my rule is $1 or less. Yesterday I found some sealed cassettes for 25 cents!!)
I love all the ways you acknowledge what Meg brings to your art! Thank you for letting us see the difference a supportive spouse makes. Recently you commented on how you protect your new ideas by only talking to her, because she's the only other person who knows what you're really wanting to do. I thought that was just great.
Sometimes I think our spouses know even better what we want to do and help us clarify our intentions.
Thanks a lot, Austin! Now I am on eBay searching the Rubber Stamp Carousels, and I know one won't be enough, and I will soon have a collection, and I will need to ask The Husband to build me an extra room to display them. Damn you!
It’s amazing how memory works. I’ve never given a whiff of a thought to a stamp carousel, but just reading the words I thought, oh, I remember those at the librarian’s desk, when I’d check out books as a kid! They’d stamp the cards in the book with the due date and whatever little card they kept. By the time I got into the working world, most of them had gone but not all. I recall them in the Drafting Department. I’ve never used one but what I could really use is a nice old-fashioned Rolodex! Somehow that seems faster and easier than digging through my phone for an address. Snail mail has never gotten old for me.
thanks for the kind words, Austin! Love your newsletter, always finding great stuff in there. Glad you're digging my radio show . ✌️
In 2007 I volunteered to work The Alabama Book Festival here in Montgomery, AL. Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. was living and working in Akron, Alabama at the time, and he designed the promotional poster for the event. All volunteers received one as a thank you for working the Festival!
That Peters is so good. Needed it! Let's *do this,* 200k Kleoniverse!
He was a professor of my friend Matt, which is how I found him :)
Always a thrill with a side order of Thought-Provoking-Creative Fun/joy. Much Appreciation
Seeing the word "carousel" is always a good reminder-to-self to rewatch this Mad Men scene - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suRDUFpsHus
I wrote about that seen in my letter on nostalgia: https://austinkleon.substack.com/p/these-are-the-good-ol-days
Will go revisit that post. Thank you for the reminder! Related, in the movie "Midnight In Paris" there's a scene when they are walking Versailles and discuss "Golden Age Thinking" https://youtu.be/trZ_oeQNf0w?si=MKpPz--YpU3Dj1pa
If at first you don't succeed...I thought I had successfully posted a comment, but it went missing in cyberspace! I just wanted to mention that in 2007 I volunteered to work The Alabama Book Festival here in Montgomery, Alabama. Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. was living and working in Akron, AL, and he created the promotional poster for the event. All of us volunteers received one as a thank you for working the Festival!
Austin, new topic...is the 20% promotional rate for new subscribers only?
Yep, just for newbies
I enjoy the newsletter, and very much enjoy your closings that talk about how the newsletter comes together. So I want to “Steal Lije an Artist” and use todays closing but change the names to protect the innocent. Thanks in advance!
Wow Love this letter 😎
Happy Birthday Austin!
I thought it was funny that your sub was on land and you were submerged!!
Cool Carousel!!