Snow and Serendipity and Also Toast: March Favorites

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It's not the end of March, but I really wanted to write today, and the creative juices just weren't flowing. March was... a month. I don't have too much to say about it that the media hasn't already. My heart, to everyone hurting from the pandemic. My gratitude, to all of the grocery store employees, people providing services like mail and trash removal, and folks bearing the weight of mass panic (hi, Costco door busters). Next week, my peers and I will be transitioning into online education. We'll see how it goes - I'm optimistic. Virtual choir sounds like a real adventure!

Alrighty. I think it's safe to say that we're all in need of some cheering up. I know that (at least for me) nothing has really done the trick, because no one really seems to know what's going on. But I'll give it a shot. Here were some happy things and some favorites from a generally grim month.

Happy Things
I've read ten books, lent four to my friend Madeleine, and had good book talks with Austyn. Spring began - I saw some little green-and-pink buds on the tree by my mail box. There have been robins and bunnies outside. Lily had her birthday, punctuated by ham breakfast burritos, a murder mystery, and a wonderful house concert. Gilmore Girls is a nostalgic masterpiece, and makes me crave a cup of coffee. When we were in school, my afternoons were spent at the library; it is good for the heart, being surrounded by books (also, zombie-eyed college kids, screaming children, and flat-capped seniors). Gennabee organized fifty-four props. My neighbors have been bouncing on the trampoline, their two dogs racing, blurs across the yard. And my favorite happy thing of the month - it was the first day of spring. I turned on my audio book (Anne of Avonlea), opened the blinds, and peered out the window. The first thing I saw: snow. The first thing I heard: "'It looks like snow,' said Marilla."

Serendipity is delightful.

Songs:
- All the Pretty Girls by KALEO
- Shine (Kygo Remix) by Benjamin Francis Leftwich
- Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens
- Holland, 1945 by The Neutral Milk Hotel
- Drive by Oh Wonder
- Coffee by Sylvan Esso
- Heartbeats, Live by Jose Gonzalez

Movies, Shows, and Videos:
- Parasite (for your dose of horror)
- Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood (a dash of Tarantino)
- Jojo Rabbit (a dollop of comedy)
- Monsters, Inc. (a drop of fun)
- Manchester by the Sea (a twist of sad... not sure if that's what anyone needs right now...)
- Gilmore Girls (a pinch of nostalgia, obviously)
- Peaky Blinders (just started this, not sure what it'll add to the recipe)
- Love Is Blind (a heap of beautiful, pure Reality TV garbage)
- An Analysis on Severus Snape, by Merphy Napier
- tips for working / studying from home, by BestDressed

Books
- Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
- Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
- Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery
- Henry, Himself by Stewart O'Nan
- The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Recipes
- Egg Roll in a Bowl
- Canelés de Bordeaux
- Homemade Hot Chocolate - I used monk fruit in place of sugar, and Lily's Stevia Sweetened Chocolate instead of chocolate chips
- Gluten-free toast? Not a recipe, definitely a comfort food.

 Quarantine Activities
- Binge-watching Merphy Napier's and Hailey in Bookland's book review videos
- Long, long, long walks. Despite all the bad in the world right now, it's really nice to see how many people are taking the time to go outside.
- Alo yoga flows - Koya Webb is my new superhero
- Changing the layout of my bedroom on a daily basis
- Thrifting in my mom's closet (with permission)
- Sewing jeans I've ripped; clumsiness is not a virtue.

So Longs, Farewells 
- Terrence McNally - "Young people have got to start their own theaters, really. All good theatre is a - kind of mom-and-pop operation. Start your own theater."
- Barbara Harris - I recently read a TIME feature about her, and she was a pretty amazing lady.
- Cornelia, Alejandra, Katie, and all of the foreign exchange students at my school who returned home this week. It was such a pleasure meeting you; you've really touched my life. One day, maybe I'll have a big whirlwind adventure and see you again.
- Dr. Li Wenliang - thank you.
- All of the people affected by SARS-CoV-2, especially those who don't get news articles.

 Take care, everybody. What are you grateful for amidst this messy world? Keep cheerful; in a time that exhibits the worst and best of humanity, try to be the latter.
- Maya

A photo from Pinterest (weheartit.com), Photo by Alex Alvarez on Unsplash,
Photo by The Poodle Gang on Unsplash, Photo by Andres Bartelsman on Unsplash,
Photo by Z S on Unsplash

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