Last weekend, I gathered with a bunch of my extended family to fete my aunt’s 70th birthday. Her request was to spend it with her big sister (my mom, 74 years-old) by the sea. And so it went. The journey was not simple, but full of delights. One family car was left in a small town in Utah, future unknown. A 3-day schedule was made and quickly abandoned for the wiser plan of just drifting down to the beach, a disorganized parade of galloping girls with pails and shovels and moms weighted down with snacks and sunscreen, rinse and repeat for three days. Tears were shed—by both enraged five-year-olds and emotionally ripened grandfathers. Fashion shows were performed, filled with hand-me-down dresses and last-minute stage fright. Someone offered us, supposed adults, a menu of either Eyeball Soup or Farts Galore (let’s just say, culinary experimentation has gone too far). Sand dollars and shells were collected, boxed wine was enjoyed, German chocolate cake was devoured. We googled the names of beloved independent bookstores and the year
Oct 12, 2022·edited Oct 12, 2022Liked by Courtney Martin
I'm a women of Indian descent - married to a Nebraskan man. Let me tell you the communication challenges are real - LOL. My Nebraskan MIL holds a lot of what you describe the quiet, the grit, the religious and what made me laugh the most the unimaginative cooks. Coming from a household where my mother cooks all her Indian food from scratch - I never knew how many types of casseroles could exist!!! As always - another beautiful piece. Thank you Courtney!
Oh you. Your heart is so true. I’ve thought that since I first read your work in OnBeing. I am one of your 71 year old Midwestern matriarchs and yet can relate to your younger sensibilities. Just, thank you. So much. 💕
Courtney's eloquence and stirring narrative provide deep inspiration. They recall my own family adventures at the New Jersey beaches of Sandy Hook and Manasquan. I really like the descriptive phrase of "emotionally ripened grandfathers", as a role that I'd like to fill with my relatives. A book that I've just finished by Evan Osnos entitled "Wildland. The Making of America's Fury" (2021), offers another perspective on life in the U.S., decidedly grim, dire and desperate. Yet. it's written in a brilliant, compelling style like Courtney's (Osnos is a staff writer for the New Yorker).
Comparing these two gifted journalists, we see a sharp contrast in the messages brought, one based on massive data about the terrible anger that now consumes our country; and Courtney's "The Examined Family" that consistently gives wonderfully concrete reasons for hope and encouragement at many levels.
I'm from NE people toooo! Those two paragraphs, the boon and the bust, are EXACTLY it. My stick shift brag is learning to drive stick shift in a 3/4 ton pickup. :) Loved getting my roots reflected back to me - the roots and the reflections about the roots - so truly.
I mean, can you blame the two year old for eating the scented erasers?! They followed their bliss
I'm a women of Indian descent - married to a Nebraskan man. Let me tell you the communication challenges are real - LOL. My Nebraskan MIL holds a lot of what you describe the quiet, the grit, the religious and what made me laugh the most the unimaginative cooks. Coming from a household where my mother cooks all her Indian food from scratch - I never knew how many types of casseroles could exist!!! As always - another beautiful piece. Thank you Courtney!
The brows. The thick dark brows for days. Wish I could have been there.
Oh you. Your heart is so true. I’ve thought that since I first read your work in OnBeing. I am one of your 71 year old Midwestern matriarchs and yet can relate to your younger sensibilities. Just, thank you. So much. 💕
Courtney's eloquence and stirring narrative provide deep inspiration. They recall my own family adventures at the New Jersey beaches of Sandy Hook and Manasquan. I really like the descriptive phrase of "emotionally ripened grandfathers", as a role that I'd like to fill with my relatives. A book that I've just finished by Evan Osnos entitled "Wildland. The Making of America's Fury" (2021), offers another perspective on life in the U.S., decidedly grim, dire and desperate. Yet. it's written in a brilliant, compelling style like Courtney's (Osnos is a staff writer for the New Yorker).
Comparing these two gifted journalists, we see a sharp contrast in the messages brought, one based on massive data about the terrible anger that now consumes our country; and Courtney's "The Examined Family" that consistently gives wonderfully concrete reasons for hope and encouragement at many levels.
Thank you, Courtney! DD
I'm from NE people toooo! Those two paragraphs, the boon and the bust, are EXACTLY it. My stick shift brag is learning to drive stick shift in a 3/4 ton pickup. :) Loved getting my roots reflected back to me - the roots and the reflections about the roots - so truly.