Hey APW,
It’s been a wild week. Sort of: best of times, worse of times stuff.
Let’s start with the good, because we all can use more good in our lives. I’ve spent the week recording audio for the second edition of my first book. My editor tried to talk me out of doing audio on my book. “Let us hire a professional reader,” she said. But I take my job of helping-people-through-the-hell-of-wedding-planning seriously, and I wanted it to be my voice that future couples listened to, as they navigated the planning process. Recording a book takes a lot more time and precision than you’d think, so I’ve spent most of the week locked in a soundproof room, looking at my sound engineer through the glass, and listening to the dulcet tones of my director in my ear. It’s all consuming, but I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t kind of love it. Except for the part where I read parts of the book my dad wrote, or have to fight my way through reading other people’s stories of losing their own fathers. That part was really hard.
But outside that sound proof box, our state is on fire. And as a native Californian, I don’t say that lightly. We’ve had the massive Kincade Fire raging up here in Northern California. It’s terrifying, and huge. Our air quality in Oakland has been on and off dry and wind-whipped (terrifying fire conditions) and choked with smoke. I’ve spent the week texting with loved ones further north, constantly making sure everyone is alright. And the last few days have seen a outbreak of fires in our native Southern California, with the Santa Ana winds there driving things at hurricane force speed. Yesterday, my hometown started burning, with the fire getting within five blocks of the house I was born and raised in. It’s a horrifying replay of the last few falls, with no end, or rain, in sight. Please keep all of us in your thoughts and prayers.
Plus, Halloween. David and I went to a 1920’s themed Halloween party last weekend, and our kids doubled down on their dedication to rebel against me and wear costumes out of a box. But it was just perfect, even still.
I hope you had wonderful Halloween weeks, and for those of you in California, we’re all wishing you safety from the bottom of our hearts. With that, it’s your open thread.
xo
Meg
