Happy Friday!

Is this a safe space? Can I be real with you guys? I’ve been feeling like a bad friend lately. I just don’t have the bandwidth to reach out to my dear friends as much as I like. It’s really hard not to beat myself up about it. I care about my friendships so much. Heck, I’m working on a book proposal about how to be a best friend! So I know what goes into making a friendship work (positivity, consistency and vulnerablilty according to friendship expert, Shasta Nelson). But I gotta be honest, I’m struggling y’all.

For those who don’t know, my dad passed away in January. Sometimes the grief knocks the wind out of me. Sometimes all I can do is lie down and rest. Some days even the simplest things like sending a text message feels like trying to tap dance in wet concrete.

So for any friends who are reading this wondering why I’ve been an absent friend –– or who are beating themselves up too for letting distances widen in their own cherished friendships –– can we all give each other a collective pass?

Things I’m digging:
Love on the Spectrum (Netflix) - Season 2 of this heartwarming show is out now. It follows a handful of Austrailian autistic adults as they experience the ups and downs of dating. Just about everyone featured is likable. As someone who used to write a blog about dating, I’ve spent a lot of time wringing by hands over how challenging it is to find someone you click with. It’s even tougher for those on the autism spectrum, I’d imagine. There’s real warmth here.

Who Is the Bad Art Friend? (New York Times Magazine) - If you haven’t come across this article yet, boy, are you in for a wild ride. This article has everything: kidney donation, Facebook, plagirism, group chats, narcissism, betrayal. It’s like, 10,000 words or something crazy so if you decide to read it, bring a snack. No one really comes out of this looking good. The moral of the story: the kind of person who notices if you don’t engage with her Facebook posts is the kind of person who will notice if you plagarize her words from a Facebook post!

Sweatshirt dresses - I am so pumped for fall/winter because I will soon get to wear the best garment OF ALL TIME: a sweatshirt dress. Look at this beauty from Gap:

It has pockets, people! Large pockets that fit cell phones and cans of seltzer and various lip glosses and chapsticks.

A sweatshirt dress is peak comfort, like a cocoon of fleece. I’ll wear this dress over my comfiest leggings and thickest socks just be a snuggly glow worm of a woman all winter long.

Things I HATE (I’m using all capital letters):
Forgetting what 70 degrees and cloudy feels like - I truly have no idea what I’m supposed to wear when it’s 70 degress with no sun. A jacket? A long sleeve t-shirt? A flannel shirt? All of the above at once? I know what to wear when it’s in the 80s (a breezy dress). I know what to wear when it’s in the 60s (a light hoodie). But the 70s? I’m at a loss. I short out!

Bending down - Can I issue a moratorium on bending down? I’m officially not good at it. If I drop a quarter on the sidewalk, it’s not worth it to me to fold my creaky body in half to pick it up. The quarter belongs to the universe now. And I’m truly fine with that.

Until next time,
Your creaky bud,
Anna

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