A Year of Reconnection

a purse test for guys, 5 top songs this year

I’ve been quiet, I know. I had a couple nights out that were wildly different from each other. I won’t get into details, but I’ll share a lesson I’m taking with me: Do not pose for a picture with a guy you don’t know well and aren’t tryna kick it to. When you’re me it will get sent to your mom over Facebook by his mom!!! Haha, small towns are on some funny stuff. Here’s a list of things on my mind as we wind down the end of the year:

1. I love my boys. My band boys (ok, fine, my brother’s band boys). I can’t believe I’ve known most of them for 20 years. It’s one of the most comforting feelings to hangout with them (which isn’t often, just when they play shows). I’m invited to band dinner night out with them soon. They’re doing a holiday dinner, instead of band practice one night. They’ll use the money made off door and merch sales to treat themselves (dw, I’m paying for my own, so they can maximize their band funds).

2. I’m ready for a break from the bar! Plus, true winter is coming anyway. Time to see if I can lure any visitors to stay in with me? Maybe! Overall, I need a hobby and more opportunities socializing within community.

3. My 2023 theme was reconnection! A FANTASTIC feeling. I had an amazing year, which is almost hard to say, only because it hasn’t been this good maybe ever. When I said it out loud the other day—“I had an awesome year!”—I expected to feel a lie pouring over from the pit of my stomach. Instead, I felt light and centered; it is the truth. I am fully reconnected with myself and what it means to be the me of today. Everything feels more aligned. So, I know everyone I still talk to is in my life for a reason. Thank you, friends and fam.

4. Are men okay? I know, why am I worried? I know a lot of them. From what I’ve witnessed, I get the idea many don’t feel supported enough to voice their heartfelt concerns to even their closest friends. (Do women feel this way, too? I would include them, but I don’t know any locally). It’s the processing of emotions that we could all use more support with perhaps. People, we gotta all talk with each other more and not google answers to our problems.

5. The case of the broken purse: I have a new purse, and the clasp is supposed to buckle from the bottom up but mine doesn’t hold shut. I quizzed three guy friends about this. I love to watch them inspect the mechanics of it, hold it, turn it around, and go, “You need a—”, or “Is it magnetic?” For some damsel-in-distress reasonings beyond my control, I got a giant thrill from them all giving different recommendations for fixes.

   

   comment if you have any ideas on how to fix this!

6. My top 5 most played songs this year:

   1. “sAy sOMETHINg” - Lil Yachty - I feel like it’s the story of my life, but perhaps with a love I have yet to know.

   2. “Tell Me” - James Blake - I felt in sync with James this year, as he successfully returned to form on this album.

   3. “Simulation Swarm” - Big Thief - a perfect, pre-sunset jam

   4. “Heated” - Beyonce - this one takes me away, Calgon.

   5. “Game of Pricks” - Guided By Voices

   6. “Down Where the Valleys Are Low” - Judee Sill - this song in the early morning is one of the finest ways to wake up. Judee’s voice, so clear and true.

7. How do I feel about dating? Not entirely hopeless, however, this is me:

Garcelle, I feel you, girl.