Look out the window
Teenage poetry girl, scary movies, & anniversaries
Stopping in to feel connected to you
As I pass by another butte.
We write letters to each other
And when I return to them, I actually feel them.
It’s hard to feel everything,
To get everything in.
But the effort of trying might be the point.
Something about big stuff,
Makes me feel big stuff.
Makes me feel small!
Always newly born
Always ancient
Moving along
With the wind.
But almost always against it.
Let’s hold hands as the wind reddens our cheeks.
As things grow bigger,
And the start deepens.
Actually, happy anniversary to you, me, and She’s Friendly. I started this November 1, 2022, and now it is November 1, 2023. Swish! Part of that first newsletter featured the scary movies my partner and I watched and rated throughout October. Below is this year's take.
We relaxed the amount of movies down from 20–31 to whatever we could manage and didn’t choose a decade this year. It is still in the order of best to worst, most sexy to least sexy, and scariest to most boring.
Rosemary’s Baby (1968) - Beautiful and unsettling. Cinematic encapsulation of gaslighting.
The Boogeyman - Reminded me why I used to be so scared of the dark and a beautiful take on a family processing grief.
The Exorcist (1973) - This is part of why we watched fewer movies. It took a while to move forward from the imagery, atmosphere, and some of the lines.
The Haunted Mansion (2023) - Surprisingly good, fun, and spooky.
Talk to Me - Disappointing! As you reflect on the plot, it unravels, and the “big bad” just felt ageist.
Orphan: First Kill - Good twist and stars Julia Stiles! You do not need to see Orphan before seeing this little prequel. It’s full of a ton of moments where the character could have easily made a better choice and lived.
Totally Killer - Cute, tight, little slasher. It reminded me of Happy Death Day.
No One Will Save You - No good! I like Kaitlyn Dever! But something felt overindulgent in the wrong way. The twist combined with the ending makes it not worth it, and they make a strange “Stepford Wives” choice that's offputting.
These are my “next up” books. Please, please share any recommendations!
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed
This is less “next up” and more “just started,” but I’m about two chapters in. It isn’t my regular read, but something about the movie always pulled me in, and I thought the book would provide deeper insight. In a strange, twisted way, I get Eat, Pray, Love vibes.
The Great Transition by Nick Fuller Googins
My friend Jhia Jackson gave this book to my partner and me as a wedding present. I have met and spent time with the author and his partner, Liz Mulkey. Beautiful people. Very much looking forward to this read.
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Thank you to my friend, Roxanne Gray, for the recommendation. I'm just waiting for the Los Angeles Public Library to let me know it is available!
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
This book spent a long time on my list and is finally available from the library.
My friend, Anna Hull, joined me on the podcast last month. We talked about some stuff in the September 1st newsletter. You can listen to the episode on Apple, Spotify, or Substack and find Anna and her company, ground + space, on Instagram.
It's fun recording and editing these audio additions. I'm glad to have an extra space for processing what comes up in the newsletter, and I’m grateful for friends who join me.If you are interested or have questions, use this Google Form or email shesfriendly.ck@gmail.com.
