The way you think and write about ‘stuff’ is so resonant for me as I have been obsessing with some of the same issues after having said goodbye to the childhood family apartment of 59 years. And what will I save forever so that my daughter will be the one to throw it away? And the little silver spoons from more than 100 years ago that I obsess over and even polish sometimes. Whenever I get together with friends now I ask them about their stuff. How are they dealing with it? And all the issues around dying and stuff and who will be there to clean it out?
And the extraordinary synchronicity of what you wrote about.
As I mentioned in a comment on your previous episode my dad was a hoarder. I know he would have been aghast at how much I threw out and how much I paid for people to help me throw out an overwhelming amount of stuff. It seems like you are ruminating on where the stuff will go, I think perhaps you need to find someone you are friends with who is younger and get them to agree to deal your possessions, to take your mind off of it. Because it is one thing to think of it occasionally and another to spend every afternoon pondering this. I'd venture to say it isn't healthy. My father didn't worry about where his tremendous amount of crazy stuff would go, because he knew he had me (and said as much to my face). Find that person for yourself, identify who is in your life already, or make that relationship. So you can put these thoughts behind you. ps Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! So interested in what you hint at as a kind of prescience - re catastrophe (specifically The Fire) but also the idea of the prescience we all participate in - that "our" objects will outlive us - as you say, a tweezers... Your mind is so engaging and I have more praise & questions about real estate too - but for now, H.B. and thanks.
Meghan, when your book comes out, you should create little weekly or so discussion groups for each essay. That way we can post questions and comments here. It’ll also help keep on track to finish it. Not that I don’t expect it to be a page turner.
Happy Birthday! Talk about unintentionally prescient. Love your expressions of gratitude now, all catastrophic things considered, and your new “life before-and-after” mindset. I think it will keep you strong and resilient as you move forward. Congrats on moving forward and on your upcoming book release.
The only of her books I’ve read was The Problem With Everything. I loved it — it contained some of the best, if not THE best cultural writing of recent times. Rather than a collection of pat observations, it felt like working through the meaning of the experience of the time, from a perspective with earned credibility from a thoughtful and funny person.
The brief mention of how and why you gave up on building your own house struck me as a sad sign of what is wrong with California. It has been made too difficult to build—at least without a lot of money and/or political pull.
As a native Californian, it seems obvious that all the rules put in place for safety, zoning, whatever, are actually what are undermining CA as a good place to live.
I understand you’re committed to life in LA, but with two successive defeats—one caused by human obstruction, the other by natural (ish) forces—is it time to reconsider that commitment?
Unrelated note, but I listened to this on the way to a sporting event and I was sitting near some bros who were loudly talking about placing bets on details of the outcome of the game on their phones while the game was in progress and I was thinking “hm, that is new”, and this is of course Daum’s new hobby horse alongside assisted suicide and real estate.
HAPPY FREAKIN' BIRTHDAY!!! You aren't the type to make a fuss, but you deserve some FUSS!!!!
Happy birthday Meghan 🥳🎉
I'm so excited for your book.
Thanks for sharing your recent difficult experiences. Good luck with your housing search.
The way you think and write about ‘stuff’ is so resonant for me as I have been obsessing with some of the same issues after having said goodbye to the childhood family apartment of 59 years. And what will I save forever so that my daughter will be the one to throw it away? And the little silver spoons from more than 100 years ago that I obsess over and even polish sometimes. Whenever I get together with friends now I ask them about their stuff. How are they dealing with it? And all the issues around dying and stuff and who will be there to clean it out?
And the extraordinary synchronicity of what you wrote about.
Can’t wait to get this book Meghan.
Happy Birth DAY and 364 more. Repeat often!
As I mentioned in a comment on your previous episode my dad was a hoarder. I know he would have been aghast at how much I threw out and how much I paid for people to help me throw out an overwhelming amount of stuff. It seems like you are ruminating on where the stuff will go, I think perhaps you need to find someone you are friends with who is younger and get them to agree to deal your possessions, to take your mind off of it. Because it is one thing to think of it occasionally and another to spend every afternoon pondering this. I'd venture to say it isn't healthy. My father didn't worry about where his tremendous amount of crazy stuff would go, because he knew he had me (and said as much to my face). Find that person for yourself, identify who is in your life already, or make that relationship. So you can put these thoughts behind you. ps Happy Birthday!
I love the book readings you did -- now even more looking forward to it!
Happy Birthday! So interested in what you hint at as a kind of prescience - re catastrophe (specifically The Fire) but also the idea of the prescience we all participate in - that "our" objects will outlive us - as you say, a tweezers... Your mind is so engaging and I have more praise & questions about real estate too - but for now, H.B. and thanks.
Meghan, when your book comes out, you should create little weekly or so discussion groups for each essay. That way we can post questions and comments here. It’ll also help keep on track to finish it. Not that I don’t expect it to be a page turner.
Love this idea!
Happy birthday, Meghan! 🎉 I loved this post - cannot wait to read the book. ❤️
Happy Birthday! Talk about unintentionally prescient. Love your expressions of gratitude now, all catastrophic things considered, and your new “life before-and-after” mindset. I think it will keep you strong and resilient as you move forward. Congrats on moving forward and on your upcoming book release.
Happy Birthday MD!
oh yay! I love your previous interview with Andy Mills and started listing to his podcast.
thanks meghan. appreciate you.
confession - I only know you through your podcasts (and associated essays).
I'll be looking forward to buying and reading your new book!
(I keep meaning to look for your previous books at the library.)
The only of her books I’ve read was The Problem With Everything. I loved it — it contained some of the best, if not THE best cultural writing of recent times. Rather than a collection of pat observations, it felt like working through the meaning of the experience of the time, from a perspective with earned credibility from a thoughtful and funny person.
Thank you. I really appreciate that. It was designed to be a self-interrogation. So seems like you got it.
wowzer. prophetic writing considering the situation.
The brief mention of how and why you gave up on building your own house struck me as a sad sign of what is wrong with California. It has been made too difficult to build—at least without a lot of money and/or political pull.
As a native Californian, it seems obvious that all the rules put in place for safety, zoning, whatever, are actually what are undermining CA as a good place to live.
I understand you’re committed to life in LA, but with two successive defeats—one caused by human obstruction, the other by natural (ish) forces—is it time to reconsider that commitment?
I will never surrender!
Unrelated note, but I listened to this on the way to a sporting event and I was sitting near some bros who were loudly talking about placing bets on details of the outcome of the game on their phones while the game was in progress and I was thinking “hm, that is new”, and this is of course Daum’s new hobby horse alongside assisted suicide and real estate.