This week, I’m thinking about Fox Bear. Catherine Newman shared a photo in a recent newsletter that a friend sent her of her college-aged child’s “lovey”, it felt very Toy Story (complimentary)

In our family, we have Fox Bear (pronouns: he or her, depending on the day). Adopted in 2021 in Williamstown, MA from a charming store absolutely crammed with Jellycat of all kinds (fruits! animals! cheese! pastries!) A 7” brown fox was purchased despite my proclamation at the start of the day that we were absolutely 100% not going to buy anything.

It should be noted that Zu had a different Jellycat before Foxy, a slightly larger white and black puppy which she named Woo woo (like the bark of a dog, of course) and which she carried around a lot and became her Halloween costume in 2020. She loved it, but either because of her age, its size, or something else, it didn’t quite get carried everywhere.

I digress, once she had Fox Bear (I do not know where the Bear part of the name came from) she was LOCKED IN. And the absolute STRESS of not losing Fox Bear became too real. Soon after Zu first got Foxy, she left her at my sister’s and my sister had to send photos of Foxy in the apartment to confirm her safety. My mother frequently complains about never being asked if she could take care of “two kids” when Fox Bear had been misplaced.

Okay, this is where I am taking a leap of faith and trusting you all. What I write here simply MUST stay between us. If you cannot keep a secret, please skip down to this week in reading, thank you.

There are multiple Fox Bears. It became obvious very very quickly that losing her would be nothing short of an absolute disaster and we needed to have a few in the mix. We got two more and began rotating them in with moves that I am pretty sure the CIA would like to study. Getting them all to wear at more or less the same rate has been mostly successful, but my GOD, the fear in my heart at the idea of Zu discovering the stash of Fox Bears.

That very same heart STOPPED the day one of the arms came off in Zu’s hand. Not because it couldn’t be repaired - it fell off at the seam - but because now there would be a DIFFERENCE (I am truly sorry for all the caps this week, but this is a very emotional topic!) She has occasionally alluded to noticing a difference, but I think she glides over them the way kids rationalize things that don’t quite make sense like the Tooth Fairy or Santa.

The Gabby’s Dollhouse movie, which we saw this weekend, had some shades of Toy Story, with themes of growing up and leaving childish things behind. And it made me think, again, of Fox Bear and how much longer he will have such a prominent place in our lives. I maybe started to get emotional. Over inanimate objects.

. . .and I can’t wait to reveal them all to Zu when she graduates from high school.

This week in reading. . .
I was excited about Kills Well With Others since I loved Killers of a Certain Age and it was nearly as fun. I really really wanted to like The Art of Vanishing, a really interesting premise with a young woman who can enter artworks who falls in love with a subject of a painting, but it was SO twee and just not that great. I was going to put it aside, but it was a quick read and I really wanted to know how the author was going to wrap it up (the answer: unfulfillingly)
​
This week in Good Hang with Amy Poehler. . .
Kristen Wiig and Amy talked about how many feelings they have about inanimate objects which SAME. Also highly relatable conversation about being home and in bed at a reasonable hour. Amy spoke to Bill Hader and I can never ever think about him the same since the Rachel Bilson podcast. (You’ll have to google it yourself cause I am shy)

​This week in TV. . .
The end of Project Runway was FINE. I really hope they fix the format for the next season.

A new season of Survivor is off to a truly ridiculous start.

​​This week in a gif. . .

This week in movies. . .
Zu absolutely loved the Gabby’s Dollhouse movie. Kristin Wiig was very funny, but wow, to make a children’s movie one hour and 38 movies is a true hate crime.

The Lilith Fair documentary made me feel nostalgic despite the fact that I didn’t go. Plus I do not even enjoy festivals!!!

Very important to note: All of You was NOT a rom-com. An absolute sucker punch to the gut. I am maybe still reeling?! There were a lot of things wrong with it and also, I loved it? Brett Goldstein aka Roy Kent as a romantic lead is swooooon-y. My kingdom for Thirst Aid Kit in this moment.

This week in a newsletter. . .
Fantastic newsletter about empathy over forced apologies (works for adults too)

I’d love to read so much more about how different people develop their reading taste.

This week in google searches. . .

This week in one good thing. . .
I will complain about the cold weather soon enough, but for now, I love this slight chill. Sweater weather, baby.

Also, I do not know what will happen with the Yankees today (please gods, please don’t let us lose to the f*cking Red Sox) but the last two nights of 6 pm start times has been GLORIOUS.

​This week in a quote. . .
“Dare to continue caring, continue loving with all of your heart, continue relishing this romance that is your life, as ragged and wretched as it can be sometimes. This discomfort means you’re in it, you’re truly here, and you’re truly alive.” - Heather Havrilesky

​This week in artsy stuff and photo things. . .
Yes yes yes to this absolute catnip list of 25 most influential magazine covers.

This video, produced by MoMA is fun - how your body responds to art.

Purusing Edward Enniful’s new venture EE72.

I like so much about this home - especially the bold colored walls.

This week in last week’s most popular link. . .
Coates on Kirk continues to be the most clicked link.

​This week on the internet. . .
Have been entertained and amused by GQ’s 125 rules and etiquette.

A defense of the oft disparaged romantasy.

More TSITP discourse (something I have read a lot of despite refusing to watch the most recent season)

Platty bravely went to eat at a MAGA restaurant.

On accepting loss as part of living in New York.

me, and my friends in October,
Leonor

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