Hello my spring chickens!
Here’s a fun fact: when I was in elementary school, I had seven pen pals. Seven! Some were kids I met at sleepaway camp, others were the daughters of my mom’s friends — but the most constant one was my nana, who wrote to me from her home in Simsbury, Connecticut. I looked forward to her letters, each one easy to identify by the loopy handwritten address on the back of the envelope. Nana wrote to ask about what I was reading, or how swim practice was going, or what I was most excited for about the holidays or summer break or a weekend in between. That’s one of the elements I’ve always deeply admired about my nana: she takes a deep, authentic interest in my life, even when my number one hobby was Beanie Baby curation.
Right after my fourteenth birthday, we started taking summer trips to New York City. Though these trips eventually included my little sister, aunt, and younger cousins, the first one was just Nana, my mom, and me, hopping on the subway and ordering bagels with thick slabs of cream cheese and yes, ending up in Time Square so I could take photos with my clunky digital camera. Ah, 2007!
It was on these trips, which spanned from my teenage years into my twenties, that I felt my sense of self deepening like the sky at dusk — subtly, but changing nonetheless. Nana would watch me twirl in the dressing rooms, promising that the mustard yellow flats I liked but worried were a bit weird were not weird at all, but rather a statement, a flash of personal style! She would patiently answer my questions about a gallery in MoMA, then offer to buy me a print of my favorite piece of art in the gift shop. ”It’ll always remind you of coming to New York,” she’d say, pulling her wallet out at the cash register. She’d encourage me to order the pasta I’d never tried before (spoiler: it was gnocchi, and it was life changing), and at the end of a meal, she’d slip the dessert menu towards me, pointing to the cheesecake with a wink.
I could go on about why Nana is one of my favorite people in the world, but then this newsletter would turn into a book, and that would be downright stressful to edit. So instead, I’ll pivot to the “why” of this newsletter: I’m hoping to start a new series here — one where I highlight people I’d admire, ask them a few questions, and turn that Q&A into a comic. Oh yes, there’s a comic! You had to know that was coming. For this profile, I decided to give Nana a taste of her own medicine, and send some questions her way. Here’s what she had to say.
A few recommendations:
Since the start of lockdown last year, Nana and I talked on the phone a few times a week, serving as one of the bright spots of lockdown. She’s recommended a few things to me over those conversations, so I’ll let those drive this week’s recommendation section:
To read: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. Nana has been singing the praises of this book since she read it last year, and even got it for me for Christmas. Just be warned — the book does cover a story set during the Bubonic Plague, which may be, uh, a little too on the nose right now.
To listen to: The podcast Terrible, Thanks for Asking — particularly this episode, which shares the story of Dr. Edith Eger, a Holocaust survivor whose wisdom is breathtaking.
To eat: Green Dragon Sauce from Trader Joe’s — if you haven’t tried it, this is your sign.
To do: Play cards online — an activity that has kept Nana entertained through the last year. Her favorite is Bridge, and yes, she will destroy you in a game.
Alright, that’s all! As always, here’s a Tiktok that brought me joy this week — made by the one and only Tove Lo (a must follow, a must listen). See you guys in May!
Haley
HaleyWroteThis is a free newsletter written by me (Haley Weaver!) and occasionally edited by my brilliant younger brother, Graham Weaver. If you like my work, consider supporting my Patreon or checking out my shop.