Oh how I’ve missed you all!

I want to catch up. I thought I’d do so today with some book recommendations, gift ideas, trip recaps, a suggestion for a 2026 goal, and let you know what’s coming up next for me.

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At this particular moment, he was upset about an issue that had also made my eye twitch: the new passport policy. As you probably know, one of the first executive orders that Trump issued declared there to be only two genders: male and female. In turn, the State …

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An Israeli runs to a shelter in Ashkelon on Oct. 7. Tamir Kalifa—The New York Times/Redux

Hi everyone! It’s lovely to be with you this week after a summer break. I’m back with a topic that has been both fascinating and appalling to me for as long as I can remember. It’s a topic that is hard to categorize and even harder to explain, but I think the proper heading is: The Israel/Gaza Conflict and its Effect on the US.

I’ve talked about this before, about antisemitism and hate crimes, acts of terrorism against American Jews, and about the events of October 7^th, 2023, when the terrorist organization Hamas attacked and killed 1200 people in Israel and captured over 100 hostages.

Since October 7^th, I have been shocked at the protests on college campuses and elsewhere and horrified by violence directed toward American Jews who have nothing to do with the conflict in the Middle East. As a life-long student of American politics, I’ve been particularly curious about the effect on the 2024 Presidential election, and particularly the NON-selection of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate. Was at least part of the reason he was not chosen because of his Jewish faith and background? Maybe not at all?

As someone from a Christian faith background and raised in the Bible Belt, I knew I wanted to get a more educated perspective on this issue. So, about three weeks ago, along with my husband and Federal lobbyist Eric sat down with our good friend Brian, who, as you will hear in the interview, has much experience on this topic from both a faith and political background.

We had such a great conversation; I hope you will agree. But, before I play it, I want to tell you that I sat on this interview for over three weeks because I’ve been afraid to send it to you. Two main reasons for this: 1. I know that our community here at the Civilian is small, but I don’t want to get this conversation wrong. As I mentioned, I have been passionately curious about this topic forever, and it means a lot to me. Many people in my life whom I love very much are Jewish. Perhaps this is why I have been so astounded by the threats on the lives of Jewish people in Israel, in the US, and around the world. I do not want to disappoint them.  

Secondly, I’ve always thought part of my job here at The Civilian is to stay unbiased and nonpartisan. I’m obviously very biased on this issue, and it caused me to second-guess my selection of this topic. But I later realized, through much overthinking, that it has never been my job to be unbiased on how we treat each other. I think the substantial value I hold for treating others with love and kindness is part of, if not the main reason, that I am so passionate and interested in this topic.

The State Department categorizes Hamas as a terrorist organization, and I found Hamas’ actions on October 7^th deplorable. I do think that some, if not most, of the actions taken by Israel since then are justified. Yet I also can't entirely agree with everything Netanyahu does, and I certainly do not believe that innocent Palestinians should die. I am solid in this viewpoint, but I must be open and honest about that position.

I also want to note that we had this conversation before Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, parents of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, bravely spoke at the Democratic National Convention and before Hamas brutally murdered Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

You will likely find this conversation between me, Eric and our friend Brian to be an imperfect exchange between friends. We discuss sensitive topics with curiosity and open-mindedness rather than fixed positions. We listen to each other.

We agreed on much of what we discussed, but I still managed to learn a lot about being Jewish in this country. Maybe you will learn something, too. But more than anything, I hope this conversation inspires you to have brave, whole-hearted discussions with those around you.

A big thank you to Brian for sitting down with us. And now, with that long preamble, you can find our chat above. (You can toggle to listen at different speeds, or view an AI-generated transcript if you aren’t able to listen!)

Questions? Comments? Want to reach out? Feel free to reply to this email, comment on this post, or send me an email. Anytime.

Thanks, as always, for being here!

Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times / Getty

Well, July 2024 will undoubtedly be one of the most bizarre rollercoaster rides in history. Yes? Yes.

I have much to update you on, but first, I want to start with a few things that have given me hope and comfort in this political season. (also, if you live in Missouri, don’t forget to vote in the primary election today!)

Hope and Deep Breaths:

1. First, and perhaps most importantly, if you are weary from the campaign ads, the fighting, and the X/Twitter of it all, this post from @johndelony is an excellent reminder:

2. Can we reset our collective nervous systems for a few seconds? I’ve been taking 15-30-second “zen” videos to remind myself that most of our Earth is S-L-O-W. Beauty is all around us. You can see a few more on my Instagram, which I’ve been utilizing more this summer after a year-long break.

3. Many of you may have heard of . She’s a historian and writer who has penned several books on politics and democracy. Because of the work I do here at The Civilian, I need to note that Richardson typically leans left. If you feel any frustration about our country, right or left, you will find hope in her post.

4. If you are from a Christian tradition/worldview, you might share my love for . I also have thoroughly enjoyed the work of , particularly her latest missive on just how radical love is. Whether it’s our love for each other or God’s love, this is a beautiful reminder that love is truly what matters.

   (This is also a reminder that all faith traditions are welcome here, so feel free to skip right past this!)

SLANT LETTER

The Call of the Beloved

Slant Letter is a newsletter for writers looking to craft your angle, write like you mean it, and do it in style—from your friendly editor in book publishing…

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2 years ago · 13 likes · 5 comments

Leo Season & Life Updates

This is my absolute favorite time of year. I don’t follow much astrology, but I have always been in tune with a particular type of magic around my birthday.

You might call it Leo Season (if you’re into that kind of thing), and we’ll be in it until August 22. It’s late summer sweetness. It’s exchanging that early-summer productivity for chill barbeques, late afternoon swims, and a lazy browse of the farmer’s market. It’s a season of laid-back fun, sticky fingers, and celebrations. It’s simply the best.

Here comes the paywall! If you aren’t a subscriber yet, please consider helping support this respite from the rest of the internet. You’ll get to see and hear more about my trip to Scotland!

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(I’m currently sitting at the pool, typing this to you in between shouts from my 8-year-old to “watch me!!!!” and enjoying the teenage lifeguard’s Dave Matthews/Bob Marley playlist. I guess the younger generations do appreciate what is good!)

Yes, after the madness of May and the nightmare transition from the school year to the summer schedule, I am really looking forward to catching up on my for-fun reading. Here are the titles I have on my list, including many “beach” or “pool” reads. (Although, I tend to believe that whatever you read at the beach is a beach read).

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I have been working on so many threads of ideas to share with…

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I’ve divided this post into three parts. The first one you’ll see by scrolling below, and it is non-Paris specific. It’s simply 12 of the best travel products that I’ve collected and my absolute, best, number-one travel tip that I tell EVERYONE.

The second post is a list of my Paris-specific recommendations… basically, my itinerary. So that I don’t overload your inbox, you can find that post here.

And the third post is answering the most-asked question I’ve gotten, which is what I wore on my trip. This was super fun to answer, including the one type of sneaker that absolutely every cool Parisian was wearing. You can find all of that here!

Please note that any of the Amazon links below are affiliate links, meaning that I will get a few pennies if you purchase through that re-direct (and I do appreciate those pennies!)

13 Things You’ll Want to Travel With

We all know that the flights are the worst part of travel, especially the overseas variety. I flew Economy (gasp!), but these items helped me get through the 7-hour flight.

Bonus tip: I’m generally unable to sleep on planes, especially when I am overly excited. My counselor gave me some excellent advice: download an hour-long meditation. If you aren’t sleeping, at least you can practice mindfulness and get a bit of peace. It worked—I downloaded a few from Spotify and also used the Endel app and left the plane feeling more rested than I had on any other overseas journey.

1. The best little reading light: when I saw this recommended over at Big Salad, I was intrigued but skeptical. Do you really need your own light on the plane? Yep—the overhead lights are so high and so bright and tend to piss off your fellow passenger. This light is a soft amber glow, easy on your eyes, and won’t disturb your seatmate.

2. A total black-out eye mask: the flimsy eye masks just don’t cut it. Go ahead and get yourself this eye mask that is extremely comfortable and blocks out all light.

3. A lightweight blanket scarf: I think the trick to flying, especially in Economy (bleh), is to trick yourself into thinking you have personal space. I wrap this over my head (like a hoodie) and around my shoulders, making me feel a bit like I’m in my own little world. Especially with the eye mask and some good headphones. This can also double as a lightweight blanket, pillow, or…duh…as a scarf. The Parisian trend is to have your scarf be the same color as your coat, which is why I went with navy, but this comes in a zillion colors.

4. A chic yet comfy travel outfit: tough fact—only Americans are wearing athleisure, y’all. As amazing as joggers are, I didn’t want to show up at my hotel screaming US of A. I also didn’t want to have to bother with changing clothes on the plane or airport. But this sweater outfit from Amazon! The monochromatic vibe elevates your look, plus it’s super comfortable and has a good medium weight to it.

I am a chronic under-packer. I tend to prioritize space and efficiency over comfort, and this often leaves me unprepared for the weather. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to buy jackets, sweatshirts, or shoes because I didn’t pack properly. I was determined to change that this time, and I did so well!

1. Wind-Resistant, Easy-up-and-down Umbrella. Paris, like a lot of European destinations, is known for being gray and drizzly. I had quite a few pop-up rain showers (and even hail!). It was surprising how many times the wind would threaten to ruin my umbrella. This umbrella option is wind-resistant, small, and cheap enough that if you lose it, you won’t be upset. It’s on sale right now and I ordered three.

2. Iconic trench coat. I actually brought two coats this trip, and I’m so proud of myself. One was my (again, very American) thin puffer coat, which easily rolled up in my suitcase. The other was this classic trench coat, which helped me fit in with the European crowd. I ordered the navy color, but it comes in the iconic khaki as well. It is not lined, which I prefer. It’s breathable, has just the right amount of stretch (not much), and mostly protects from the elements. The puffer jacket came in handy on the coldest day of my trip when I knew I would be outside most of the day—I am glad I brought it!

Jet lag hit me pretty hard on my 2022 trip. The evil Meta algorithms must have known this because Facebook kept showing me ads for military-grade jet lag supplements. They were super expensive though (that military budget, I guess)… too much to risk on something that might not work. I did a little detective work and found out what was in them, and just ordered those in more generic vitamin form. Here’s what I ended up with in my medicine kit:

(Reminder to find my Paris Recommendations here and What I Wore here)

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A big thank you to everyone who shared their experiences with me… I always consider myself an editor of everyone else’s suggestions… this is one big team project! (Stephanie, Robin, thank you for your FB messages!)

Also, if you’d like to see other pieces I’ve written about travel adventures:

As a reminder, my “theme” for this trip was 19th-century Paris, so that played a lot in what I chose to do. I allowed a lot of space for walking/biking around and sleeping. :) Without further ado…

Day One:

• Arrival day! I flew from STL —> Toronto —> Charles de Gaulle on an overnight Air Canada flight.

• I used Welcome Pickups which I highly recommend… this way you will not have to stress with scams and taxi stands! My driver met me at the arrivals hall and helped me with my luggage. Both my arrival and departure drivers spoke English and the cars were clean and well-appointed.

• I arrived at the absolutely darling Hotel Sookie in the hip Marais district (3rd arrondissement). Fantastic location, one block from a Metro station and an easy walk to the Seine).

• To fight jet lag, I walked around in the sunshine as much as possible. I walked to Notre Dame, ate a crepe on a park bench, and spent quite a bit of time at the iconic Shakespeare & Co. before my room was ready.

• After an hour's nap, I hopped on a Lime bike (they are parked everywhere and easy to operate) and bravely biked from my hotel all the way down to the Trocadero to catch the Eiffel Tower at sunset. It was as stunning as it sounds!

• I walked to my dinner reservation at Le Soufflé, a restaurant that I remember from my trip to Paris as a 13-year-old with my grandparents. It was nostalgic and the food was delicious, although the ambiance and attitude of the waitstaff could use some work.

• I took a nighttime bike ride back to my hotel and caught the Eiffel Tower twinkling. The perfect end to my first Paris day.

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Going to Paris sounds intimidating, fashion-wise, but it doesn’t have to be. I scrolled many a website and guide and found lots of discussion about what you can or cannot wear, but the bottom line is: BE YOU. Oh, and BE COMFORTABLE.

I’m sharing what I packed, the two types of shoes that all the cool Parisians were wearing, plus a few things I bought when I was there.

What I Packed

Let me begin this by saying that I am NOT a fashion influencer (duh). But I did have so much fun putting together a capsule for my trip. The challenges were:

• the French don’t really do casual and I wanted to respect that.

• my footwear had to be super comfortable.

• I was there in the early spring (end of March), so the weather was in the 50s-60s F, with pop-up showers likely.

• I wanted everything to mix and match so that I could layer comfortably and change my mind. I wanted to start with items I already owned and add some new things (pants, mostly).

• I wanted simple gold jewelry (again, French style) for maximum look with minimum risk of theft.

I’m pleased with the results—they served me well and I felt like I had tons of options and was perfectly equipped for the weather. I’m a J.Crew girlie through and through, so most of my closet is from there, with a few fantastic additions from Quince. I’ve linked everything I could below, and none of these are affiliate links.

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Hi! Welcome to The Civilian! I am currently traveling for Spring Break, as I imagine many of you are (or at least relaxing a bit). I wanted to take this opportunity, though, to remind you that local elections are right around the corner. It was time for me to get re-acquainted with my city officials and complete my own challenge! I hope y…

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The Bittersweetness of Transitions

I finished another journal this past month. It’s my third finished journal in three years, which I relish celebrating after a lifetime of buying beautiful journals, diaries, and planners only to abandon them after a few pages. Two hundred and fifty full handwritten pages! This one was particularly special—the first entry was a toast I gave at my brother’s rehearsal dinner, and the last entry was an essay I wrote about my grandmother. As you would see by the stickers on the cover, this journal took me to our friend’s treehouse Airbnb, Montana, New York City, and five other states (at least). Not to mention the emotional journey it’s seen. It will be hard to say goodbye to this one.

What do you do with old journals? I do keep them…with strict instructions that they should be burned without reading.

I also had to get a new passport and was surprised at how emotional it made me. My last passport had stamps from Grand Cayman, Wales, England, Italy, and Canada. Where will the next ten years take me? I can’t wait to find out…yet I have such tenderness for the version of myself from ten years ago. Like my journals, it’s hard to say goodbye.

February Delights:

• Without a doubt, the best part of the month was, after this post, receiving texts and emails from you sharing where you’ve seen God in your life. I really can’t tell you how much that meant to me and how reinforcing it was to see evidence of the divine in your lives. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

• My friend Amanda, owner of Dog-Eared Books in Ames, Iowa, sent me a surprise package chock full of books from her most recent book convention. Aren’t surprise care packages the best?!

• Speaking of dogs, we had a couple of warm days this month and I pulled out my hammock. Sitting (on top of me) in a hammock happens to be the very favorite activity of my goldendoodle, Sloane. After a long few winter months, she could not have jumped up on that hammock quicker. (By the way, she’s named after raven-hair beauty Sloane Peterson from Ferris Bueller).

What I Watched/Listened To:

• As Missourians, we were, of course, obsessed with this year’s Super Bowl. In the week leading up to it, Eric and I watched Kelce, a documentary mostly centered around Jason Kelce but features plenty of Travis as well. I’m not a big sports watcher, but I love sports documentaries. This one was a really fun watch, especially if you liked Quarterback on Netflix. (Stream on Amazon Prime).

• In Savannah, we kept walking by the famous “Life is like a box of chocolates” bench from Forrest Gump. This inspired us to nostalgically watch it when we got home with our 16 and 14-year-olds. I guess I was ten years old when it came out in theaters and didn’t understand half of what was going on in the movie. Viewing it now was heartwarming and heartbreaking. Oh, how I cried! Also, a great way to review the fantastic music of the 60s and 70s with your Gen-Zers.

  

• Another tear-jerker was Joni Mitchell’s performance at the Grammys, right?! Not a dry eye in the house. I did a deep-dive into all the musicians that performed with her and now I’m really into Allison Russell.

• Another Substacker (Emma Gannon) recommended the song “Don’t You Worry” by Electic Fields as a great pick-me-up. This made me think about one of my favorite pick-me-up songs, Yebba’s cover of John Mayer’s “The Age of Worry.” I feel about 1000 times more confident after I hear this soulful track.

• I hate to admit it, but a guilty pleasure of mine these days is listening to teen favorite Olivia Rodrigo. Yes, she’s angsty. But for anyone who thinks they are above it, I’d like to point to every generation’s angry singer-songwriter: Alanis Morisette? Carly Simon? We all had a version. I love the cuteness that is Olivia and Noah Kahan’s cover-swap in the BBC’s Live Lounge. You can hear Olivia sing “Stick Season” and Noah sing “Lacy” and feel all those feelings (or at least relate to your teens).

What I Read This Month:

Come and Get It by Kiley Reid: Amazon | Bookshop

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This publication is reader-supported and our paid subscribers allow these types of posts to be free. If you are interested in joining this group …

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