New Year’s Day began as nothing but a blank space for our wildest dreams.
Think back to December 31st, 2022. As the clock struck midnight, we glanced furtively over our shoulders, asking, “Are we out of the woods yet?” 2022 was sad, beautiful, and tragic—we knew that all too well. The question was, could we begin again? Could 2023 return us to a state of grace, or was hope just a hoax? Would this new year be enough if it could never bring us peace?
When we see the daylight of any new year, we like to think we’re ready for it. And sure, for the first few months we were fearless, living for the hope of it all—we almost forgot that 2022 existed. That is, until the long, cruel summer came. The drought was the very worst; it lasted well past August. It would’ve been death by a thousand cuts if not for the one invisible string that bound us all together, telling us, “Soon you’ll get better.”
What was that invisible string, you ask, that epiphany that made us all feel like the lucky one? Her name was Taylor Alison Swift.*
*bonus points to whoever can find all 25 lyric references in the text above
We all know by now that it’s Taylor’s world and we’re just living in it. By virtue of breathing in the year 2023, our lives have been permeated by her ever-ascending celebrity. We get it: she’s a mastermind and her life is a performance.
But as staggering a performer as she is, what strikes me the most about her songwriting are those moments when she explicitly relinquishes her role as a performer. It’s those moments that lend credence to all the others, making Taylor’s voice one that we don’t just enjoy, but believe.
This is a song I’ve had no trouble believing. To me, it expresses the aching need we all carry around to let our defenses down and receive the love of another. I’ve lost count of the amount of times this year that I’ve heard Kelsey in the kitchen humming and thought of this song.
Albums, Books & Movies
I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for a good end-of-year, here’s-all-my-favorite-media-I-consumed lists. Especially because it seems that if I’ve got plenty of movies to watch, I probably don’t have any books queued up. And if I’ve got lots of music to listen to, I’m probably low on movies. In case you’re in need of any of the above, here are some recommendations.
I’ve forced myself to keep my descriptions brief by writing a haiku for each. Because why not?
Albums
Modern Age (Jill Andrews):
Enveloping sound
Lyrical dexterity
Please play it againRevealer (Madison Cunningham):
Genius of our time
I am crying and laughing
What will she do next!?Celebrants (Nickel Creek):
All about friendship
Finding and keeping them close
Harmonically ambitiousTelephone Friends (Telephone Friends):
Humorous and wise
Nostalgic optimism
The wind is back in my sailsGUTS (Olivia Rodrigo):
Perfect songwriting
Two hundred percent improvedSOUR walked so that GUTS could run
Books
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (Gabrielle Zevin)
Put my world on pause
So I can live in this one
We all must have friendsEleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (Gail Honeyman)
Spoiler alert: no,
She’s not fine, but she can beIf she receives love
The Last Devil to Die: A Thursday Murder Club Mystery (Richard Osman)
It’s devastating
And hysterical as well
But it will hurt you
Movies/TV Shows
Past Lives
Honoring the past
Committed to the present
Beautiful soundtrackDerry Girls
I’m not over it
My life is forever changed
It follows me everywhereTed Lasso
The world is better
Now that we have Ted Lasso
Try to prove me wrong
Oh, and here’s a Christmas gift for the magical among us.
Wishing everyone a safe and sound Christmas, full of coziness in the company of loved ones. See you in the New Year!
-Drew
My heart! This was so special!! Thank you for sharing this!!
First of all, I didn’t know how much I needed haikus today.
Second, Jon was shocked that I failed to include TL in my year-end list, but I had already written about it elsewhere and spoken about it on a podcast, so I don’t feel quite as traitorous as I might.
Third, Rodrigo’s writing. I get “Logical” stuck in my head, and hours later, I’m still not tired of it.
Fourth, I loved Eleanor Oliphaunt.
Finally, Tomorrow... is on my bookshelf. Can’t wait to read it.