Journal: June 2026
Celebrated Summer, Miracle Babies, Strangers Smooching, Queer Sounds, Skater Matrimony, People of the Land.
Greetings, Earthlings.
Summer is upon us.
Despite my near-translucent, pasty English-Irish skin and inability to spend more than 5 minutes in direct sunlight without turning the colour of a cooked lobster, I love summertime.
My seasonal affective disorder takes a well-deserved break after working overtime in the dark, around the clock, all winter long.
I resume my Extremely Long Walks, which benefit my mental and physical health, and I leave my apartment more often (I’m still a confirmed homebody, but I do step outside more often).
NYC can be sticky, humid, and smelly in the summer, and many people find it unpleasant. All the rich people (i.e., not me) head up to the Hamptons or Martha’s Vineyard and other places rich people go that I’ve never seen.
But I like NYC in the summer. It’s a vibe.
There is a lot more craziness to see on the streets, which makes being here more entertaining. There are more street performers out, random street fairs to bump into accidentally, and scantily clad, attractive people to pretend not to be looking at.
Not everything is sunshine and eye candy, though.
Personally, my extended period of bad luck financially and employment-wise, now heading into its second year, continues unabated. I have endless stories about being treated like garbage by corporate HR types, but even I am bored with them, so I won’t subject you to them, dear reader.
Having grey hair seems to brand one as unemployable, regardless of experience, awards, and past successes. I am trying to figure out what to do next. When not desperately chasing better-paying employment, I've taken refuge in creativity, working on little projects like the Substack you are currently reading.
Currently, in many ways, the future does not look very bright. But today, in this moment, outside my window, the sun is shining. So I’m going to focus on that.
June is a big month for me, filled with happy moments:
Father’s Day, when I am reminded how lucky I am to have such an amazing kid.
Pride, where I get to honour my lifelong, ongoing journey to self-acceptance of my bisexuality and champion other amazing LGBTQ+ people.
And my birthday, where I celebrate still being alive, and having the gift of another day to seek out the good in the world.
I hope you have things to celebrate, too, and that you can make some space to switch off all the terrible bullshit going on in the world and sit somewhere quiet, cool drink in hand, and listen to the wind rustle the trees, birds courting one another, and kids playing.
Below, for your review, please find the stuff that caught the attention of my eyes, ears, and heart over the last month. I’ve also sprinkled in some of my photography to entrance and delight your eyeballs (I hope).
If you are unable to commit to a $5/month paid subscription but would still like to help me keep creating, you can do so here on a one-time basis, in any amount.
Thank you for your support.
👀 Watch
This is an incredible story of three babies who, only by coincidence, luck, and the determination of their mothers, managed to survive being born in Nazi death camps during the Holocaust. The twists of fate and close calls that resulted in their survival are beyond comprehension.
Short film: 20 Strangers kiss for the first time.
🎧 Listen
As part of my Song of the Day series on Substack Notes, I’ve dedicated June to LGBTQ+ artists. You can find those in my Substack Feed, but here is one selection:
Marry a Skater by Ray Bull.
Brooklyn-based alternative pop/rock band Ray Bull, created by visual artists and musicians Tucker Elkins and Aaron Graham, released this song in March of this year. I can’t say I have much idea what it’s about on the whole, but the individual sections of the lyrics are somehow profound and heartfelt, and the song has become a recent favourite. The video is equally interesting, made up of footage captured by taping an iPhone or Go-Pro to the side of a NYC subway train. Watch for some of the lyrics to magically appear as graffiti on the buildings as the train rolls along.
📖 Read
I’m still finishing the book about consciousness, “A World Appears” by Michael Pollan, which I highlighted in last month’s Journal, but I’ve also started David Sedaris’ newest: The Land and Its People. I’m only about four essays in, but I’ve found, thus far, that it is a strong return to his stronger and funnier work of the past.
I’m listening to the audiobook on Spotify (it came free with my Spotify Premium account, which was a nice surprise). It’s a really enjoyable way to hear the stories — rather than Sedaris reading the work in a studio, the audiobook features recordings of him reading it to a live audience, which adds to the experience through his comedic delivery.
🕰 ICYMI
In case you missed it, here is my last essay about being a creative poseur and shooting street photography. It includes some of my photos for your viewing pleasure.
Thanks for reading.
XO
C.