we did not dig.

one toddler's review of school.

Almost every day when we pick Marcelline up from school, we have this conversation.

Me: How was school?

Marcie: Good.

Me: What did you do?

Marcie: We did not dig.

Every. time. This spurs from one time when—at the beginning of the year—we went to a work day at Marcie’s all-outdoor forest school. I had already fallen in love with the school when we toured it. Honestly, it was when I smelled the school, which sounds so weird. But being out in an actual forest is magical, nevertheless being in a forest in THE MIDDLE OF A CITY. And when I took a break from the official school tour and just took a big whiff and was transported back to my time in Yosemite. The mornings I walked from my tent to the communal kitchen to get coffee and then would walk to the bridge to just sit and watch the rushing water. It felt right. I was sold.

But this work trip was Marcie’s first time seeing the school and also my mom was in town still, so she was able to see it. For some reason, I was more nervous for my mom to like it than for Marcelline to like it. (honestly, she’s a loose-cannon, so I try to take her opinion with a grain of salt.) My mom loved it, which meant the world to me. She connected so closely (of course, have you met my mom?) with one of Marcie’s teachers—so much so that during our first parent-teacher meeting, the teacher asked how my mom was doing and told me she felt so connected with her.

Marcie’s first experience with her new forest school was great, but now I know that’s because she honestly thought we were sending her to a school that specialized in digging. Marcie was INTO it. But you know what? She wasn’t even digging—she was raking! Now every single day after school, we get the same side-eyed scathing review, “We did not dig.”

Like, “You bait and switched me, Mom. There is so little digging at this school.”

The other evening, we were almost already running late for the Solstice Party at Marcie’s school when we got a package delivered to us. It had a gift from my parents that said, “Open now!” so we let Marcie open it up.

She pulled out an ornament that was a half of a styrofoam ball that featured a picture of her from the work-day at school, “digging.”

I started to tear up as I told Evan, “Oh my goodness! It’s just like this one I had of me in Montessori school! Same half-ball with glitter and everything.” And then Marcie pulled out the other gift in the box and it WAS the ornament of me as a child. I had forgotten that I was also holding a rake! 😭😭😭

And I started to cry. About the ornaments, yes. But also about how they complete each other—two halves of a circle. The connection between my daughter and me. Between my mother and Marcie’s teacher. Between me and the trees. Between the friendships I never saw coming. Between the partner no one would have chosen for me, but I chose every day and thank GOD herself he chooses me every day. Between the music on the terrestrial airwaves and my hips. Between the other writers in my class. How my daughter asks me and my husband to lay under the Christmas tree with her just like I used to do with my best friend. A connection is made that completes a circuit of electricity.

Between the universe out there and the scooped out parts of me that are missing—we come together to make something complete, something whole. And this connection electrifies and I am so grateful.

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A Little Woo:

Capricorny: The darkest day of the year is among us—the Solstice. The shortest day. And then days get longer. YESSSSSSSSSS. And then we’re in Capricorn season. The passage below has me a little excited about it all.

In 2023-2024, Capricorn season is also a moment for slowing down and tying up loose ends, given that that fourth and final Mercury retrograde of the year will be in full swing until Jan. 1. You'll also want to prepare yourself for stunning epiphanies and breakthroughs, thanks to a harmonious trine between the sun in Capricorn and Uranus in Taurus. And as Mars in Capricorn syncs with Jupiter in Taurus, you can turn any gasp-worthy realizations into concrete big picture plans.

Read the full article and get your Capricorn horoscope here.

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Quick Hits:

• Jam of the Week: Quantic – Get In The Ride (feat. Connie Constance).

  (I heard this on one of Larry Mizell Jr.’s shows and was immediately obsessed.)

• BLOCK SHOP HAS JACKETS NOW.
  (this one is still available, but the one that already sold out is honestly such a gem.)

• Going To This Show On Saturday.

  (so so excited to finally see these queens in person… but WHAT TO WEAR??)

• Speaking Of What To Wear…
  (I need people to start telling me which Cup of Jo “Week of Outfits” they are. or at least what they aspire to. I’m want to be this one + this one and I also put an outfit from this one on my current vision board. also, do I like this one? or do I just want to live in a bathing suit and cover-up for most of the year? this one is also such a win.)

• Something About Winter Makes Me Think Of Her Art.
  (I love those paintings and miss that person. also, this would be Cherlyn’s “Week of Outfits”… but also she should get her own.)

• I’m A Star!
  (I got the Star Card for 2024, which means: “Your dreams, and your wishes are not flights of fancy, they are divine callings to your future. Believe and have confidence as you align with your greater destiny: As above, so below.” my heart!)

• New Favorite Instagram Account.
  (making a short story long.)

• Me To The Book I’m Writing.

  (creative/vulnerable work is so hard!)

• Wept As I (Finally) Finished This Show.
  (so many of the same feels as that woman. I think I drew out finishing that series, because I didn’t want it to end… at all.)

• The Best Burn For The Season.
  (I got Marcelline to yell this to Evan in the parking lot of her school for the Solstice Party and we both could not stop giggling about it.)

• Me At More Social Outings In One Week Than The Rest Of The Year Combined.
  (I shorn’t be invited back, I’m sure.)

• Could You Imagine Seeing This On Your Baby Cam??
  (🤣🤣🤣.)

Next time I see you, it’ll be after Christmas. We celebrate here in our family by opening gifts, going skiing, and then eating Chinese food. We keep it casual and warm. If you celebrate Christmas, wishing you the merriest! If you don’t, wishing you the merriest Solstice and other holidays! These past couple months in the Gaza and Israel have been horrible. I can’t talk about or think about my kid without thinking of how many families are being torn apart right now. Sometimes I put Marcelline down to sleep and watch her breathing and then imagine if I had to watch her take her last breath. I would be destroyed. If it could have been prevented, I would burn this whole place down. Ceasefire now.

I love you and I’m so grateful that you’re here week after week. In another realm, I’m throwing a Mad Men-esque party and you’re all invited and we’re all drinking our favorite libations and it’s not raining, it’s snowing, and there is no war and there are no heartbreaks and suddenly your partner knows how to play piano and we’re all gathered around the piano I suddenly have and we’re all singing and holding hands. Cheers!

xxo,
rachel.