Edition #19: Life Outside Our Windows
Plus, the man who built an underground bunker under the busiest park in London, a peek inside stranger's windows, and the reason we're attracted to certain people
A note from the editor
I've taken to sitting out on my fire escape. Every night around 6 pm, I climb over the headboard of my bed and shimmy awkwardly out the window, lying out a padded yoga mat and a pillow to make the narrow space more habitable. I bring out a book, a glass of water, sometimes a bottle of wine, my sunglasses, and I sit. I read. I close my eyes.
The first few days of my outdoor loitering, I was surprised by how uncomfortable I felt. I'd looked out this same window so many times, and yet when I was sitting right outside of it I felt exposed, naked to the world. I imagined everyone was looking at me (there was no one around, most buildings seemingly abandoned as of late). I imagined I looked silly. I imagined I looked like the loneliest girl in the world, or the most contented, depending on the observer.
More surprising even still were the sounds I heard-- birds chirping away, their sweet melodies blending into a song that sounded nothing like New York City I've come to know. The absurdly loud buzz of a pigeon-sized bee attempting to bathe in my wineglass. The whip of the wind against the buildings. The jingly chime hanging in a courtyard across the way, one that I 'd never noticed before.
All I had to do was climb through the shuttered glass a mere five feet from where I sleep every night to be transported to an entirely different world, one that feels as foreign as the first visit to a strange country. I can't help but marvel at the fact that something so lovely has been right outside my window all this time, and that it took me two years to realize it. Makes me wonder what other treasures are hiding under our noses, quietly waiting to be discovered.
Cheers my dears. I’d love to hear about the secret space you’ve discovered while spending more time at home— those places you’ve found solace in.
Three Pieces of Content Worth Consuming
A Homeless Man Built a Life Underground. There are some stories so utterly wild that you can't quite fathom their truth-- like this tale of a homeless man who built a bunker under one of London's busiest parks over the course of two months, digging, hiding, and cementing every night until he'd created a permanent shelter. Two years later he was caught, and eventually, the counter-terrorism command got involved, mistaking his powdered cement reserves for an underground meth lab. Mark my words, this one will become mini-series.
A Peek Inside Stranger's Windows. If you've been reading this newsletter for a while now, you know I love looking into my neighbor’s window. Naturally, I was drawn to this "Dear Stranger" exhibit, in which an artist left unsigned letters to tenants in buildings around the country telling them she'd like to photograph them from the street at a specific date and time. I discovered the series via the coolest woman I follow on Instagram, (editor in chief of T Magazine and bestselling author) Hanya Yanagihara.
Why Are We Attracted to Certain People? A partner becomes more attractive to us when we notice others are attracted to them. Men seek out women that project fertility (explaining why youth has become a modern benchmark for beauty). A person can grow more appealing through intimate conversation. Whether you personally agree or identify with these statements or not, there are plenty of interesting findings in this in-depth exploration of the psychology behind our romantic attraction.
Perhaps You Should...
Write Like the Wind (in Class)
I took my first creative writing class at Gotham earlier this year, a 10-week fiction course, and it didn't take long for the three hour Wednesday night ritual to become my favorite part of the week. Whether or not you're an aspiring writer, these classes are a wonderful way to get your creative juices flowing during this period of isolation. Try essay writing, script writing, poetry. songwriting, or whatever method of words on paper tickles your fancy.
**Bonus Content** (To Sing-Along To)
I've never been a big fan of The Office (don't @ me), so I didn't pay much attention when John Krasinski recently launched a show on YouTube. That is, until I saw this incredible clip (starts at 10:38) of the ORIGINAL CAST OF HAMILTON singing together on Zoom. I've seen the show twice, once in SF and once in NYC, and neither of the live performance could compare to this video, which, I've watched about 100 times.
A Quote From a Book You Should Read:
"People could not get enough of what they had lost, even if they no longer wanted it."
-The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer
This newsletter is best served with a side of conversation, so drop your opinions, reflections, and thoughts in the comments below and let’s get to talking.
Or, share the most thought-provoking piece from today’s edition with someone you love, then call them up to discuss, debate, and percolate. As a wise woman once said, “Great minds discuss ideas.”