One year ago today, I was moving out of the apartment I had lived in for five years and into the first home I have ever owned, just purchased by myself as a single woman at the age of forty-two. While it was a good move (figuratively speaking, because the literal act of moving homes has always been and will always be horrible), recently I've been reflecting on the change and, more to the point, on my difficulty dealing with change, even good change.

I never liked to think of myself as someone who disliked change, especially when I was a perpetually bored and misplaced young person perpetually on the lookout for something new and better. Only people with a lack of imagination and creative impulse didn't seek change, right? But this is confusing change with chaos, distraction and reaction. That's not all that change is, but, sometimes, it is that. Good change is deep and transformative, but that is also unsettling. Without some time to settle, and reflect, you never get any of the good out of it.

All of which is to day that I'm just really glad I'm not moving this year and maybe will never have to move again and I can sit around and enjoy something not changing for at least a little while.

Here's hoping you all have a solid place to stand and some time to stand still. And here's a list of things for May.

1. I posted a round-up of the things I've been reading, watching and listening to: Recently: 26 May.
2. In the middle of this past January, David Lynch passed away. I began writing an essay about the influence his work had had on me, but soon realized I needed to think about it more. So it was only at the beginning of this month that I finished writing it: All These Empty Spaces.
3. My little horror film podcast, Quiet Little Horrors, took a break for May, but we'll be back in June with episodes on Antichrist (buckle up for that one) and Fréwaka. Reminder that I keep a Letterboxd list of all the films, with links to episodes, that we covered over the past few years and I usually have a sneak preview of upcoming films there.
4. For almost all of May, I've been on a social media break—which, for me, mostly means staying off of my primary microblogging platform (previously Twitter, currently Bluesky). I miss everyone a bit, but I think I'm going to take a little more time away from the constantly updating feeds. It's a lot. I'll be back at some point.
5. I adopted a new cat in January and she has now thoroughly settled in. She is a delight. Adopting cute cats: Recommended.

As I mentioned, I'm on a social media break now. But, eventually, I'll head back to Bluesky. You can catch up with me later there if you are so inclined. If you enjoy the newsletter, please feel free to spread the word in whichever places you tend to frequent. As always, you can reach me by email, should you wish to do such a thing, at [email protected].

Thank you for reading! I'm grateful for you. 🖤