"My own story is proof positive that we should not shrink from our most audacious dreams when we are young. Indeed, with determination, vision, and a willingness to work, we can achieve that which we are courageous enough to envision for ourselves."
These sentences from the epilogue of the young adult adaptation of Ketanji Brown Jackson's Lovely One neatly summarize the gist of her journey from her birth to parents who gave her an African name which translates to Lovely One to her historic appointment to the Supreme Court. It is a fascinating and thought provoking journey, one that provides enlightenment about not only an individual, but the nation and times she inhabits.
I think this fine book is excellent for the target demographic: teens faced with making the most consequential decisions of their young lives: whether to go on to further education or directly enter the workforce; if college, which one, and how to achieve admission and finance it; if work, what job is a best fit and how far to travel to be hired; are marriage and/or parenting attainable or desirable... And all this at the tail end of a period of rapid physical, psychological, cognitive, spiritual, and social development. Jackson is candid about her thoughts, feelings, hopes and fears, anxieties, and decision making during this tumultuous time, spinning a narrative many young adults will be able to relate to.
But the same relatability makes me recommend it way beyond that age group. One of the major challenges of her adult life has been balancing highly (I think inhumanely) demanding jobs while being married to another top level professional and raising two daughters, one who is neurodivergent. That's the plight of an awful lot of successful women in America today. Is it possible to achieve balance in all facets of life?
Basically it's a beautifully narrated candid autobiography of a very consequential pioneer in one of our nation's highest offices. An excellent choice for the summer reading list.
On a purrrsonal note, OMG!!! The UMaine Drag Show Saturday night was magical and vibrant and enchanted and perfect. We had a very enthusiastic, appreciative audience and really excellent performers. I had two solo numbers. Before my first, He's So Shy, I talked about how the song perfectly describes my relationship to that guy who I knew was too good to let get by when I met him nearly four decades ago, who I'm still deeply in love with after nearly 37 years of marriage and child and cat raising. I dedicated my performance to "the love of my life, Eugene Warren Hathaway. My second was I'll Spread My Wings. People cheered enthusiastically and kept giving me money (which will in my tattoo fund). I was in the ensemble number at the end. Then so many people were telling me how well I did. I got a beautiful bouquet of pink and red đšs. I really was feeling like a đ and people were telling me I was a đ. Heavenly! Intoxicating! I surely am living my best life.
A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in the show: performers, crew, and audience. It takes all three to conjure up the magic that is drag.
Jules Hathaway aka Gotta Believe We're Magic
Sent from my Galaxy
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