Reset.

On finding equilibrium.

Hi everyone!

Let’s jump right in.

From the Mountains to the Coast

Last Thursday, I arrived in Charleston, where I’ll be dog-sitting for a delightful cockapoo named Daphne for three weeks.

I’ve only been to Charleston once, and that was last year with my dear friend Michele. (If you’re interested in literacy and K-12, check out her amazing Substack, Reading to Lead.)

Seeing Sh*t in Books, Travel Edition

We only had a couple days here, so there are quite a few places I’d still like to see, such as Fort Sumter and the Old Slave Mart Museum. I’d also like to go on a ghost tour or two, since that’s a great way to see the city when the weather’s more tolerable. (And you know I like getting the heebie-jeebies, though I’m not sure any of these tours would actually deliver.)

My Search for Scares: Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot

I arrived on Thursday, but I’m still getting settled. Truth be told, I’ve been exhausted these past couple days. Long naps, early to bed, that kind of thing.

Today, however, I’ve got a lot of work to do, and I of course still have a lot of work in general to make my money goals. (I’m still very behind on that.)

This is 45.

So, I’m hoping today is a bit of a reset, a chance to get find a bit of equilibrium and a rhythm for my days in Charleston. I’m looking for a balance of work, exercise, rest, and sightseeing. So far, the scales have tipped heavily in the rest category. Though it’s felt less like rest and more like crashing. I’m a little groggy even as I write this, though I’m on my second cup of coffee.

Overall, however, I’m genuinely excited to be here. Charleston is worlds different from my home outside of Asheville, mainly thanks to the terrain and the weather. I love the humid mugginess, as it reminds my skin of growing up in Florida’s thick blanket of air that’s as moisturizing as shea butter. I could do without the mosquitos and the FLYING PALMETTO BUG THAT WOKE ME UP AT MIDNIGHT BY LANDING ON MY PILLOW MY FIRST NIGHT ALONE. But it was very satisfying to kill that fucker, let me tell you.

Overall, the neighborhood and the foliage remind me a lot of the Florida I knew growing up: old brick homes, oak canopies. (Dad’s Florida, where I usually am now, is very different — a gated community where the plant life is cut back and manicured with the intensity of a Brazilian wax.)

I’m also excited to dig into the history of Charleston a bit more. There are a couple talks about its Revolutionary War history that I may go to. Of course, the city also just commemorated a more sobering event: the 10th anniversary of the mass murder of the Emmanuel Nine at Mother Emmanuel AME Church by a deluded white supremacist.

Say their names: Reverend Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Cynthia Graham Hurd, Susie J. Jackson, Ethel Lee Lance, the Honorable Reverend Clementa C. Pinckney, Tywanza Kibwe Diop Sanders, Reverend Daniel Lee Simmons, Sr., Reverend Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, and Myra Singleton Quarles Thompson.

And that’s a reminder of why Charleston’s history is so important to know: to paraphrase that great chronicler of the South and its sins, the past isn’t even past.

I’d love to find a Charleston story I can pitch to editors, but it’s not going to be an easy task. The city is such a popular destination that there’s not a lot about it that hasn’t already been written up. But I’m going to keep my eyes peeled.

If you have any tips about Charleston — places to see, eat, experience — do share. Think of it as Southern hospitality.

I was going to share more today, since before I came to Charleston my writing life got intensely busy. I wrote a good chunk of a rough draft of a nonfiction book proposal. I started a novella class. This afternoon, I’ll have the first of four classes led by bestselling author Wiley Cash about writing North Carolina.

But something feels right about ending here, with a bit of a Lazy Sunday in Charleston post. Short and sweet, like a small glass of sweet tea. (EXCEPT FOR THE FUCKING PALMETTO BUG THAT FUCKED AROUND AND FOUND OUT WHEN IT INVADED MY SPACE.)

Charleston in a nutshell: behind that warm smile, fangs.

Hurricane Helene & Wildfires: Ways to Support Recovery

Help Catye Gowan Feed People with Dietary Needs! This chef has been out there on her own since the storm began cooking food designed for people with severe dietary issues like Celiac and dietary preferences like veganism. She’s a force for good, and every dollar helps!

Help the House of Black Cat Magic Save Black Cats! Our second cat, Mini Keeper-Moo, came from Binx’s Home for Black Cats, one of only a handful of black cat-specific rescues in the country. They opened up a gorgeous black cat lounge and magic shop last May, but since Hurricane Helene they’re struggling like every other business. They’ve only received $15,000 micro-grants since the storm to save their business — not a cent more. Please help them help black cats!

BeLoved Asheville. These folks are the best in the world — the ultimate model of mutual aid and greeting the world with love. Check out what they’ve been doing, and donate, here.

The Deep End of Hope in the Wake of Hurricane Helene: 40 Days and Nights of Survival and Transformation. A Ground Zero view of the storm’s devastation — and a community’s resilience — from a trauma chaplain who lived it.

L.A. Wildfires: Opportunities to Help

World Central Kitchen. They were unbelievable for us here after Helene. I don’t know the grassroots organizations running in LA right now — LA readers, feel free to share so I can include them! — but I can vouch for the amazing-ness of World Central Kitchen. A hot meal means everything in such difficult moments. I’ll add more links as I hear about places doing great work.

This Week’s Dose of K-Pop: ATEEZ(에이티즈), “Lemon Drop”

ATEEZ had a comeback last week. (Or the week before? Time is a construct.) It’s not my favorite, but it has a lazy summer vibe that fits this post and Charleston. I think a lemon drop is a cocktail? Maybe I’ll have one if I come across it on a menu to give a toast to ATEEZ.

Love y’all,

Sara