Sheesh

At 5:10 AM on Sunday, October 6th, I trudged with an armful of my belongings toward the steep, metal staircase leading to the outdoor parking spot assigned to my short-term rental unit. I didn’t dare look right or left as I descended. Carefully, I skirted around loose trash on the stair treads and avoided some suspicious dark sticky spots which I had noticed upon moving in the day prior. In the dim morning light, I huffed over to my car, mentally cursing the damaged elevators, hurricanes Helene and Milton, and my own dumb luck– flying to Sarasota only to have my new condo closing delayed. Again.

Twenty minutes later, the car stuffed, and me sweating as if I’d played a three-set tennis match, I eased the SUV out of the debris-ridden parking lot. Just as I had done the day before, I inched around the numerous dumpsters placed helter-skelter in the adjacent alley behind a strip of St. Armand’s retail stores, an area which had experienced a devastating storm surge courtesy of Helene. 

As I turned onto the deserted Ringling Boulevard, I glanced back in the rearview mirror, and teared up, wondering what new insults and injuries Milton would inflict upon St. Armand’s Circle, a popular shopping and dining destination in Sarasota. And then with a heavy sigh filled with regret and sorrow and dread, I sped in the direction of I75 and an open gas station. 

For nine hours, I wove through light traffic and pouring rain until the hills of Chattanooga became visible. The drive had been full of phone calls from concerned family members, country music, and news reports of hurricane Milton strengthening into a category five storm. It wasn’t until the next morning that I realized the significant parallels of my sojourn. 

On Saturday, October 7th, 2023, I was on the exact same highway, interstate 75 somewhere between Pensacola and Sarasota, heading in the direction from which I had just fled. The same white SUV was deeply packed with mostly the same belongings: clothes, shoes, tennis racquets, and staples to move into a short-term rental where I would live until construction was complete on my new condo building.  There was hope in my heart about so many things. Settling in–albeit not permanently–reconnecting with my Florida friends and re-entering a casual lifestyle my husband and I had come to love. But as I flipped radio stations, CNN began reporting about rockets launching on Israel. For the entire drive to “my happy place,” a sense of foreboding, dismay–yes, fear–invaded the tranquility of my drive.

So, this year, on October 7th, as I drove north escaping hurricane Milton, fearing for the safety of my dear friends and our community, I became not just saddened but disheartened. What had changed in one year’s time? Climate change had worsened. The Gulf of Mexico had warmed to record temperatures facilitating the rapid formation and progression of Milton from a tropical depression to a major devastating storm. The conflict in Israel and Lebanon had also escalated, the hostages taken a year prior were still in captivity, and Netanyahu had not agreed to “cease fire.” 

I think I mirror many of you, dear readers, when I say, “I just dunno anymore.” Where are we headed as communities, states, countries, as a people? 

Since I veer toward positivity on most subjects, I will offer this: Let’s encourage young people to get out and vote, and get involved beyond commenting on social media. We need the youth of our nations to take us where we have been unable to go. To cleaner environment initiatives. To peaceful initiatives. Clear heads need to prevail, ones that have the common good in mind.

I don’t know where I’ll be on October 7th, 2025, but I’m confident I won’t be in a Sarasota short-term rental or on I75 in a packed SUV. And I pray that the Israel conflict has reached a healthy conclusion by then. As to whether I’m finally in that condo I thought was right for me back in Feb. 2023 when I entered a purchase agreement, your guess is as good as mine. Right now, the cooler temps in Chicago and proximity to extended family is all I seek.

Follow Me Here

In November (14-17th), Julie will attend Story Studio’s four day writing retreat with instructors Rebecca Makkai and Vu Tran at the Guesthouse Hotel in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood. The theme for the retreat is “5,000-Word Weekend.” 

On November 20th, Julie will be Dawn Davenport’s guest on the Creating a Family podcast when they will discuss Julie’s adoption story and her books.

On December 5th, Julie will return to the Social Work Bubble podcast with Laura Swanson. They will discuss Julie’s forthcoming memoir, Twice the Family.

In December (10-13th), Julie will be a featured speaker and panelist at Shattering Stigmas: A Summit on Redefining Mental Health Narratives, co-hosted by Tammy Vincent and Jessica Kazaniwskyj. The summit’s goals include redefining mental health narratives, breaking barriers, and creating lasting change. 

On February 4, 2025, Julie’s new memoir, Twice the Family: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Sisterhood hits the bookshelves. It’s the long-awaited prequel to her award-winning debut, Twice a Daughter.

On February 13, 2025, Julie will be a return guest to Thriving Adoptees podcast with host Simon Benn. They will discuss Julie’s forthcoming memoir, Twice the Family.

Follow Julie by visiting her website, subscribe to her bimonthly newsletters, and listen to previous podcast recordings where she discusses topics like adoption, identity, and belonging.

Things I’m Working On

Artificial Intelligence software

Rather than fear, disdain, or dismiss artificial intelligence as it pertains to book writing projects, I decided to satisfy my curiosity. I’m dabbling with a software program called Squibler, link here.  So far, all I’ve done is feed it character and plot scenarios. Some of the dialogue and backstory it has provided has been thought provoking but something I would have to edit for viability. Next, I plan on fooling around with a short story that has been percolating in my head for a while and see if the results spur a clear direction. More on that… 

Screenplay news for Twice a Daughter:

• Still being pitched to producers. Fingers crossed.

Still Reading/Listening to:

• The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
• The Art of Power by Nancy Pelosi
• An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Top of My TBR (to-be-read) List:

• Twins (And What They Tell Us About Who We Are) by Lawrence Wright
• Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty by Hillary Clinton

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