What is this all about?
To be honest, I’m not exactly sure yet. I’m figuring it out as I go. Building the plane as I fly it, one might say. For context, here’s the post I wrote when I named this Substack Essential Mel.
I believe in the importance of storytelling. I believe that embracing creativity is a way to heal. I believe that community and connection is essential to living a fulfilling life.
I post twice a week at this point:
Saturdays at 8am PT is a long form post. So far they have been on the subjects of love, community, connection, travel, alcoholism, art, and cats.
Wednesdays at 8am PT I post an Analog Letter—a letter that I created and wrote that week for a person in my life. The post includes the image of the letter and a brief description of the human I’m writing to. Here’s my original post about this project: Analog Connections and then the follow-up post about how I’m organizing these posts: Analog Letter Posts - Not Notes.
Some general things about me in a nutshell just for context:
I’m 60 years-old. I was born in Atlanta, GA but mostly grew up in the Bay Area. We lived in France as well when I was a kid. (I was actually able to pass my language requirement for my MA degree with the French I learned at 11 and 12!). I spent High School in Palo Alto, Chicago, and Eugene, OR (Three High Schools in four years!) Fortunately, I’m an extrovert, so making new friends comes easily.
I’m mom to a 23-year-old. Ethan is one of the most emotionally intelligent people that I know. I attribute a lot of that to his dad and all of the other adult humans that have contributed to raising him over these years.
I am twice divorced and realized in my mid-40s that monogamy just wasn’t my jam. I am polyamorous and have explored a wide variety of alternative relationship structures before landing in a structure that works for me.
I’m a theatre artist, storyteller, musician, songwriter, mosaic artist, multi-media artist, and facilitator.
I love cats. I love dogs too. I love other animals too—but cats have always been my spirit animals.
Thanks for showing up here! I hope you’ll join me in this journey if makes sense to you!
:) Mel
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