Mother of an ADULT

Season of birthdays, awards, and OB/GYN advice

My future self.

Happy New Year to all, and yes, I still get to say it, though my spouse vehemently disagrees. He says “ten days tops”, I say “too rigid.” 

I have right up until the moment I know in my bones that we are truly living in the year 2024. Let’s say, June.

Even though I never make resolutions per se, I did lightly decide to try using *less* profanity in 2024. Now this is an election year mind you. AND the world is in full turmoil, AND we are still being forced to witness the continuing (barf) escapades of our (puke) previous (blecchh) president. To not swear under these conditions, is to be rendered powerless to utter a single sentence. 

So please enjoy this swear free journal entry, complete with one action item for you toward the end.

Today is my daughter’s EIGHTEENTH birthday– and so happy birthday to the first of the three shiniest lights in my life. A person of such high quality that I cannot even comprehend my good fortune. A living rebuttal to the theory that I, having been such a frightening teenager, would surely be punished with children ten times more vicious. Friends, not so.

Here is a photograph of me at the same age, and thanks to the sweet baby Jesus for making it blurry.  

Newly adult Sam Bee.

What exactly was I going for here? Giddy Huntress? Are those… army surplus jodphurs? Oh dear oh dear.

The point is that my children are all smarter and better, and MUCH more stylish than me, and I am grateful for it.

So right now I am baking a cake, specifically this one. It’s my eldest daughter’s favorite, and even though the strawberries are cardboard right now, I have ways of bending them to my will.

Here is a photo taken of me trying to fold beaten egg whites into the batter, gently, gently, just like on the Great British Bake Off, but with more agony in the brow.

All work and no play will make these beaten eggs into fluffy sponge.

Anyway– in the spirit of making *better choices* than I did as a teenager (see: above lewk) all of our January episodes of Choice Words will be on this exact subject! Today we drop a WONDERFUL conversation with Samin Nosrat, of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat fame. I walked away from our interview positively glowing. Samrin has that effect on people.

I would also like to mention that I have joined the Executive team for an Academy Award shortlisted (short) film called Red, White, and Blue –written and directed by a brilliant woman named Nazrin Choudhury. It stars Brittany Snow in a gorgeous and heartfelt performance, and features Mo Collins, and the young Juliet Donenfeld.

It’s about a single mother in Arkansas seeking abortion care, and without saying too much– it’s a beautifully made piece of work, with a gut-wrenching twist that quite literally made me gasp out loud.

Nazrin and her team are hoping the film gets nominated in the short film category, and frankly, I share that hope. In any case, in my opinion, it’s a piece of filmmaking that deserves to be seen, and so, I hope that you will watch, and pass it on.

I know, I know, awards season shouldn’t matter but…le sigh…it does. It can make or break a worthy project, much like people’s opinions can make or break something an artist has poured their heart and soul into. 

Not for nothing, but this Christopher Nolan story is probably one of my worst nightmares? Top ten.

We have dropped our final episode of The Defenders –so you should feel free to binge, if you haven’t already. And don’t forget to like/subscribe, as it helps us determine whether a Season 2 is feasible. From my point of view, we sadly could do hundreds more episodes. It’s feeling more necessary than ever.

And now by way of announcing additional exciting developments…

(DRUM ROLL GOES HERE)

Come see me in conversation with America’s Favorite Gynecologist, Dr. Jen Gunter!

We will be talking alllllll things women’s health at the 92nd Street Y on February 1st! 

Dr. Gunter has written a terrific new book on the subject of menstruation and yes, it is the ultimate companion piece for Margaret and her friends to finally understand their periods for life. 

Readers I am putting out a call. If you have health questions for Dr. Gunter, esp pertaining to menstruation and menopause I would love to hear them! Please slug in the comments. 

I will do my best to ask, and will provide answers after our event. 

Perhaps your question will make it onto the stage? If so, and you are not able to be there– I promise I will write it all down and get you that info.

In short, I hope Dr. Gunter is prepared to give a whole lot of fresh medical advice on that stage, lol. Gird your loins, America’s Gynecologist!

See, I did it all! No swears!

And here are a couple more things that piqued my interest this past week. 

• This podcast episode was one of THE MOST FASCINATING THINGS I HAVE LISTENED TO IN RECENT MEMORY. All caps, all caps, ALL CAPS.

• I have not stopped thinking about this article, about the ethical dilemma of stopping treatment for certain anorexia patients, and the concept of palliative psychiatry.

• And, finally, a mouse was caught on camera regularly tidying up a man’s workshop and I…am just…overcome. 

Xo

Sam