Swagger Like Us
Paper plane tats, a 'Code Red' swell and more.
I’m not sure I mentioned this, but I got a tattoo a few weeks ago! I probably didn’t mention it because, for a change, I didn’t overthink it…too much.
My brother, who’d been to Paris before, was coming through en route to Corsica where he was joining me on assignment. He’s not a museum guy, so when we were discussing activities for our two days in the capital (in between scheduled meals), he suggested maybe getting a tattoo.
I read the text quickly, skipping over the part where he wrote “wanna get one?” and and immediately replied: “Oh that’s a cool thing to do!” Meaning for him. Because he’s got a bunch already. To which he then goes: “If you’re up for it.”
Oh! Me? Was I?
I’d been talking about getting one for ages. Would this be THE MOMENT? He wanted to get a paper airplane, which, despite not being what I’d originally thought I’d get (a Sanskrit phrase I connect with) it did feel apropos. Aside from liking the simple, linear design, I like what paper airplanes represent: flying, freedom, whimsy. Also: paper! I’m a travel writer, after all. (Props to Mom for pointing out that connection. D’oh!)
And so that’s what I—we—got, and I love it! They’re both a little different, too. His is bigger, and more narrow on his right forearm, while mine is much smaller, and a tad wider in the wings on the back of my right tricep. My sister reminded me that all paper airplanes come out differently, depending on various factors, which made the whole thing even more poetic.
(Holla to the two Lieberman Ladies for such astute observations. This Overthinker clearly had the week off.)
And then we immediately participated in activities that involve the two things you’re supposed to avoid after getting a tattoo: sun and water. But my brother made me feel at ease regarding the healing process by being trés laissez-faire about it. (He did come prepared with Aquafor, though.) I still kept it covered during a handful of hikes, and tried not to get it too wet because I am still Nervous Me, but it felt nice to follow someone else’s lead for a change and trust his process.
Like a paper plane, all I needed was a gentle push. A reminder to soar without reason or logic. What’s the worst that could happen? There’s no crash-and-burn when paper planes inevitably fall to the ground. You just pick ’em up and send ’em out again.
Boom! Now I discovered yet another reason why the tat I didn’t think too much about suits me so well.
Bon week-end, mes amies. xx — Sara
Clickable
“America has no chill.” Let’s mute it. | Gawker
Ants in Italy and learning to love the “oops” moments of travel. | The Kitchn
Hulu’s The Bear is so triggering restaurant folk can’t watch. | Bon Appetit
Regina Spektor is back! | Bustle
Oh look, it’s my side hustle, Caveday, getting recognition! | The NY Times
Cancel culture has reached a fever pitch among the teens. | The Cut
Algeria’s Tassili N’Ajjer National Park is a wonder. | Lonely Planet
We should all be animals for a time being. | Medium
Why you should watch a film about a couple who loved Volcanos. The Atlantic
Watchable
If you’ve never surfed, but wondered what’s like to ride the barrel of a wave (and get knocked over and under by one), this unedited cut of a surfer experiencing the historic “Code Red” on Maui this week puts you right in the action.
Currently Overthinking…
…how many hours is too many hours to leave the A/C running…
Souvenir: MTV’s ‘Singled Out’
I’ve been watching The Challenge: All Stars because a friend/former co-worker is a cast member, which got me thinkin’ about old-school MTV reality shows, which got me thinkin’ of Singled Out with co-host Jenny McCarthy! Remember how they’d group 50 men and 50 women and then whittle them down based on this or that type of Qs (see: “Join the circus” vs. “Buy the Circus”), followed by asking them to do certain things like signing their names or making a weird noise. It was all pretty cringe-inducing, but clearly for show aka not “reality.” Guess things haven’t changed all that much!
Don’t forget: Sponsoring a souvenir is a perk of being a paid subscriber.
love the tats!