Around & About
Here are a few things we’ve recently come across that we think you might enjoy
Around: encircling … adjacent … related … relevant … similar …
About: near … meaning … engaged in …
Since we started publishing Belle Curve Stories, we have become extra tuned in to stories and resources that are similar or adjacent to what we’re doing. This week we’re pausing our “In Her Words” series to share with you some of our favorites from other publishers, taking a quick “look back” at what we’ve brought to you so far, and previewing what’s to come.
Looking Back
Do you love mother-daughter stories? In May we published a 4-week “Snapshot” series where we asked mothers and daughters to reflect on what they’ve learned from one another. We shared a photo of each set along with their responses. In case you missed the series or want to be able to find it again easily, we gathered our mother-daughter snapshots in an Album.
Moving About
It’s summer, and summer makes us think of travel and vacations. Does the image below make you want to go to Paris? If you think the next best thing to traveling is reading about travel or hearing someone else’s travel story, read what Kim Druker Stockwell of the Women’s Survival Guide says about what it’s like to sorta be on vacation in the City of Light with her daughter. She says she feels like she is Alone In Paris… Kinda. Then again, it also sounds like they’ve had some sweet moments.
Speaking of travel and Snapshots … After working for many years as an executive for major media conglomerates and finding herself at a crossroads, Marcella Regniault decided to set out on an epic adventure. As you read this, Marcella is just wrapping up her second Camino de Santiago, this time via Portugal. Look for her story in next week’s edition of Belle Curve Stories.
For those of you who are new here, every Thursday since March 21 we have published profiles of women who are living their lives with “grit, grace, and growth.” Our Belle Curve Storytellers are using their accumulated experience and expertise to find their own meaning and purpose and craft their own life stories. We are thrilled to share each of these stories “In Her Words” and will resume the series on June 13. Meanwhile, you can find stories from previous weeks in Belle Curve Stories on Substack.
Looking Around
Along similar but slightly different lines, Henry Oliver of The Common Reader has written a book called Second Act, which is due to come out in September. Henry explores How to Be A Late Bloomer, a topic that is near and dear to our hearts. Also, Henry’s wife Catherine, who writes How We Homeschool, wrote the sweetest review wrapped in a love letter, which is worth reading for its own merits.
Sandra Ditore, Belle Curve Stories co-founder, was inspired to reminisce about her own childhood summers after reading This is 56: Author and Writing Instructor Jeannine Ouellette Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire. She loved how Jeannine described her experience of friendship as a nine-year-old. “I could totally relate,” says Sandra. Although Jeannine hadn’t had close friends for much of her life, she talks about settling into a group of like-minded women —her tribe — as an adult. As Jeannine described being on her own without the support of family and close friends, Sandra felt a profound sense of gratitude for the strong family bonds and deep, long-lasting friendships she has been fortunate to have through the ups and downs of life.
FRIENDLY REMINDER: Last but not least … if you’re getting ready to go on your own summer adventures, don’t forget the sunblock. Here are 7 Important Facts About the Sun and Skin Cancer from Sheryl Kraft of The Pause Newsletter.
Thanks for reading. Til next time!
— Teresa Bellock & Sandra Ditore
