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Night Notes / London Edition
By Stephanie Kemp







June 15, 2023Dream:

I was invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. (There was a tiny legal snafu in the first one, they had to re-do it.)

I was told, “No jeans, but you might be asked to make a toast.”  (They were trying to be less formal this time, and had carved out time for some regular people to speak. Especially Californians from Michigan who wish they were French. Plus, I am a minister.)

The wedding was beautiful and everyone (every single person - even Meghan and Harry, who were on Zoom) was really nice. When it was my turn to make a toast, I raised my glass and said:

“To the Royal Families. Especially mine, the OKCs and the Joneses. But only the real ones. No idiots or idioms allowed.”


(I would say I need more sleep, but…do I? Maybe I just can’t wait for my daughter to come back from London with the O’Caseys and then go for a walk with my friend, Tegan Jones.)


June 16, 2023
Dream:

I got to go to London and stay with the Pearly Kings and Queens. We had a blast. I could wear whatever I wanted and chose a dress on purpose.


June 17, 2023
Dream:

There was an ice cream truck that had shooters in it, joy riding. They were driving around trying to find people to kill. Music Box Dancer was playing on loop from the truck as it made its way around town. Kids rushed the truck when they heard the familiar sound of the pingy music and because it was the first day of summer.  We were at the Yosemite pool when I asked the girls if they wanted ice cream.

I can’t write anymore about it. 

This was obviously an American dream.


June 18, 2023
I clearly just need more structure. How about this:

Monday
Correspondence Day and Dinner. 
Emails, reach out, send stuff.
I cook dinner, as I am the correspondent on Mondays.
(And I miss cooking.)
Walk.

Tuesday
Library or café day. Get out of the house.
Research or write. 3 hours min.
Walk or swim.
Captain Delicious or Dinner Diff.

Wednesday
Library or somewhere new day. See new faces. Spy.  
Research or write. 3 hours min.
Walk or swim.
Captain Delicious or Dinner Diff.

Thursday
Library or write at a park day. Breathe and look up.
Take breaks on a tapestry under a tree.
Write. 3 hours min.
Walk or swim.
Captain Delicious or Farmer’s Market.

Friday
Motherfucking fun / do what ever you want day.
Be outside.

Saturday - Sunday
Remember what weekends are.
See (your) people (and/or tons of total strangers).


June 19, 2023
Crying Down the Mountain/The Other Peter
Father’s Day and Fathers’ Day
We Come In Alone and Go Out Alone (is not sad, so please don’t try to convince me otherwise)
Write about all of these things.

And then go the airport and hug your kid. She will be forever changed*, just so you know.  Be ready. But don’t be scared.

*I know this because she says things like brilliant! now and drinks bellinis. (She also explained to me what a Baby Guinness** was, laughing that she was now explaining a cocktail, to me...)

** 2 ounces of Kahlua topped with 1/2 ounce of Bailey’s poured over the back of a spoon to make it look like an adorable tiny beer, served in a shot glass.

(I’ll stick with real Guinness. And by real Guinness I mean wine. But I will drink Bellinis with her.)