I love awards shows, despite their inherent and inevitable flaws, and I always try to watch as many Oscar-nominated movies as I can before the actual ceremony, which I always watch with bubbly and fancy snacks. I’ve got a lot to catch up on, but I’ve seen some of the magnificent ones. Killers of the Flower Moon!! The Color Purple!! Rustin!! Maestro!! Barbie!! Nyad!! So much talent, hard work, heart! Challenging topics – racism, homophobia, patriarchy, ambition …

I love the Oscars because people who work below the line get honored. One year I was a plus-one at the Nominees Luncheon and sat next to the wife of a first-time nominee. She was so thrilled that he was nominated – and he won! I was there because I’d worked on a nominated film, which also won in a couple of categories that year. (I wasn’t a nominee, but I was ecstatic for my colleagues who were.)

I’m currently reading Perma Red by Debra Magpie Earling, who I’ll be workshopping with this August at the Elk River Writers Workshop. Her work is magnificent and I’m sure I’ll learn a lot from her. My TBR pile is sky-high and teetering and most likely will remain so until after awards season …