June was dust and light.
all about june
In June, I felt like a moth; wings even softer than a butterfly’s; reaching for the light but bound to the night.
To put it plainly: I was down in the dumps. Not quite as poetic, but painfully true. A sorrowful energy followed me like a ghost. I reached out to the honeysuckle, to the robins and swallows, and soon after, my own shadow would take my hand and paint it blue. Yes, there has been stress, maybe even burnout, but I don’t want to carry this heaviness into July. No matter how bad it gets, I want to live in the light.
The weather has been cold here in the North. I’ve watched bookish people online say they miss autumn, while I’ve been out in a summer jacket, a sweater, and still turning pages in the park with blue fingers. The cups of coffee have multiplied, warming me from the inside out. Thankfully, as I write this, we’re promised a little bit of warmth. That’s important, so we Finns can face the long, dark winter again.
But what have I been loving this June? Let me share.
FILMS
Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
A story of Hushpuppy, a young child living in the American South with her father. There are floods and illnesses, and she must find her place in the world. Such a tender film.
Eileen (2023)
I liked the book better. No surprises there.
One from the Heart (1981)
A musical! Set in Las Vegas, a couple separates on their anniversary and tries to find love elsewhere. The visuals are elaborate, and the film feels theatrical. It kept me hooked, though I wouldn’t say it’s a new favorite.
The Future Tense (2022)
Two Irish filmmakers return home from London and reflect on family, life and England. Very slow and thoughtful, just how I like it.
Drive-Away Dolls (2024)
Not a favorite, but made me giggle. A road trip movie where two women drive to Tallahassee, and things go very wrong.
BOOKS
(I read more, but these were the highlights.)
Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
Love the novella, love the film. I’m a simple girl: I can’t resist a found family story. At its heart, the novella is about two men in prison forming a tender bond, trying to overcome cruelty and find joy whenever they can.
The Complaint of Peace by Erasmus
I was surprised! It holds a lot of wisdom. Of course, some parts feel outdated to a modern-day reader, but the core message, that we must prioritize peace, feels as relevant as ever.
Welcome to America by Linda Boström Knausgård
The second of hers I’ve read, and I’ve loved both. She writes in such a unique, crystalline way. I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about her. This novel tells the story of a young girl who has stopped talking, trying to make sense of her family and its unspoken traumas, in what is supposed to be a “happy, happy family.”
FOODS
Carrot cake
Is there anything better than a moist, perfectly spiced slice of carrot cake? I don’t think so. I’ve fallen for one particular version from a bakery in my city. So good, it makes me want to try recreate the recipe.
Fresh strawberries and peaches
I love this season when everything is fresh. You savor every moment; the scent of the fruit, the first bite, juice running down your chin, that sweet, satisfying gulp. Bliss.
Dried peach
I usually snack on dried apricots, which I love, but I tried something new this month. Sunshine Delights makes an amazing dried peach.
MUSIC
I found out in June that there are now bands completely created by AI. That freaked me out a little. I already find it difficult to discover contemporary music I like, and now I feel even more drawn to the good old artists. This contemporary life scares me sometimes.
What I’ve been listening to:
Blue n Boogie – Miles Davis
Pet Sounds – The Beach Boys
Start Walkin’ 1965–1976 – Nancy Sinatra
I Put a Spell on You – Nina Simone
Homecoming – America
I hope July will be warmer and lighter in every way.
Tell me about your June favorites!
<3 Jonna