Greasy turnip people
leave road trippin' to the influencers
This is the Kos newsletter: warm email notes from your friend in Berkeley. Finding the simple joy in parenthood, bodies, spirituality, creativity, and beauty. Sound like your jam? Subscribe below for weekly notes.
Dear friends,
Apologies in advance for missing a couple of weeks. My last note to you on July 12 was a brief update on my super simple move from South Korea to the United States with a few fun links. Ever since leaving Korea I find myself down playing this move—it’s like there’s just so much to say it’s just easier to shrug and be like, “Yep” but it’s weird because if I were to record it anywhere, it would be here.
Moving internationally is overwhelming in itself and then processing it verbally or through written word just feels like one too many cracks. My brain’s not there. Truly, I’m in summer mode with a dash of survival mode as we drive thousands of miles (6,000?) to visit family and friends we haven’t seen in two years (shooshing our boisterous boys all along the way) and stay in anonymous Airbnbs along the way. The reunions have invigorated my heart. Hugging people has felt like gold. Long conversations that ebb from the kitchen, to the deck, to the living room, then to the car as we say goodnight—all everything I fantasized about on lonely days in Seoul.
But all that travel and no-homeness takes a toll so almost two months in I’m feeling a bit…bare. That’s probably due to a lack of schedule. I thrive off like three days max with no schedule and then turn into a greasy turnip person with zero decision making abilities. Or maybe that’s just what vacation is? When deciding what to eat at 4:30 PM is the biggest choice of the day? (Tonight it’s cherry tomatoes, mini cucumbers, nectarines, mediocre bread, and yogurt. And ice cream sandwiches.) I truly sound like the most aimless entitled person on the planet.
Amidst summer roadtripping and weak hotspots, wrestling Nintendo Switches and sibling rivalry, there have been moments of—sorry, this is so cliche—incredible beauty. Four blonde sleepy heads tucked into crisp hotel sheets. Sherbet California sunsets behind backyard pool hangouts with longtime Brooklyn friends. Family chats in line for the Mountain Coaster in Park City. Late, giggly nights at TJ Maxx with my sisters and mom, finding treasures in the rough. Down time with in-laws and cousins in their Denver element. Sandy beach time with forever friends. Reunions in L.A. Whale sightings in Nor Cal. Finding the perfect platform peep toes on The Real Real. All equally meaningful and magnificent.
All of this to say, thank you for being here. If you’re new, welcome. If you’ve been here for awhile, thank you for following along, liking, sharing, and commenting on Kos. It means the world.
Koseli
Fun Links Time! Fun Links Time! We are FUN!
Didn’t learn anything new about Nick from this feature, but still fascinating when Reality stars break through into broader celebrity culture.
R.L. Stine sold 500 million Goosebumps and built a waterpark in his Long Island backyard. Love this.
Delicious smelling detergent at our current Airbnb. (If you can bear this hideous packaging, this stuff smells incredible. A little goes a long way!)
This list of restaurants in New York City made me nostalgic for our Brooklyn days.
Difficult to even read about Alex Jones.
Highly recommend paying for Levels.fyi for anyone job searching in the tech space.
BOOKS
Road trip audiobooks:
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe — a young adult coming of age story. Loved it.
Below Zero by Ali Hazelwood (sexy science)
The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins
These Precious Days by Ann Patchett
Books up next:
The Science of Interstellar. Anyone read it?
Autoboyography
Bittersweet: How sorrow and longing make us whole by Susan Cain (of Quiet fame)
Ministry For the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Matrix by Lauren Goff
If you liked this newsletter, there’s one thing you can do that will help me more than anything: share it. You can share this post now by clicking below. I see and appreciate every like, comment, share, and good vibe. xo Koseli
I miss daily routines too! It’s great to be home and visit family but I also find myself craving for those lonely Seoul days. I love this post, K. It really resonated with me and all the feelings I’m going through this summer.