Idag höll jag min tredje novellfika i Uppsala, och det var en särskild fika eftersom några vänner från Stockholm var med. Så vi hade både nya och gamla kompisar i diskussionen. Efter fikan gick några av oss hem till mig för lunch och lite mer prat.
Fox 8 by George Saunders
Today’s story was Fox 8 by George Saunders, and this one really left an impression. It was written in such a humorous and lighthearted way from the point of view of Fox 8, and that childlike naivete makes the increasingly dark events especially jarring. It’s like reading an innocent creature who doesn’t understand why all these bad things are happening trying to make sense of the world, and assuming the best but experiencing the worst.
It reminded me of when Rigel was sick as a kitten - I kept having to drag him to the hospital and leave him there, and he was being put through multiple daily procedures to try to save him. He had no idea what was going on, only that all these scary things kept happening as he was being repeatedly left behind by the person who was meant to take care of him.
I already know this story will stick with me for a long time.
Afterwards a few of us went back to my place for lunch. I can’t wait until my larger sofa gets here for even more comfortable seating.
Making new friends and keeping up with old ones
Last night I went to dinner at a friend’s house. It was really nice, and she’s such a great person. It was in a beautiful part of the city right near Uppsala domkyrka, and as I walked home through the cozy streets I reflected on my socialization choices.
I’ve been practicing becoming a bit more social for a couple of years now, after realizing human connection is actually kind of important. I think I’ve always been pretty good at ‘faking it’. People tend to think I’m an extrovert when they talk to me. But socializing has always been quite tiring. And I haven’t been great at keeping in touch with people. I wanted to actually want to be around people a little bit more and get better at maintaining ties with old friends.
It’s definitely gotten easier with practice, and I’ve made much stronger and more genuine friendships. I still need to recharge at home after socializing, and don’t feel like I need/want a huge social circle to keep up with. But it’s been really nice to develop just a few closer connections. I’m fortunate to have gotten to meet some genuinely interesting, fun, thoughtful, and kind people in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and now Uppsala.