Journal 55 Newark, Senior Phone Calls, The Karamazov Brothers

Hello! Happy Mother’s Day!

Things have been crazy. The nearby city of Newark has had a tough few weeks. The airport broke. Twice. Then the mayor got arrested. What is going on in New Jersey?

On the home front, it was a very senior-heavy past couple of days. They came from every direction. So many needs... So many wants... so much talking. I am very tired. But I have a senior tip, for those times when you are overwhelmed. My seniors love to be on the phone. So whenever I need to call some company, I give them this job. They can wait on hold, and when someone picks up their call, they can talk and talk and talk and release so much senior energy. After a good wearing out of some poor person, they are so much calmer. But the trick is not getting sucked into the conversation by them or else it is all for naught.

After The Lord of the Rings, I tried several other fantasy books but nothing stuck. To reground myself, I needed something solid, so I am reading The Karamazov Brothers. I tried to read this book before, a free translated English version, but it required too much concentration.

The English translation I am reading now is by Ignat Avsey. I wanted the physical version, but just ended up buying the digital for now. I highly recommend this translation. It reads just like normal English, not like Russian literature. The content is at times extremely rattling. I actually needed to take a break. At other times though, it feels like a soap opera.

Thank you so much for reading. It’s always a pleasure to unwind with you!

Asya