Reader:
Back when I was a runty little piglet— before I became the physically and emotionally jacked woman that oinks before you now— this book was kicking around my room:
It’s a book of real etiquette lessons disguised in absurdist scenarios. It’s fun, and the drawings are delightful, as you can see. I’m pretty sure it was my father’s when he was a boy— and if so, I can say that, though he grew up to be an interesting and kind-hearted fellow (who reads this newsletter— hi, Father), no one would ever accuse him of being well-behaved, in any sort of traditional sense. But we can’t hold that against Sesyle and Maurice, because some natures are immutable, and his is one such.
Whatever lessons this book does or doesn’t provide, obviously it leaves something to be desired, because this week I am responding to an etiquette query of my very own. How thrilling, to walk the storied path of illustrated primers on good manners! At last, I have arrived. Where? Here. Don’t ask any more questions; that’s bad manners. And I should know.
Dear Sofia,
When life is miserable, what's a short, honest reply that isn't oversharing or creepy when asked how things are going?
-~Awkward in Wisconsin~
Notes:
Here’s the link to On Tyranny, the book I mention above. It’s illustrated by Nora Krug, whom I wish I was; check her out. And good news: the author,
, is on Substack!Navied really is a magician: read his piece about it!
You may have noticed this summer has been kind of hiatus-y over here at You’re Doing Great headquarters. I’d like to be regular, believe me. A regular girl, with regular bowel movements and a regularly updated newsletter? Would that there were some sort of pill! But, because medicine has yet to catch up to my unique problem of Having Other Things To Do, we’re all going to have to wait until summer is over before I can settle into a stable routine of oat bran and advice-giving.
One such Other Thing I will be Doing is spending the better part of August nomadic in France and Italy. I’ll be chronicling these adventures (weddings, weddings! Working! Swimming! Driving? Hiking? Language SNAFUs? Friends?? Lovers?!?) to the best of my ability, for paid subscribers. I know, I know: I promised you that paid subscribers get absolutely no benefits whatsoever! Well, forgive me. I can’t be tamed. I am a highly irregular girl. Anyway, if you’d like in on cheeky little diary entries, please consider subscribing with dollars.
Thanks, as always, for reading! Your likes, comments, and attention are what give me the strength to go on, farting the good fart. <3