Sundays

It's ok

Sen (after the witch, Yubaba, steals her real name, Chihiro, and gives her a job in the bathhouse) taking a break; Still from Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away

Today, we are exactly one year out from the November 2024 presidential election—three-hundred and sixty-five days or (for all of you Rent fans out there) 525,600 minutes. There’s so much to do, there’s so much at stake, that this time will undoubtedly pass in what feels like the blink of an eye.

But a lot can get accomplished in twelve months even if, and I would say especially if, we pay attention to our needs for connection, fun, joy, rest, and meaning. We’re not going to do ourselves, anybody else, or our ability to fight for democracy any favors if we burn out before we get to the finish line. (And, yes, I will be beating this drum from time to time.)

Perhaps counter-intuitively, it’s because we’re so close to the election that I think we need to take breaks—real breaks, not working-on-your-computer-while-the-movie-is-playing-in-the-background or taking calls from the office when you’re supposed to be on vacation.

And we need to give ourselves a break, too. The bad news this past month has been particularly unremitting and it has to be OK to turn away for a bit.

So, tonight, as soon as it gets dark (which, thanks to the absurdity of ending Daylight Saving Time, will be at 4:47 p.m.), I’m going to put away the internet, hide my phone, and watch Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki’s masterwork, Spirited Away (2001)—again.(I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve already seen it).

The bathhouse; Still from Spirited Away

Spirited Away is about a young girl, Chihiro, who is trying to hold on to her identity while at the same time beginning to forge her sense of who she is. The fabulous Suzanne Pleshette voices the Yubaba, the unscrupulous and avaricious proprietor of the bathhouse, as well as her identical twin sister, Zeniba.

Both are witches, but Yubaba steals Chihiro’s name, calling her “Sen” instead, and gives her a difficult job in a place awash with spirits and obsequious frogs. Zeniba, who lives a long train-ride away from the bathhouse, helps Sen and No Face, a masked spirit whom Sen befriends, at a crucial point in their adventure.

Sen, No Face, and their lantern guide; Still from Spirited Away

Spirited Away is mysterious, compelling, and one of the most visually stunning films I’ve ever seen.

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For those of you wondering, I rarely take my own advice. But as soon as I post this, I’m going to spend the next 4 minutes and 39 seconds listening to one of the most beautiful songs ever written. (And then I’m going to watch the movie!)

Born in 1300, Guillaume de Machaut was perhaps the most famous, and one of the greatest composers of secular music in the late medieval period. Influential in his time (as a poet as well as a composer), we are extremely lucky that so much of his music has survived.

“Rose, Liz, Printemps, Verdure” is my favorite of de Macahut’s songs and out of the many versions I’ve heard, this by Gothic Voices is far and away the best.