Hitting the wall with as much grace as possible
And: Insecure people are very dangerous, but maybe a really good banh mi sandwich will help?
Hello! How are you?
I hit a wall this week. Or maybe it was “the” wall? I hope not, as I imagine there will be other walls to hit in the future, and I’ll need my strength for those! Regardless, the proverbial wall was hit, and I’m slowly revovering.
It didn’t seem like it was one thing in particular. Maybe it was that when I got so sick a couple of weeks ago, I didn’t give myself the chance to fully recover due to work and social commitments. Maybe it was the 100+ degree temperatures this week. Maybe it’s because I just can’t get over how bad And Just Like That continues to be, yet I feel forced to continue to watch it. Maybe it was the fact that we moved floors in our office at work, and getting used to our new set-up feels weird, or maybe it was just the usual—the state of our country and the world lately continues to escalate in ways that feel like we’re living in an alternate—very bad!—reality.
There’s a line in the 2023 film May December, said towards the end of the movie by Julianne Moore’s (very problematic) character that I think about a lot, especially in our current national situation: “Insecure people are very dangerous, aren’t they?” It’s jarring and a little confusing, coming from her character specifically, and part of what makes that movie so disturbing overall. But it’s very true. There’s no reasoning with people driven by insecurity. Insecure people, when granted too much power, can be dangerous. Insecure people always feel wronged, slighted, overlooked, and if they are running the show, they’ll twist reality to suit their needs, vision and views. They will blatantly lie. Watching an insecure person call the shots is like seeing a car that’s been stripped for parts rusting on someone’s lawn. Even if insecure people are intelligent, their ego will always override logic in favor of trying to soothe their shortcomings. It’s never enough for them. And God help the rest of us.
Speaking of insecure people and unchecked power, I do know what it was that really sent me over the edge: the Friday Supreme Court decisions. I am normally pretty good at following the current state of our politics, as hideous as they are, and keeping an open mind, but this week, I’d had it. Then, on Saturday morning, I realized that the annual NYC Pride Parade was today…but it felt so quiet, so uncelebrated, unlike every past year. The parade ends at my block. In June of past years, my Chelsea neighborhood fills up with revelers early—the LGBTQIA+ community flocks to the neighborhood to start celebrating on June 1st. Not this year.
I knew things had gotten bad when I went to see M3GAN 2.0 yesterday (I am just so smitten with that AI humanoid robot!) The M3GAN movies are the best kind of silly…although the AI as an eventual world-ending endeavor plot line of the sequel did feel eerily prescient. Before the movie, they showed the trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps—and I burst into tears! It was cathartic! I realized that really just want Pedro Pascal/Mr. Fantastic and his team of superheroes to save us all from doom! If you feel the same way, please watch the trailer linked above and have a good cry, you won’t regret it!
There’s nothing like a very pleasant surprise
One of the best ways to get out of a funk is a fond memory—especially one that was unexpected. Back in May, I went to Bánh Anh Em and was completely blown away. When it comes to most Asian food, I am rarely impressed by the new “hot” openings outside of Chinatown, because there are so many great mom and pop spots that are delicious, inexpensive and always good. But this place is special. They bake their own bread and make their own rice noodles. They don’t take reservations, so it’s best to go right when they open to put your name in, or have a plan to get a drink nearby while you wait. I need to go back and try other dishes, like the crispy pork belly bahn mi (which reminds me of Italy’s famous porchetta panino), the pho, and the Bánh Ướt Chồng—a rice roll set that’s served on a tower.
I’d go so far as to say that Báhn Ahn Em was a transcendent experience, not just because of the texture of their chicken liver (perfection) but because Vietnamese food is something I eat often and enjoy, and this really took it to another level. But it’s not about being upscale or expensive. It’s absolutely elevated, but not in terms of price. My meal was under $30, including tip. A great Chinatown bahn mi is about $10-$12; theirs are just under $15. It was completely worth those few extra dollars.
Side dishes
I have just one thing to talk about here today, and that’s the Bezos-Sanchez Venice nuptials. As you know, Venice is close to my heart. I understand its challenges, and I am also a part of the so-called problem, which is that locals have been priced out of the city and that excessive tourism has created an untenable situation. That said, I’m torn. Am I a fan of Jeff Bezos? No, for a few reasons. However, while I wouldn’t go as far as to call myself a “capitalist”, I understand that commerce is what makes the world go round. It’s just the reality. And the local Venice government “bid” for this wedding; there was apparently an RFP process. The event brought money to the city. The mayor was behind it, as were other elected officials. I also heard that many of the protestors were activists from elsewhere, rather than true Venetians.
Did I enjoy seeing several Kardashian-Jenners riding along the Grand Canal in water taxis? Yes. Was it fun to hear about which hotels were for which factions of the wedding party and guests (the Aman was for family and the Gritti was for “partying”; apparently the singles crowd took over the hotel bar)? It totally was! Did I like seeing Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady and Sydney Sweeney walking along the same streets I’ve walked on in the Venice city center so many times? I did. Was it kind of cool to see that the final party—pajama-themed!— took place at the Arsenale, just minutes away from my apartment in Venice? Absolutely!
While billionaires and climate concerns may have been at the center of the rebellion, I did notice something interesting as the wedding festivities unfolded. If you dig into the social media comments—particularly on the Vogue Magazine digital cover of Sanchez-Bezos that was posted on Instagram after the wedding ceremony, many Italians were more offended by the taste level of the festivities. The Italians invented style, and while they are also responsible for Dolce & Gabbana and Cicciolina, they absolutely do not tolerate tackiness—especially not from American upstarts, billionaires or not. Many Italians—and Venetians especially—value old money, and new money is not as impressive to them as it is to so many Americans.
That’s my two cents on this crazy wedding. But also—why do we care so much? Frankly, I’m relieved it’s over!
Have a great Sunday and a great week! There’ll be no Sweet & Sour next week since I’ll be away for the 4th of July holiday. I’m determined to make next week better than this one, and with that in mind, I’m on my way to try what I’ve heard may be the best rotisserie chicken in New York, in Alphabet City. I will report back!
Have a happy 4th! I hope you can find all sorts of ways to celebrate the United States of America, in spite of it all! 🇺🇸
xxMolly
