to France,

Tonight Chris and I rushed up to the city so we could see Midnight in Paris at the Castro Theatre. We snacked on cheese and crackers while the organist played before the movie. Then after 90-ish minutes of seeing Paris at its “most beautiful,” we waited at the crème brulee food truck (what a lucky, perfect, post-movie treat) and talked about when we will go see you together. It has been far too long for me, and it hasn’t been long for Chris, he just misses you. I think we will love being with you together. See you soon,

- petits bonheurs

Ms. Franklin,

I cannot get enough of you and Sister Knight this week. 70s Soul - to borrow a phrase - I'd rather live in that world, than live without it in mine.

britt

Signor Vivaldi,

this is a picture of Lizzy that I stole from Facebook. She is incredibly talented, and I love her.

Last night I went to a Baroque concert at the Conservatory of Music that my friend Lizzy was in. Sure I was also memorizing Torts case names (the flashcards are small - it wasn't disruptive) but I wasn't in the library and the company was excellent. And as I listened to one of your Sonatas, I realized I had forgotten how much I like doing stuff. So thanks for reminding me about life outside of law school. There's 33 days left in my first semester, and my first final is on Friday. I think now I can go back to doing nothing but school for 33 days, but that was a really wonderful break. Thanks.

britt

Hey Dad,

(listen to the whole song, obviously, but omg. check out this guy's mustache @0:18.)
At the beginning of the semester, I realized that law school would take over my entire life if I let it. And there are people (Kelsey) who would argue that it has - but I did set goals that help me maintain a little balance. One of those goals is to attend at least one "briefing" a week. The law school has incredible student organizations that put together unbelievable guest lectures, debates, presentations, and discussions. For example: two weeks ago I heard Kamala Harris who just got elected California's Attorney General. Last week there was a symposium on Cy Pres. This week Sister Prejean came to the main campus.

Every year our Jewish Law Society invites a Holocaust survivor to speak to the law school. This year they brought Ben Stern, a Polish Jew who survived eight concentration camps. He said he feels an urgency to tell his story because eventually his generation, the people who survived, won't be around to tell their stories. He believes (and I agree with him) that there is something different about watching a movie or reading a book, and having a physical person look you in the eye, show you the tattoo on his arm, and explain what it meant to have that in Poland in 1943. He says he carries that history and the weight of those memories with him in a way that literature and film and museums cannot. When he described being separated from his parents and eight brothers and sisters, I understood what he meant. He said there wasn't time for tears. Standing in huge lines of people, his brothers were forced to go one direction, and he went the other. He didn't know it at the time, but that was the last time they were a family.

At the end of his story, he said he felt especially compelled to talk to us because we are the ones entrusted with maintaining humanity in the law; we should know what can happen when capable people neglect their responsibility to protect the vulnerable and voiceless.

Mr. Stern has been my favorite briefing so far because it was such a unique and intimate opportunity. And I don't think I would have gone if you hadn't made this history important to me. Thanks for taking me to the symphony where they played the theme song from Schindler's List. Thanks for taking me to the Holocaust Museum in DC. Thanks for sending me to Germany where I could visit concentration camps. Those early experiences taught me many things, but one of them is the importance of compassion and justice in the law. I think they'll make me a better person and hopefully a better attorney.

I'm excited to see you in a few weeks. Love you,
britt

whit {4} -

School is kind of stressful right now (we're starting to piece together our outlines for each class) and so all my music is very anti-stress. like sufjan. Page gave me this song in fall 2008, and I've loved it ever sense.

Three awesome blogs... Go.

whit

• swissmiss – she was one of the first bloggers I started reading, I love design, and she has incredible taste in everything.
• 1001 rules for my unborn son – he doesn’t post that often, they’re small posts - a combo of music, pictures, quotes, and truisms - and I like what he has to say.
• Matt Clayton – he doesn’t post that often, only one or two shots, and I like his styling.

britt

Whit -

Whit tagged me. It's raining in San Francisco today - in part for the Giants, in part so I can listen to this song.

If you had to choose between being an awful speller or awful at math, which would you choose and why?

whit

I would be awful at math. Because my future career = being good with words. After that last sentence, I may never need to use an equal sign again.

britt

to the Pacific Ocean,

I don’t do many interesting things during the week. I study a lot. I guess I read interesting things, but that’s different. To battle my debilitating study schedule, I promised myself that once a week I would go out to dinner, meet a friend for lunch/dessert, and do one thing that I reminds me I live in San Francisco. This week we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin. We listened to this on the way back into the city… “I got left by a girl that I adore.”

I spent a few minutes looking out over you tonight. I understood that I can’t see past the horizon right now, but I know something’s out there. And I think it might be awesome.

britt

Dear E,

To be clear, E is the lead singer of the Eels. E = what they call him. E ≠ the mysterious first initial for the ruggedly handsome man who sings me to sleep at night. I’m still holding auditions for that role.

Last week, after twenty-seven days on an air mattress, I bought a real bed. This bed is, forgive the presumption, the most comfortable bed in the world. I don’t really want to get into the details but this is irrefutable fact. Still, as incredible as the mattress is, falling asleep wouldn’t be the same without you. There is something lovely and irreplaceable about a lullaby.

britt

Jolene,

You and I met on a mix from my 23rd birthday, and I thought of you (maybe) half a dozen times since then. Although it's probably inconsequential to you, you had a commanding presence on my iPod this week. Dolly, White Stripes, Mindy, Olivia, you name it. See, years of reinforcement taught my body to believe that the path to a sparkling GPA is paved with a disturbing lack of food or sleep, so one of my goals for law school has been to eat a balanced diet and go to bed at a reasonable hour. For the first two weeks, I think I did a great job of taking care of myself, but Holy Toledo I have the worst heartburn. I’ve been taking Prilosec like a pockmarked adolescent takes Accutane. Despite my best efforts, the smoldering pain in my chest persists. What do you have to do with that? More than I’d like to admit.

You don't know what he means to me, Jolene.
britt

Nielsen's Grove Park,

Andy's band opened for Midsummer Night's Dream, which I hadn't seen since high school (miss you, Jesse and Kelli). Whit, here's a link to the Grassroots Shakespeare page, and here is the band.

It wasn't necessarily a conscious belief, but after four years, I was pretty sure that I had discovered everything of value in Provo. I didn't think I had "seen it all," I just figured what I was missing wasn't worth seeing. But this weekend Katie and I came to see you for a concert and A Midsummer Night's Dream and from the moment we met, I understood that even the most familiar places can have heartbreakingly hidden potential. I made an effort to see you every day after that because at first, swinging on the swings, smelling the flowers, watching the sunset, just being with you felt like an incredibly pleasant surprise. Now, to be honest, I feel a little robbed. Why didn't we meet sooner? And what else am I missing out on?

britt

Dear Dad,

picture from Marin. me + Kim's hat + the Shenandoah.

This weekend I hiked through the Blue Ridge Mountains to a lookout point over the Shenandoah River, and I thought of you. Not because you’re such a redneck, but because one time when we were all little and all staying in those two back bedrooms (I think it was me and Spencer in the one room and Sam and Steve in the other), you sat in the hall with the guitar and sang to us while we fell asleep. Other than “Jailbreak,” the only song I can remember you ever playing was that John Denver song. Anyway, I looked out over West Virginia and hummed “take me home, country roads, to the place I belong...” My eyes welled up with tears, my throat got all scratchy, and I was so glad that you’re my dad.

love,
britt

Patrick -

picture from when I turned 22. and this is the only picture I have of Patrick and Janet. so this is Devin, Kevin, me, Scott, Patrick, and Janet.

I’ve never met anyone who could make a mix like you. Yesterday (my first day back in our hometown) I got in the Camry to drive up to Rexburg, and sitting in the CD player was a mix that you made me back in 2008. Beat It, the Bravery, “I’ll give you my jacket, I’ll give you my heart” – it was amazing, and I love you for it. I hope you and Janet got my postcard a few weeks ago, and I hope I see you both soon.

britt

Dear Lauren, Alicia, and Beyonce -

This week is my last week in the Barlow Center... I spent the last few days being sad about a lot of things. I'm sad about leaving Good Stuff Eatery. I don't want to say goodbye to these people. Every morning at 3:30 I've thought to myself, "why didn't you start this 20 page research paper/12 entry portfolio/service paper/reading reponse sooner?" Packing my suitcases to move away made me die inside. I can't handle being a college graduate. And, then, you know, sometimes we're just sad about stuff. But in addition to all of that, all week you made me lament being white.





yeah, I know, I got no soul. But I love you.

britt

Monday,

All I want is one more Saturday.

britt

Dear Hilary and Scott,

Summer 2008

Have you heard that Simon & Garfunkle song, "The Only Living Boy in New York"? I have absolutely no idea what that song is about. But my favorite part is, "Half of the time we're gone, but we don't know where - we don't know where." Anyway, that's kind of what it feels like right now. Like I've been staring off into the distance a lot lately, you know? The weekend was totally packed (most recently with the US Hockey game and last-minute visiting/home teaching), and I'm busy all the time with school and work, and it's more fun generally than it used to be. But I miss being with you guys because I always felt grounded. You took such good care of me, and I knew you loved me even when I was boring, tired, and sad. I miss you a lot, and I can’t wait to see you again.

britt

Dear Alice Ripley,

picture from Craig, who I love.

I wanted to thank you for your show on Saturday night. My boyfriend flew out from Utah, and (pursuant to a suggestion from a trusted friend) we came to see you. I get why you won the Tony; I have never been so moved by a performance. I wept through the most of the second act. I mean, Next to Normal has an incredible plot and score, and the staging and lyrics are brilliant, but I wanted to thank you for making Diana’s feelings intensely personal. You reached me with the way you portrayed her experiences with motherhood, marriage, loss, love, guilt, fear, joy, pain, desperation. And when you remembered losing your son, I cried, Cary put his arm around me, and I could not have felt more alive. It felt incredible. Exactly how theater should feel.

Thank you,
britt

Darling James Russell Mercer,

(photo by ree)

Now, James, I don't know you. Still, when my friend Caitlin introduced me to the Garden State soundtrack, I knew I would love you forever. But I'm writing you about Turn On Me. (which, I'm sad to say I didn't discover on my own; Ben helped me with that). Anyway, tonight on the 12,000th playing, I finally appreciated the last line, "The worst part is over, now get back on that horse and ride." I needed that.

You are the best,

britt

to the sun -

I got up at 5:00 this morning. Three and a half hours later when you finally showed up I started singing of one of my favorite songs. Maybe it is preemptive, but I can’t help but feel that when Winter Solstice is over (as of 5:47 yesterday!) spring is coming, and then it’s summer – I am absurdly excited for this summer. The last few days have had a few rough patches, but I feel better just knowing that I’ll be seeing more of you soon. I feel that ice is slowing melting, if you know what I mean.

Love,

britt

details of holding on

Not to be melodramatic, but last night it was 2:30 in the morning, and I was upset. I feel a teeny bit overwhelmed right now. So I simultaneously listened to this song 25 million times, cried a lot, and wrote a paper about Tina Fey's impact on the McCain-Palin campaign. I have issues. Oh, but the good news: no matter how impossible things seem, there is still Glee in the world.

wordless details

let yourself feel. from Esteban Diácono on Vimeo.

Amazing animation by Esteban Diacono, and how much do we absolutely adore the title, "Let Yourself Feel"? The music is by Olafur Arnalds. Obviously, the English major loves pretty words, and I have a soft spot for ingenious lyrics, but 9 out of my top 25 most played on iTunes are instrumental songs:

• Theme from Schindler's List - John Williams
• Stella's Theme - William Joseph
  
• Remember - from You've Got Mail
  
• The Secret Life of Daydreams - from Pride and Prejudice
  
• Sabrina Remembers/La Vie en Rose - from Sabrina
  
• Nocturne in C# Minor - Chopin
  
• Grant Me an Interview- from Sense and Sensibility
• Dawn - still Pride and Prejudice
  
• Stars and Butterflies - also from Pride and Prejudice
  

{via my favorite blog: swissmiss}