Hi, all, and happy Mother’s Day to anyone who celebrates it. I’m also sending big hugs to anyone who finds this day, for any reason, bittersweet or even flat-out tough. I know that feeling, and I’m thinking of you, today, too. For Mother’s Day—and because it’s Sunday, and because you all work so hard and deserve it—here’s a list of everything that went well this week. It may be a bit longer than usual—consider that my extra gift to you!
I read recently that the Brits call it “Mothering Day” which seems so appropriate and all inclusive. I love gathering in all the true and adopted aunties, the beloved neighbors, the dedicated teachers. It takes a village.
May 14, 2023·edited May 14, 2023Liked by Jessica Craven
Always appreciate these weekly doses of good news! If I may add one more—the students at New College have a go fund me to hold an alternate commencement after the fuhrer of Florida assigned Scott Atlas to be their official speaker. They have exceeded their original goal and have increased it! https://gofund.me/9d4f0ee4
SERIOUSLY!!! You have ties to my all-time favorite musical artist Harry Chapin? Well, Jessica, that explains EVERYTHING! Now I know why I love you so much!! Here's 20,000 lbs of bananas worth of love and gratitude for ya!!
I came to say the same thing! My first ever concert was Harry Chapin and I have loved him ever since. And I now have another reason to love Jessica! What a crazy small world. ❤️
My first concert too, Harry Chapin, back in the 1970s, it was at Brandeis University and I was in High School nearby. Harry Chapin Live was one of my favorite albums growing up. Then when I had my kids in the 1990s, Tom Chapin was our favorite, so many wonderful songs. Family Tree, The Cousins are Coming! etc. So many wonderful songs and I loved the songs as much as the kids did. In the spring of 2019 I went to see Tom and the Chapin Sisters in NYC. They spoke often about their sister in LA and the work she was doing and how they missed her. I wondered about her. Then realized awhile ago that you were that sister and I was so happy to know of that connection and finally know about that third sister they'd spoken about so lovingly.
thank you Jessica,I ,hope your mothers day was incredible & beautiful,,I bought some flowers for mom they have held court on the dining room table in a house with 3 guys quite well,,,,and thank you for that Tom Chapin video clip. Outstanding,. when I was working at Syracuse university,,,the print -copier their and I became good friends he has a son with learning disabilities but he got so excited when he talked about Tom Chapin performing for a room full of young children. and how incredible he was with everyone.:) best
“The Chapin Sisters are an American folk rock and harmony duo from Brooklyn, New York. The band consists of sisters Abigail and Lily Chapin, and formerly their half-sister Jessica Craven. Their sound blurs the lines between old-time Appalachian music, classic country-rock and pop.[1]”
"When the work that women do for peace, shall set all people free,!" That's you, Jessica Craven. Your step dad is singing about you! Thank you and Happy Mother's day.
I love your weekly roundup of good news.. it gives me hope which is sometimes hard to find(a great song lyric btw).... speaking of, I had forgotten (or never knew) that Tom Chapin is your stepfather. I have been a fan of his music for decades. My children grew up on him and I have shared his songs with generations of children in my library story times.
It's a remarkably small world Jessica. Probably some time in 1976/77, Tom worked at a place called Amazingrace in Evanston, IL that I was privileged to be part of. He put on an excellent show and was a real pleasure to work with.
Thank you thank you thank you for this. It must take a massive chunk of time to compile all this positive news, but it's a wonderful antidote to the "everything is terrible" onslaught. I'm truly grateful!
Late to the comments because I took the day off yesterday - read almost nothing and enjoyed walking the dog, napping and knitting, in between talking to my daughters.
But I had to come and say thank you for posting the NBC piece on Minnesota. Grateful beyond words to live here and witness what strong policymaking can do to improve lives.
I’ve spent my life working to protect this planet, particularly the climate. Passing the 100% renewable energy standard this year was the pinnacle. There is still much work to do but we have made significant progress! Just have to keep working to convince our neighbors of all the bennies of a progressive agenda and show them it works! Thank you and happy Mother’s Day to you.
Yes it’s really exciting to see all of that, and I hear there’s a paid family leave policy in the offing as well? Anyway. Glad you took the day off and happy Mother’s Day!
That opening all-mothers is especially nice this year, after our primary congressional troll publicly attacked so many of us. Raising a child is so much more than giving birth.
Thank you for all the good news! It's a wonderful gift for today. This year I'm finally doing the day off for myself, and that includes not spending any time on my biological mother other than a 20 second text to a sister to briefly check in, and ignoring the usual tasks and chores waiting lol...
I read recently that the Brits call it “Mothering Day” which seems so appropriate and all inclusive. I love gathering in all the true and adopted aunties, the beloved neighbors, the dedicated teachers. It takes a village.
That is all inclusive, I love it.
Indeed it does!
Always appreciate these weekly doses of good news! If I may add one more—the students at New College have a go fund me to hold an alternate commencement after the fuhrer of Florida assigned Scott Atlas to be their official speaker. They have exceeded their original goal and have increased it! https://gofund.me/9d4f0ee4
Oh I love this! Fantastic! Thank you for sharing!
Absolutely! Thanks for giving this a platform too!
Thanks for the good news! I wish the mainstream press or at least the Newshour would cover some of these stories.
Until they do you’ve got me! 😊
Right on, Jess!
I agree, at least the news hour. Thank you Jessica!
SERIOUSLY!!! You have ties to my all-time favorite musical artist Harry Chapin? Well, Jessica, that explains EVERYTHING! Now I know why I love you so much!! Here's 20,000 lbs of bananas worth of love and gratitude for ya!!
I believe it was THIRTY thousand pounds...😉 And thank you!
It WAS 30,000, but it was a few years ago, and I LOVE bananas, so.......!!!
Yes..."30.000 pounds...of mashed bananas!"
Right on!
I came to say the same thing! My first ever concert was Harry Chapin and I have loved him ever since. And I now have another reason to love Jessica! What a crazy small world. ❤️
He was a force.
My first concert too, Harry Chapin, back in the 1970s, it was at Brandeis University and I was in High School nearby. Harry Chapin Live was one of my favorite albums growing up. Then when I had my kids in the 1990s, Tom Chapin was our favorite, so many wonderful songs. Family Tree, The Cousins are Coming! etc. So many wonderful songs and I loved the songs as much as the kids did. In the spring of 2019 I went to see Tom and the Chapin Sisters in NYC. They spoke often about their sister in LA and the work she was doing and how they missed her. I wondered about her. Then realized awhile ago that you were that sister and I was so happy to know of that connection and finally know about that third sister they'd spoken about so lovingly.
Wow that’s incredible. That’s for sharing that!
thank you Jessica,I ,hope your mothers day was incredible & beautiful,,I bought some flowers for mom they have held court on the dining room table in a house with 3 guys quite well,,,,and thank you for that Tom Chapin video clip. Outstanding,. when I was working at Syracuse university,,,the print -copier their and I became good friends he has a son with learning disabilities but he got so excited when he talked about Tom Chapin performing for a room full of young children. and how incredible he was with everyone.:) best
How cool is this !!!!⬇️
“The Chapin Sisters are an American folk rock and harmony duo from Brooklyn, New York. The band consists of sisters Abigail and Lily Chapin, and formerly their half-sister Jessica Craven. Their sound blurs the lines between old-time Appalachian music, classic country-rock and pop.[1]”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapin_Sisters
💙Harry Chaplin. Saw him many moons ago in my home state(Rhode Island) where he did many concerts.
Yes, your column today gave me some much needed hope. Thank you for “mothering” us with happy news!
Any time!
Seriously the best thing on the interwebz...may the work of women end war for all indeed.
And as a liberal in OH...may that lawsuit work
Yeah or we will just have to win in August. I’m strangely confident that we can.
"When the work that women do for peace, shall set all people free,!" That's you, Jessica Craven. Your step dad is singing about you! Thank you and Happy Mother's day.
🥲
Outstanding newsletter today, Jess - you just keep hitting it out of the park.
Aw, thank you, Susan. I mean, the news is very good in many ways. It’s just east to let the bad obscure it.
I love your weekly roundup of good news.. it gives me hope which is sometimes hard to find(a great song lyric btw).... speaking of, I had forgotten (or never knew) that Tom Chapin is your stepfather. I have been a fan of his music for decades. My children grew up on him and I have shared his songs with generations of children in my library story times.
My kid grew up on him too! And I grew up singing on those kids records! Funny small world.
That’s so great that you were on those records. We heard you then and we hear you now!
Agreed... Jessica, Your voice (in words on Chop Wood, Carry Water) is still making itself heard!
It's a remarkably small world Jessica. Probably some time in 1976/77, Tom worked at a place called Amazingrace in Evanston, IL that I was privileged to be part of. He put on an excellent show and was a real pleasure to work with.
Wow small world indeed! And about ten years later I’d go to college in Evanston!
You went to NU? Or Kendall? Either way, that's amazing.
Northwestern.
Me too, Ed (now SESP) '72.
I appreciate the roundup of good news. I may never have heard of most of this otherwise.
Yeah it’s astonishing how little amplification it gets. This Sunday newsletter is my effort to change that.
Thank you thank you thank you for this. It must take a massive chunk of time to compile all this positive news, but it's a wonderful antidote to the "everything is terrible" onslaught. I'm truly grateful!
It’s seriously a pleasure. You’re so welcome.
Late to the comments because I took the day off yesterday - read almost nothing and enjoyed walking the dog, napping and knitting, in between talking to my daughters.
But I had to come and say thank you for posting the NBC piece on Minnesota. Grateful beyond words to live here and witness what strong policymaking can do to improve lives.
I’ve spent my life working to protect this planet, particularly the climate. Passing the 100% renewable energy standard this year was the pinnacle. There is still much work to do but we have made significant progress! Just have to keep working to convince our neighbors of all the bennies of a progressive agenda and show them it works! Thank you and happy Mother’s Day to you.
Yes it’s really exciting to see all of that, and I hear there’s a paid family leave policy in the offing as well? Anyway. Glad you took the day off and happy Mother’s Day!
Thank you so much for all the hard work you do to bring us all this news. I especially appreciate the good news editions. 💜💜🙌🙏
I’m so glad, and thank you for being part of our team!
That opening all-mothers is especially nice this year, after our primary congressional troll publicly attacked so many of us. Raising a child is so much more than giving birth.
Absolutely!
Thank you for all the good news! It's a wonderful gift for today. This year I'm finally doing the day off for myself, and that includes not spending any time on my biological mother other than a 20 second text to a sister to briefly check in, and ignoring the usual tasks and chores waiting lol...
Good for you!