Free Robots!

Dear readers,

Here are a few things that caught my attention this month. I hope you enjoy them too!

• I was inspired on my walk through town when I spotted this bit of creativity. I had to go back and snap a pic.

• Something I overheard from the local barista reminded me how important community is: "One of my favorite things here is going out of my way to act like I deeply know each customer."
• I went to see artist Steven Teller's completed mural at Liberty Bell Park in Utica, New York. His use of vibrant colors reflects the city's diverse population; the contrasting black-and-white images showcase Utica's past. I appreciate the revitalization it along with the restored fountain bring to the busy corner.

• I recently finished reading Travels with Charley: In Search of America, written by American author John Steinbeck. He documents his 1960 road trip around the United States. I was struck by the countless parallels to today and copied several passages into my commonplace book.

"American cities are . . . almost smothered with rubbish. Everything we use comes in boxes, cartons, bins, the so-called packaging we love so much. The mountains of things we throw away are much greater than the things we use. In this, if in no other way, we can see the wild and reckless exuberance of our production, and waste seems to be the index." —page 22

• For your listening pleasure . . . and some good kitchen dancing (also on Spotify):

—Melody 💟

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