Thank you so much for your kind words, Ellen, and you're right, there are many ways in which I am lucky. I'm glad to hear from you. How are you doing? I've been wondering.
I'm touched you've thought of me. I was wondering and worrying about you as well, especially during the disastrous fires. I assume they didn't touch you and I'm glad.
I'm now approaching writing by taking a break to read what I've wanted to get to and what I think will help inspire me.
I recently reread The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston. I read it when it first came out, in the 70's (dating myself :) ) and now with a more educated and insightful eye I see why I loved it and why it's been so widely praised. I finally read The Periodic Table by Primo Levi. I say 'finally' because I've read everything else he's written.
I now started a novel (sort of historical, but literary) Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston. Involving, with beautiful language--100 pages in.
Thanks for sharing -- I was not aware of this issue until you brought it up.
It also seems that many apartment buildings and houses are messily slapped together, and maybe solid buildings with better insulation would help dissipate whatever moves between walls. But then you still have windows, and people smoking outdoors which happens with more frequency because, well, pot is legal!
Actually, in California, it's not legal to smoke in many public spaces (parks, beaches, etc.). It's not legal to smoke in a non-smoking building, even if you live in the building. In our town, it's not legal to smoke if it negatively impacts another person. Even in some cases, a person is entitled to sue someone smoking on their own property, if the smoke is drifting onto their property. So, like I said, legality isn't the issue. The issue is people not knowing the law, the law not being enforced, and people repeating the mythology that "legal in some circumstances" means "legal in every circumstance."
I’m so grateful you wrote about this. I also cannot handle marijuana or cigarettes smoke and so much of this rang so true with me.
Your self-advocacy is inspiring. I’m so sorry you’ve had to manage this over and over and over and wish you could move here…where pot smokers seem to be few and far between. 💖💖💖
I think the Canadian pot smoking population tends to congregate on the west coast. The town I’m in, it’s definitely a rarer occurrence. And in my neighbourhood thankfully it seems my neighbours don’t seem to smoke pot (perhaps they decided on gummies instead?).
This is beautifully written, Amy! I love this version you ended on. They do say marijuana is getting stronger these days (and I suppose, it would follow, the second hand smoke from it as well.)
Thank you so much. Your feedback made a world of difference, and I do think it ended up being a much stronger piece.
Yeah, I believe it is getting stronger. I don't know if it's the type of strain or the strength of the strains now or even the pesticides. In California, there's an illegal amount of pesticides found in marijuana and all cannabis products, but no one seems to be doing anything about it.
Yeah, the cannabis market is a bit out of control and under-regulated here in DC, too... we also have a gray area of the law where "gifting" shops have popped up. (It's illegal to sell marijuana, but you can gift it. So people "buy" other things and receive a gift in return.) My ex-boyfriend grew a steady collection of very expensive $50 postcards.
This was a wonderful article Amy. I hope you can find some relief so that you can live comfortably in your own home. Really, this California is certainly not the one I left in 1979.
I'm sorry you're going through all this. One person's freedom to do whatever, in this case smoke, can make others around him unfree.
You are lucky, in any event, to have a supportive husband, as you depict him.
And as always, your writing, its specificity and clarity, is excellent.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Ellen, and you're right, there are many ways in which I am lucky. I'm glad to hear from you. How are you doing? I've been wondering.
I'm touched you've thought of me. I was wondering and worrying about you as well, especially during the disastrous fires. I assume they didn't touch you and I'm glad.
I'm now approaching writing by taking a break to read what I've wanted to get to and what I think will help inspire me.
I recently reread The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston. I read it when it first came out, in the 70's (dating myself :) ) and now with a more educated and insightful eye I see why I loved it and why it's been so widely praised. I finally read The Periodic Table by Primo Levi. I say 'finally' because I've read everything else he's written.
I now started a novel (sort of historical, but literary) Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston. Involving, with beautiful language--100 pages in.
It's great to hear from you Amy!
Well, sometimes smoke from the fires can get to us, but so far, the fires haven't touched us directly.
I remember really liking The Woman Warrior back when I read it, but that was ages ago. I don't remember much about it.
I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying your reading. Because your taste is so discerning, I'm always honored when you compliment my work.
Excellent column! So informative and touching.
Thank you so much, Pam! Thanks for your feedback, too. It helped a lot.
Thanks for sharing -- I was not aware of this issue until you brought it up.
It also seems that many apartment buildings and houses are messily slapped together, and maybe solid buildings with better insulation would help dissipate whatever moves between walls. But then you still have windows, and people smoking outdoors which happens with more frequency because, well, pot is legal!
Actually, in California, it's not legal to smoke in many public spaces (parks, beaches, etc.). It's not legal to smoke in a non-smoking building, even if you live in the building. In our town, it's not legal to smoke if it negatively impacts another person. Even in some cases, a person is entitled to sue someone smoking on their own property, if the smoke is drifting onto their property. So, like I said, legality isn't the issue. The issue is people not knowing the law, the law not being enforced, and people repeating the mythology that "legal in some circumstances" means "legal in every circumstance."
I’m so grateful you wrote about this. I also cannot handle marijuana or cigarettes smoke and so much of this rang so true with me.
Your self-advocacy is inspiring. I’m so sorry you’ve had to manage this over and over and over and wish you could move here…where pot smokers seem to be few and far between. 💖💖💖
Really? I thought that it was just as bad in Canada?
I think the Canadian pot smoking population tends to congregate on the west coast. The town I’m in, it’s definitely a rarer occurrence. And in my neighbourhood thankfully it seems my neighbours don’t seem to smoke pot (perhaps they decided on gummies instead?).
Hmmm, that's good to know. We are researching possible places to live. We should look into it.
If you ever want to chat about the benefits/costs of living here…I’m super happy to chat with you 💖💖💖
I appreciate you so much!
This is beautifully written, Amy! I love this version you ended on. They do say marijuana is getting stronger these days (and I suppose, it would follow, the second hand smoke from it as well.)
Thank you so much. Your feedback made a world of difference, and I do think it ended up being a much stronger piece.
Yeah, I believe it is getting stronger. I don't know if it's the type of strain or the strength of the strains now or even the pesticides. In California, there's an illegal amount of pesticides found in marijuana and all cannabis products, but no one seems to be doing anything about it.
I'm so glad! I enjoyed reading the earlier draft.
Yeah, the cannabis market is a bit out of control and under-regulated here in DC, too... we also have a gray area of the law where "gifting" shops have popped up. (It's illegal to sell marijuana, but you can gift it. So people "buy" other things and receive a gift in return.) My ex-boyfriend grew a steady collection of very expensive $50 postcards.
Hahahah! Well, that answers my question about whether it'd be safe to move to the DC area.
🤪
This was a wonderful article Amy. I hope you can find some relief so that you can live comfortably in your own home. Really, this California is certainly not the one I left in 1979.
Thank you so much, Diane. I'm sure it's not the same California! I don't know if anywhere is the same as it was before, anymore.