I planned on quietly taking the month of August off, but Dolly Parton died today. So I'm skipping the usual Current Curiosities for some rough-draft thoughts on Dolly Parton's passing.

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Like many an Elder Millennial, I first encountered Dolly through mockery on the elementary school playground. It took me years to connect the buxom butt of juvenile jokes (sorry, team, I love alliteration) with the gorgeous, confident woman starring in Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk, my favorite sick day movies when I was a kid. (A baby homosexual!)

I'm sad my first impression of Dolly was through bawdy humor, though she seemed to be in on the joke, often being the first with a witty remark. And by beating others to the punch(line), she modeled being comfortable in your own skin. I'm glad my first impression of Dolly was challenged and complicated by her music and acting and generosity.

Later, I fell hard for her music while I worked toward a doctorate in English literature and navigated a hella toxic relationship and workplace. As I listened to "Here You Come Again" and "Dumb Blonde" and "Wildflowers" (with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris), among others, I reflected on Dolly's optimism and strength. Dolly and her songs became a sort of life preserver during that time, a lifetime ago. Bittersweet memories, indeed.

When my grandma, who I've mentioned before, lost her sight, she traded her television for a record player. Dolly was the first record Grandma Gum requested (along with some truly bizarre 1960s Christian-country stuff). I love that Dolly is another connection between me and the Ol' Greek. We differ, however, on which is her best song. I'm firmly "I Will Always Love You," which I first heard via Whitney Houston and The Bodyguard soundtrack, but Caroline remains adamant "Coat of Many Colors" is the superior song. We're islands in a generational stream, I guess. 

Dolly was more than a signer, songwriter, and actor. She advocated for queer and trans communities and was an early ally during the AIDS epidemic. Dolly ensured children of every socio-economic background had access to books as a tribute to her late father, who never learned to read. And Dolly funded Moderna's covid-19 vaccine, saving an incalculable number of lives. What a human. We should all strive to be more like Dolly. 
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I made it through the workday, but once I sat down on the couch and "I Will Always Love You" shuffled on, I let out a sob. What a human. I will always love you, Dolly.

Thank you very much for your time. If you are interested in a consultation or have recommendations or curiosities, please fill out this nifty contact form.

Sending y’all supportive, well-caffeinated vibes,

Creighton 

Today’s Pen(cil): Pelikan M205 with Wearingeul Lee Yuk Sa

P.S. I hope Dolly and Whitney are kikiing up there and maybe, just maybe, duetting. 

Current Curiosities

[Reading] ​Object Lessons: Pencil by Carol Beggy

[Listening] "Dreams" The Cranberries 

[Watching] You've Got Mail


Today is the first Saturday in August, which means it's Stationery Store Day! Similar to Bookstore and Record Store Days, Stationery Store Day celebrates these often retro and niche shops and the folks engaged in analog writing and other paper crafts. 

To celebrate Stationery Store Day, here're a few of my favorites: 

• More Than Words, Moorhead, MN: Ever since Zandbroz in Downtown Fargo closed a year or two ago, the only real places to buy stationery are More Than Words, an adorable woman-owned bookshop, or Baker Garden & Gift, a nursery in South Fargo. More Than Words offers a small section of cards and notebooks and pen(cil)s, among other stationary oddities, intermingled with its collection of books. And while I do love Baker, especially during those subzero days of a Minnesota winter, I try to spend money only on the Moorhead side of the Red River.

• ​The Sketchy Artist, Northfield, MN: During the pandemic when I worked for Carleton College, The Sketchy Artist was my go-to for pens and pencils. This woman-owned shop sits across Division from Content Bookstore and Northfield Yarn and a block away from Little Joy Coffee - all favorites in this rural town filled with cows and colleges. 

 

• Wonder Fair, Lawrence, KS: Twee and pretentious, Wonder Fair holds a special place in my heart. While wandering around the shop and checking out temporary art installations, I discovered Blacking 602s, which reignited my love of wood pencils. Wonder Fair, along with LFK's Ruff House Print Shop, became my go-to for letterpress cards.

• JetPens is my favorite online-only stationery shop and is my go-to for TWSBI fountain pens, bottled ink, and other stationery novelties. (See also Hightide DTLA)

• In Memoriam: CW Pencil Enterprise, owned and operated by Caroline Weaver for seven years out of an cute little NYC storefront, offered hard-to-find, vintage, and reliably basic pencils, among other stationary curiosities. After CWPE closed in 2021, Weaver launched The Locavore, a kind of curated community bulletin board that points readers toward NYC-based (analog) stores and events. 

Thank you very much for your time. If you have recommendations or curiosities, please fill out this nifty contact form.

Sending y’all supportive, well-caffeinated vibes,

Creighton 

Today’s Pen(cil): TWSBI Vac Mini with Sailor Manyo Sumire