November 30, 2021

Hello BOSLady Members,

Is everyone ready for December?! I keep seeing jokes about 2022 somehow being around the corner when we’re all still processing 2020. 2021 has been more difficult for many people I know, perhaps because in 2020 there was unity in the hardship. This year as vaccinations became available, the hospitality and service industries slowly came back to life and some of us returned to our offices, the collective experience didn’t look quite so similar. So, when we got this year’s punches, we felt a little more alone trying to dodge or absorb them. Hopefully the BOSLady community has helped you feel connected and supported this year as much as ever and always feel free to reach out, especially during end of the year and holiday chaos.

For our December meeting, we will be having a holiday party/game night! There are several new members and this is a great way to get to know each other in a more relaxed atmosphere. Houseparty is no longer an app (!!!) so if you have any suggestions for platforms for the event, please let me know. The party will be December 14th at 4pm PST/ 7pm EST. If you have a physical location you’d like to offer up as an option for those in the Boston area, please do!

The Weekly Three

1. Something light and entertaining: This interview with a pastry chef was delightful and humorous. Don’t let the “beauty uniform” part of the article title dissuade you from reading! The chef’s new cookbook was born of her restaurant opening’s COVID delay and the subsequent struggle to keep its sourdough starter alive. Can’t we all relate to bread baking and the pandemic?

2. Something about expectations placed on first generation U.S.-born Latinxs: Part of Refinery 29’s monthly series on what it means to have a multicultural “in-between” identity, this article speaks specifically to the pressure of the narrative first generations American born children are expected to embody. Published before the Thanksgiving holiday when relatives are more likely to be face to face and stress levels higher, the author gives advice on setting financial and emotional boundaries. 3. Something about “difficult” women: As a book club, we’ve explored how society has loaded labels like “bitch” and “slut”. In “In Praise of Difficult Women”, Karen Karbo profiles 29 women who embodied their belief that their “needs, passions, and goals are at least as important as those of everyone around”. Some of her selections are a bit contentious, and that’s the point. Those who are “difficult” can be polarizing, but they’re being praised by Karbo for showing that “it’s alright to occupy your humanity”. Surprisingly, this is a National Geographic book and there are articles on their site about each of these women. If you’re an Audible member, you can listen to this book for free.

Thank you for taking the time to read, Amber