cat watson

Sep 2

Sep 2 Teeth Brushing

In moments of sheer and utter and often time inexplicable sadness, I usually have to force myself to do just one thing. Usually that involves and starts with getting up, moving my body, leaving my bed. This one thing can be: organizing all the shoes in the entryway, or going for a run. It can be taking a shower, because water always helps (what’s that saying about water? Something about tears, rain, and the ocean being life saving? Or maybe the saying is about salt, which would account for the ocean and the tears, but not the rain.)

Sep 11

Sep 11 How My 15 Year Old Self Saw 9/11

Cat Watson

20 years ago the weather was very similar to how it is today. Maybe not quite as breezy, but very bright, blue, and sunny. It was beautiful. It was a Tuesday, and I was in Mrs. Robb’s 10th grade Biology class waiting for the bell to ring to dismiss us when one of my classmates’ younger brothers knocked on the door to tell us that school was being let out early.

Jul 24

Jul 24 A writing room

Cat Watson

I’m closing in on three weeks of being off of work. It’s been glorious but also the same holds true for me now as it did in high school--when I am busier, I am more productive. Whenever I was in season for any one of my sports, I always did better in school. The constraints were actually good for me. They forced me to get done what I needed to get done because I knew that I wouldn’t have a chance to do it later because of practice or a game.

Jun 14

Jun 14 Memoirs and sleep debts, etc.

Cat Watson

I pick up a bag of kale in the fridge to check the sell-by date, it said June 9. I couldn’t remember if we were ahead of that date or behind. I genuinely asked myself if we were still in May? June 9th feels surreal, not possible, yet it was 5 days ago.

Mar 17
Mar 17 "On Living in an Atomic Age" by C.S. Lewis

Cat Watson

On Saturday, the Daily (a New York Times podcast that I love) played a special episode titled: A Bit of Relief. It was needed after the week that had just concluded. It included a reading from “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (also love her and her writing), another reading by Wesley Morris from a cookbook about how to stock your fridge (funny and light and his voice is nice and reassuring to listen to), and then this reading from C.S. Lewis’ “On Living in an Atomic Age.”

Oct 16

Oct 16 An enemy of envy

Cat Watson

This past Saturday we drove to Louisville for Matt’s last regular season home game. It's a two hour straight shot down 65 and on the way, I listened to Jerry Saltz on the Longform Podcast. He was funny and honest and earnest.

Jun 11

Jun 11 The beginning of the middle

Cat Watson

There were goats. Three of them in all, a set of twins included. Sophie took it upon herself to feed them snippets of leaves through the fence, chatty and happy.

May 22

May 22 The type of woman that wears lipstick

Cat Watson

Whenever we move, I always have this idea that when we get to wherever we are going, I'll turn myself into the type of woman that wears lipstick.

Apr 9

Apr 9 A Quiet Place: Sound and silence

Cat Watson

As I headed out to my car last night after the end credits rolled for A Quiet Place, I was hyperaware of the silence. I noticed every step I took, the slamming of my car door, the wind moving the bare branches. I got home and the door to my daughter's room creaked as I opened it to tuck her in before I went to bed—I died. I shuffled papers on the counter—I died.

Mar 26

Mar 26 I even took a nap: an essay on darkness, suffering and beauty

Cat Watson

As soon as I woke up, nearly naked, I immediately closed my eyes in defeat and remembered the night before. I had intentionally tried to draw blood. I was antagonistic and aggressive and mean. I had meant to initiate sex, thus why I was naked, but I was tired and annoyed for a reason I can't explain; so I initiated a fight instead.

Hello and welcome! I’m cat. I’m a mother, a woman, a feminist, a reader, and a writer. I am a lover of stories. Thank you for being here, really. not living in brooklyn, ny.