Time Goes By
Apologies for the unannounced slight delay in the release for this month. It has a bit to do with being busier than all hell and a bit to do with a deliberate shift in schedule for this and next month, for reasons that will become obvious in the next paragraph or so.
This summer has absolutely raced by. I’m getting married next month, and planning the wedding has occupied almost all of my free time for the past year, which has made those calendar pages disappear in a blink. In many ways, it is an enormous creative undertaking on its own, and I’m excited to share more about it after the day has come and gone.
All that said, I’ve got a special mixtape for next month, and then I think I’ll take November and December off to recover (also, I’m gonna be taking a little honeymoon). 2025 will be another banner year for mixtapes, though, guaranteed.
Speaking of special mixtapes, I’m thrilled to bring you this month’s collaboration with longtime friend Phil Kim. I’ve been an admirer of Phil’s creative energies and output since college (check out his great band Connections), and it was truly an honor to have him on this project.
Like the mixtapes? Help me spread the love by throwing a few bucks my way via BuyMeACoffee or opting to become a paid subscriber. Thanks to everyone who has already supported me this way.
And hey, if you like it, why not share the mix or this newsletter with a friend?
Hello, Goodbye
Created in collaboration with Phil Kim for cherishing every moment.
A few words from Phil:
*****
Every moment that passes carries with it a silent farewell. It’s a constant dance, parting with the present. Each fleeting instantaneous moment is a goodbye to the present and with every heartbeat, we flutter from the past into the future.
This playlist explores the many shades of the goodbye—whether it’s the sting of a breakup, the sorrow and grief in death, or the bittersweet nostalgia of growing up, the songs compiled here explore goodbyes, in all of its forms, and all of its yearnings for beginnings, not endings..
To me, there’s an illusion that there are two kinds of goodbyes, when in reality, all goodbyes operate the same.
The first kind is the temporary goodbye, light and airy. It says, “I’ll see you soon; this isn’t the end.” It’s the casual farewell at the end of a phone call, the breezy "goodnight" after an evening out with friends, or the effortless sign-off in a text or email to your mom, dad, brother, sister. These goodbyes are easy, almost imperceptible—a natural, organic pause that offers a promise of return.
The other kind of goodbye we consider is final, heavy with significance and soaked in emotion. It’s the kind you want to hold onto, to etch into your memory even though it leaves a bruise on your heart. It’s the conclusion to a very long story, a book that you might not want to end. Or, an ending that is forced to end. It’s the breakup, the deathbed, the burial deep into the earth.
But in truth, every goodbye belongs to the first category, the temporary kind, even the ones we believe are final. Because I really do believe that the story begins at the same time it ends. That we’ll see each other again in one form or another. That we carry the past with us and it shapes our future. That every conclusion cradles a start, and all partings are preludes to reunion.
Songs about goodbyes offer a sense of solace and invite us to reflect on the transient nature of our experiences. They remind us that life is fleeting, and that we should cherish every moment we have in this existence. I hope this playlist is a comfort. That each track is a reminder that in the end, everything begins.
*****
Love you all. Hope you enjoy!
Join Me: Get the COVID Vaccine Booster
Hope y’all have heard about the new booster that was just approved and is likely now widely available! As someone who will very shortly celebrate a wedding with many people and then immediately travel internationally, I got mine as soon as I could. Some people say you should wait a little while to increase protection against a winter spike, but I’m planning on maximizing my protection for the big day (also, the variant that this protects against may evolve by the time winter rolls around?).
You know you. Use your best judgment, but I hope you’re taking precautions when and where you can.
RIYL: Protecting yourself and those around you.
Check out the latest COVID data here.
Some Other Things Phil Loves
(that you might love too!)
Adventure Archives - One of my favorite youtube channels is the fantastic Adventure Archives. Andrew, Bryan and Robby and Thomas hike trails and offer their pondering on nature, relationships, and life. They give tips, identify plants and fungi, give a great overview of what to expect on each unique trail, and it's packaged beautifully. They write, produce, and record all the music, which I cannot stress enough, is awesome. And each episode ends with incredibly creative shoutouts, which really show how much they appreciate and are students of film. It’s American Transcendentalism, with the tools of our contemporary world - the camera, tripod, microphone, social media. Super cool to see the Asian American representation in the hiking space. I can’t recommend this channel enough.
Yakgwa - Yakgwa is a traditional Korean tea cookie, deep fat fried and soaked in honey-ginger syrup. Dense and chewy, and incredibly satisfying to eat. Full and hearty, it’s a comfort cookie that brings me back to sitting on my grandmother’s lap during church.
Weeding - Weeding in the garden is so satisfying to me.
Ruth Awad - Ruth Awad is a Lebanese-American poet and incredible human who I first saw perform at a house show in Columbus many years ago. Since then, she’s grown into a powerhouse and honed her skills. She is extremely deft at connecting the huge and uncontrollable to the intimate and personal. It’s musical, technical, and sharp. She has a new poetry collection, Outside the Joy, out now.