Feldman's Faves: January 9, 2023

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE

And HAPPY 2023! I hope you all had a chance to get some rest and time with loved ones over the holidays. I personally try to take some time and take stock at the end of every year to reflect on what went right and what could have gone better during the previous year. Guess which list is longer??

I am excited and optimistic about this year. We have so much to be grateful for and so much to be looking forward to as we step into another successful year ahead for Goodmans. I love January because it represents Chapter 1 of a new story that we all share. I hope that 2023 brings lots of personal and professional fulfillment to all of you and I look forward to hearing about your time over the holidays.

TODAY IS A BIG DAY AS WE START OUR “BAC” TO THE OFFICE ERA, WHICH WILL BE GREAT. It feels a little bit like the first day of school….

I want to take this opportunity to thank Caroline and Cole for their great efforts during their rotation in BL5 and to welcome Max and Nisheet as they start Rotation #3 with us in BL5. Please make sure to take the time to welcome them and to get them involved in your deals ASAP.

Also, a happy belated birthday to both Em and Alex.

Finally, just a friendly reminder to keep up with daily docketing. We have all done a great job on this front. Let’s continue this best practice into 2023.

No theme this week, just interesting stuff.

THE SLEEPING CAR PORTER By: Suzette Mayr –This short novel won the Giller Prize in 2022 and deservedly so. I still have PTSD from 1986 when my dad and I took a 23 HOUR train ride from Edmonton to Vancouver (through the Rockies) to go to Expo 86. It is probably no surprise to those who know me that I was ready to get off that train after about 23 minutes, but alas that was not to be. When I read The Sleeping Car Porter, which describes in great detail the psychological trauma that our protagonist, Baxter, goes through as a train car porter in his cross-country journey it really evoked feelings of empathy. Baxter is a gay and black man that tries to navigate the world in the 1920s seeking to better his life by working and suffering indignities and hiding his true self all in the name of pursuing his dream of one day becoming a dentist (hey, whatever floats your boat…). Whether he achieves this goal is not clear when the book ends. Throughout the story we learn about the tedious nature of his job, the difficulty he has with ungrateful passengers, the constant fear of receiving demerit points (e.g.,, if a passenger spills coffee on him resulting in shirt stains…) that can add up and lead to job loss and how he tries to find love along the tracks. Mayr does an excellent job of painting the scene on the train and how time stuck there, coupled with a lack of sleep or any chance to rest takes a real toll on those who are most vulnerable. This intensity is turned up when the train gets stuck for two days. This novel is a brilliant character study and ingenious use of setting to tell the story. As one reviewer notes, “In 1929, being a passenger train porter was fraught with challenges. R.T. Baxter greets you at the train, loads your luggage, escorts you to your compartment and your berth, gets you water, gets you liquor, gets you a sandwich, tells you the train’s schedule, shines your shoes, offers comfort, watches your child, cleans your toilet, makes your bed, and generally doesn’t sleep. He is a train porter. His duties run around the clock and offer few sympathies for missteps. Baxter aims for more. Eight years ago, he found a textbook on dentistry on the train that inspired him to become a dentist. Now, he’s saved $967 of the $1,068 he’ll need for four years of dentistry school. His goal seems in reach, but the odds are against him. The same passengers who offer him the means to reach his goals—tips—stand to get him fired through their complaints. If Baxter is said by passengers to be disloyal, dishonest, immoral, insubordinate, incompetent, careless, or untruthful, he’ll earn demerits, and with enough demerits he’ll be fired. Baxter is judged for being Black, judged for being gay, and the train’s passengers can say anything they like to earn him these demerits or even worse, like jail time. The system is rigged. The porters must buy their meals from their employers, are financially liable for lost or stolen train goods like linens and towels, and are at the mercy of their clientele. To top it off, these multiday train runs are heavy on work and light on sleep. Baxter’s own sleep deprivation is perhaps the most intriguing character of the book. It leads to hallucinations, questionable decisions, and borderline supernatural suggestions. You’ll probably be more generous with tips, and train rides will never be the same.” This book is different but it really puts you in the mental and emotional state of poor Baxter. Here’s a good review from the CBC -https://www.cbc.ca/books/the-sleeping-car-porter-by-suzette-mayr-1.6564652

TED Talks Daily - Do you really need 8 hours of sleep every night? | Jen Gunter – As some of you may recall, my 2022 New Year’s resolution was to sleep more, which I did for almost all of January 2022. But like most resolutions, by (way before) February 14th I was back to my terrible habits (as may have been obvious). I felt really bad and like a total failure about this until I listened to this PODCAST from my new favourite person in the world, Dr. Jen Gunter, which basically assured me that I will be fine, and says “not to lose sleep over losing sleep”. Whether this advice is actually right is TBD but I will take it (there is nothing like opinion shopping….). That said I am going to try again. New Year’s Resolution for 2023 is to sleep more. Bets anyone???? Here is an excerpt from the PODCAST itself. “When you can't sleep, you're desperate for help. And there's a booming industry waiting to tell you all the ways a lack of sleep can ruin your health -- and to sell you fancy gadgets to help you finally doze off. Shedding light on this flawed doomsday messaging, Dr. Jen Gunter explains why you shouldn't lose sleep over sleep -- and what to do instead.”:https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ted-talks-daily/id160904630?i=1000585398796

Thank you for your ongoing engagement and participation.

And remember to stay safe, stay healthy and to docket daily.

Jon