FOUND TREASURES
Much of the story in What Remains takes place—or finds its origin—in an antique store. I love antique stores because they represent a selective attempt to save the past. They are places devoted to curation. They don’t accept just any piece. Not everything is worth saving. Someone has looked at each item and decided, yes, this belongs on the shelf! It’s worthy of preservation.
But preservation isn’t only about old objects. It can also be about stories, ideas, and people worth bringing into your life.
That is the idea behind Found Treasures, a monthly column where I’ll share things I’ve enjoyed and believe deserve your attention. Sometimes the treasure will be a book or a film. It might be someone else’s newsletter, another creator, or simply a person I discovered on Notes whose posts I really like.
Whatever—or whoever—I choose, this space will be devoted to drawing your attention to something I believe is worthy of your consideration.
Welcome to Found Treasures.
Kent Peterson
Today, I would like to draw your attention to Kent Peterson. Kent lives in Superior, Wisconsin, and I found him through Substack Notes. I enjoy his posts because he seems entirely comfortable being exactly who he is.
Sometimes you encounter people who seem compelled to keep talking or doing something simply to avoid silence. Kent doesn’t strike me that way. I’ve never met him. I don’t know him. I could probably walk past him on the street without recognizing him (his avatar is a cartoon sketch) but I would miss him if he stopped posting.
He begins each day by sharing a picture from his neighborhood and reporting the weather conditions. The man lives in Wisconsin, so weather is a legitimate concern. The subject might sound boring, but I actively look for these posts each day, especially as winter approaches. They remind me that weather can be a meaningful consideration rather than just a little icon on your phone.
Here’s an example of one of his weather reports.
Kent also collects old manual typewriters. Sometimes he simply adds them to his collection. Other times, he repairs them. When we’re lucky, he’ll explain how he fixed an old model or why he prefers one typewriter over another.
It’s not something I would expect to find interesting, but I enjoy reading his accounts. I think it’s because they tend to be short and provide just enough information to hold my attention. He knows when to shut up, and that’s a great quality. It’s also one I’m still trying to learn.
This post about a 1969 Adler Tippa S is a good example.
One of the things I enjoy most about Kent’s posts is his photography. He’s an avid cyclist, and he frequently takes pictures during his daily rides. He captures beautiful scenery, remarkable weather, and wildlife that most people never stop to notice. You can find numerous examples in both his newsletter and on Notes.
His post about photographing fog is representative of the images he shares.
What I appreciate most about Kent is that he seems comfortable in his own skin. Nothing feels optimized. His posts aren’t carefully planned or staged. He’s just a guy sharing the things he genuinely enjoys, and that’s what makes him worth following.
Next in Written Ward
Written Ward follows a four-week rhythm during each season. We are in Week Four.
- Week One — Original Fiction: A new installment of What Remains
- Week Two — Spoken Ward: A short story worth discussing, what caught my attention, a few questions for its author, and another story recommended by that author
- Week Three — Original Fiction: The next installment of What Remains
- Week Four — Found Treasures: A personal collection of things I’m glad to have found and people whose work I think deserves attention
That rhythm will continue throughout the season. I’ll announce the season finale and the following intermission in advance.
Next week, we’ll be back with another installment of my serial featuring Hank Shaw and Nate Parsons as they try to unravel the secrets of the antique stores they’ve inherited and the mysterious objects locked away in its cellar.
Thank you for reading and for joining us from the beginning.
If this installment made you think of someone who might enjoy a strange little shop and the things locked away in its cellar, please consider sharing it with them. Personal recommendations are how Written Ward finds new readers.
Until next week. Mind the rules!