Thoughts on the Apocalypse

To put it bluntly, the human species is coming to an end. It feels hyperbolic to say, and yet I can't think of another phrase that fully encapsulates this sense of impending doom. It isn't an apocalypse of a single threat (although COVID seems to be giving it a good effort). It's a daily apocalypse, …

Missive from the Gem State: Part 1

Hello Dear Readers, It has been a while hasn’t it? To summarize: Scout and I left Oakland and have now settled our collective gams in Moscow, Idaho where I intend to live and study for the next three years. Don’t know exactly what Scout will be doing, but my intuition tells me napping will be …

Shelter in Place: Day 75

Hello Everyone, It's my last day in Oakland. I don't think I can accurately express how much I love this city. These past few days in particular have reminded me of that. It is a complicated place but at its heart is this life-affirming love. That's why I'm nearly 100% certain that whoever shot Patrick …

Shelter in Place: Day 74

Hello Everyone, It is my second-to-last day in Oakland. Last night there was a protest in downtown Oakland. I did not attend, and I'm honestly not sure what exactly happened. Or more accurately I think everything happened. My guess based on various accounts is that - as seen in Minneapolis and other cities - there …

Shelter in Place: Day 73

Dear Friends and Family, Today I have a specific goal for myself: to be specific in naming racism both outside and within me. This was inspired in part by a conversation with my older sister and in part by a friend's comment on the statement my alma mater Carleton College issued in response to George …

Shelter in Place: Day 72

Hello Dear Readers, Three days remaining until I leave Oakland. I really can't express enough how much living here has changed me or how honored I have been to be some infinitesimal part of the ecosystem. The past few days have been difficult. The past few weeks have been difficult. The past few months have …

Shelter in Place: Day 71

Hello Everyone, Today I am writing to ask for your help. I have continued to think about the recent murder of George Floyd as well as the murders of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. In particular I have been thinking about ways to hold myself accountable to sustained action. I have a tendency to become …

Shelter in Place: Day 65

Heyo! 10 days left in Oakland. I took a walk this morning for the first time in a while. I get really stressed out about seeing other people. And especially people not wearing masks or keeping their distance. I guess there is some "debate" going on about wearing masks. Which makes no sense to me, …

Shelter in Place: Day 64

Hello All, Today I cleaned. Cleaning helps me keep my anxiety at bay. It's nice to feel like I'm achieving something even if it won't last. I have eleven days left before I leave Oakland. I keep thinking about what my life looked like before shelter in place. Every day I took BART in to …

Shelter in Place: Day 61

Hello All, Didn't sleep well last night. Woke up at 2:30ish. For a moment, looking out my window, I thought it was morning. The streetlamps are so bright. The fog had that tornado-yellow hue. But the birds weren't singing yet and my phone said it was 2:30. I sat for a while with my window …