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 70

Hello Everyone, Yesterday evening in Minneapolis, a black man named George Floyd was murdered by the police. A white police officer knelt on Floyd's neck until Floyd fell unconscious. Floyd died in the hospital. Protesters in Minneapolis today are being maced. I am angry. Black people are already dying at a disproportionate rate due to …

Shelter in Place: Day 69

Hello All, Less than a week now until I leave Oakland. Today was a scorcher as they say. I went on an early morning walk with a writing friend (distanced, of course) and even then the sun was beating down. It felt good to see Oakland again. Most of my time here I spent walking …

Shelter in Place: Day 68

Hello Friends, It's getting down there. I have about a week remaining until I depart for Idaho. Today we moved out most of the apartment furniture and thanks to the divine nature of the Oakland sidewalks, most of it has been taken off to a new home. I, too, am in search of a new …

Shelter in Place: Day 67

Today I picked up my guitar for a little bit. I have a guitar. It is pink. I don't have an amp or anything so I just pretend it is an acoustic guitar even though it is electric. I play sad indie songs as quietly as possible. In seriousness, though, playing music has been one …

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, …