Since March 13
by Azaria Podplesky
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| Lily |
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| Lily |
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| Lily |
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| Lily |
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| Lily |
I’ve finished two tubes of Chapstick. It turns out they’re a lot harder to lose when you never leave your apartment.
I’ve still not managed to read through my stack of The New Yorker.
Yoga studios closed and I tried to remember how I spent my time before I started teaching.
I’ve tried to stay off social media. I’ve failed at staying off social media.
I bought a set of shelves in July to display photos and trinkets which had been in my closet for far too long, but didn’t hang them until October.
I cancelled my cable. I’ve been reading more - Homegoing, The Cassandra, The Dutch House (an autographed copy found at Value Village), but I’ve also become great friends with Netflix and Hulu.
I’ve set up donations to Black Lives Matter, the NAACP, the ACLU Legal Defense Fund and two bail funds. I’ve voted. I’ve signed petitions, but it still feels like I’m sitting idly by, cat firmly planted on my lap, while the world burns.
Yoga studios reopened. Limited class sizes, everyone six feet apart, masks worn at all times except while practicing. But still, yoga.
I thought I’d hate working from home because of the silence, but it's beautiful to hear every tick-tock tick-tock from the clock in my kitchen.
Speaking of work, if I had $1 for every time I wrote “coronavirus,” “pandemic,” “quarantine,” “COVID-19” or “cancelled” in an article, I wouldn’t be working anymore.
I’ve spent 35 hours on a train, in a roomette smaller than my bathroom, to see my grandparents in California. It took months to convince myself I could travel safely, and I’m glad I finally bought the ticket. Watching the West Coast go by -- Evergreen trees, mountains, field after field after field after field and, finally, the Pacific Ocean -- filled my soul more than I anticipated.
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| Somewhere in California photo by Azaria Podplesky |
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| Somewhere in California photo by Azaria Podplesky |
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| Somewhere in Oregon photo by Azaria Podplesky |
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| Somewhere in Oregon photo by Azaria Podplesky |
I’ve seen the lists of things to do during quarantine -- bake, learn a new language, write that novel you’ve been meaning to get to -- and tips for how to bake, learn a new language and finally write that novel, but I’ve not crossed a single suggestion off the list. And I’m OK with that.
I have, however, almost finished writing a play, which has been an incredibly fulfilling experience.
I’ve laughed.
I’ve cried.
I’ve been catcalled while wearing a mask.
I’ve complained about being tired and about being tired of being tired.
Yoga studios have closed again, and I still haven’t remembered how I used to spend my time.
All in all, I’m here. How are you?
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| Azaria Podplesky |
❤
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| Azariai Podplesky |
😷
Pandemic Meditations is a weekly series in which creative people share responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Find more meditations at http://www.erinpringle.com/p/pandemic-meditations-series.html
