My New Reality – Quarantine Series
I am a few days away from turning 32 years old n I just moved back in with my Pops. I was literally just on the other side of the world livin my best life rompin’ round Hanoi. I was headed to Indonesia which was to be my home for the forseeable future. I had a boo thang whom I was vibin’ with. Life was good. Then COVID-19’s bitch ass showed up and ruined the party. So, Les Go Live With My Dad.
Check your Privilege
DISCLAIMER- I know I am privileged and I am checkin that shit on a daily. I realize that this pandemic is decimating people’s existence and lively hood way worse than mine. There are people who are dying and there are vulnerable and marginalized populations that don’t have the means nor the tools to combat this pandemic. There are complete nations that are too under resourced to even begin to tackle this shit. I realize that. I am jus using this blog space to talk about my experiences, not to play the world’s smallest violin n have a pitty party for one and by no means invalidating others real, life changing, life threatening realities due to this global pandemic.
Hello, Quarantine
I thought I had my shit together. As an introvert, I thought I liked being by myself. See, I do like being by myself but not when I’m back at my Dad’s house “living” here for the first time in 14 years. I literally was going stir crazy the first 12 hours in. So I got my priorities straight: setting my reading materials in order, organizing my yoga “studio” and coordinating my earrings, duh!
My dad has this attic that is every hipster’s dream. The amount of mom-jeans, acid washed jean jackets and windbreakers one finds up there could place any hipster in heaven. As an aspiring minimalist, I came back home with a half filled suitcase and one backpack. I literally have no winter clothes. Did I mention I’m in Milwaukee, Wisconsin now? Cold as shit all. the. time. So I went browsin upstairs and I found some gems including these apparently busted ass shoes. Nothing that a little elbow grease can’t fix.
Social Connecting During Social Distancing
Traditionally when I visit home I am booked with family and friends. If you’ve been around me for a short amount of time you’ll notice that fam is everything for me. Basically the only people I text are my sisters and I face-time with my dad twice a day. And my friends, Girl, my friends. I have a handful of friends and it is intentional. I love my friends dearly and accept them in all their glory. I go hard for my friends and get hype as shit when I get to see them.
For now, technology will have to suffice.
All of these convos brought me joys specific to each relationship. For example, making a new song with a friend who is over 7,000 miles away and 12 hours time difference is a priceless experience that I honestly never thought I’d have.
Hearing my 6 year old niece talk about the book she is reading (a book about powerful African American women) overfilled my heart to the point I almost imploded. YES QUEEN, YES!
Laughing with friends and family during these new times through technology has been common for me as an expat but, this feels a little different.
Les Go... 