If you know me, you have likely had the pleasure of experiencing being ignored. Nothing against you personally but who has time to engage in a back and forth dance of conversing on a device when they are actually trying to live their lives. Humans send an average of around 84 texts per day. My goodness, that is so inefficient! I am returning to my humble beginnings when you would call the landline and it was busy and you would try again later. Of when a line would ring endlessly and you would not reach someone and go about your day. I miss the days when you would hope you had two quarters to make a call up the street, of leaving the ladder near your window to sneak out after dark to meet with your skater friends and take BART into the city, and missing the last train home and ending up stranded and with memories. Away from your phone. Away with the phones!
Why do people expect an immediate response? When did it become normal to DM someone to tell them you are thinking of them and they vye for all of their attention on a screen? Meet up in person for a tea. Chat, watch each other’s body language, make each other laugh until you cry. Life for me is about creating memories and not being tied to a device. If I did not have a child I would not have a cell phone anymore at all. In 2019, I purchased one of those late 2000’s Nokia phones and never set it up. I am heavily considering switching back to an analog device to play snake and be unable to browse IG so easily. Remember when you could barely connect to the internet on your phone? Remember dial-up? Now over ninety-nine percent of adults have a cell phone that is connected to the internet.
My boundaries around texting have not been respected for the past few months and I am sick and tired of it. So officially, this is an announcement to the universe and everyone, if you text me, I may reply, I may not, I may disappear mid-conversation because that is allowed and if you try to guilt-trip me for taking six weeks to respond to your text I will ice you out of my life faster than I stopped eating meat the last time I was vegan for eight years.
Moms, how do we do it? We are supposed to raise little humans and respond to like 20 different people via text messages per day? No thank you. Society, I politely decline.
I intend to remain a hermit until I no longer feel like hermiting anymore. «I feel unsure of when this will end, and quite frankly, I am quite content in my shell. I have all the projects and ideas in my corner.» Currently, I am rediscovering herbalism and creating tintures which reminds me of my curious childhood when I created potions and put plants that definitely were not for eating in my mouth.
Find me in the forest in 2022,
Fo Fera
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Written under a Pisces 🌞 and a Sagittarius 🌙 feeling extra feisty.
Offerings:
My first live show of 2022 is on Wednesday the 2nd of March at 5pm. If you feel compelled to join, this is your official invitation to get out in the fresh air and enjoy my sunset set.
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I am starting a sunset concert series sometime this year and will share more details when they arrive.
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«Fireside hand sewing circles» and community building will be starting up this Summer.
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«Crochet and knitting picnics in the park» will commence sometime this year. This year, my goal is to collectively make 50 hats and scarves for the homeless. Gatherings will be held in the East Bay, Sonoma, and Marin County parks and beaches. Weather permitting.
Community events will likely be posted on my paid subbies side.
Five things I am loving right now:
Bathing Culture 🌈
Their body wash is magical y’all. I purchased a small portion before our stay in Monte Rio and had to return the following month for more. While in Canada last year, I found a sensitive soap I fell head over heels with and buy in droves. This wash however, is like magic in a metaphysical bottle.
The Amazing Race
I am not sure about you, but in 2001 I was 11. I had no idea how ridiculous people could be until I watched this show, and it’s been a very relaxing treat at the end of the day to watch these fools (aside from the couples who are terribly mean to each other~thank goodness I saw the light before entering that type of situation) travel the world in hopes of striking geld.
Fresh cut flowers from my local Farmer’s Market
Romanticizing my own life. Despite not having a kitty yet, one can enjoy cut flowers.
Asking others what they are looking forward to this year
If the pandemic has taught me anything, it’s that checking in on someone you don’t know well and listening to what they have to share is gold. I love nothing more than to have an hour-long conversation with a complete stranger on how their pet goldfish impacted their life or whatever they wish to share. It’s incredible what happens when you open your heart to others to hear what they have to say. Gently help others feel seen.
Sleep
Yes, I left a section for sleep. Lately, I have not been able to get enough of it and can’t wait until the time I can be in bed and close my eyes to wake up to a new day. The sunrise over my new home looks like Hawaii every morning and spring sunrises are oh so delectable.
Reading:
How It Became Normal to Ignore Texts and Emails
While You Were Sleeping, Someone Was Baking
Listening to:
Hold On by Gus Seyffert
More Like You by Orla Garland
Still I Wait by Anna Leone
Surface Tension by Genevive Stokes
Orange Tree by Billie Marten
Colors Change by Tank and the Bangas
In This House by San Fermin & Nico Muhly & Attacca Quartet
Nosotros Rachael & Vilray
History & the Victors (Plaisir de France Remix) by Catriona Irving
Oh and this band from Berkeley called Rancid. The guy I was seeing was really into them and they are pretty friggin spectacular. When I listen I pretend I am still an angsty teenager full of disgust and anguish.
If you want to get in on my exciting playlist action, be sure to follow my public playlists here.
Watching:
Daughters of the Sexual Revolution: The Untold Story of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Saving:
Save the Octopi, my friend Andrew started this petition and I think it is worth amplifying and signing.
Community Seed Network
Did you know one of my many hobbies is seed saving? I didn’t either until recently. There is a lot that I do for myself that I consider restorative and don’t actively share with others beyond close friends. I have been seed saving since 2018 or so and collect varieties you can eat. My running joke with my close friends is that I will likely be one of those people in 2050 with some extinct variety of Pyrus Pyrifolia ( Shinko Pear) seeds in my collection from 2020. Maybe I will teach a seed saving workshop in 2023. . .
Baking:
In 2022 I decided I was going to learn some new instruments, languages, and how to make amazing bread. I recently made these phenomenal Persian Style Rice Fritters from Roxana Jullapat’s book Mother Grains. This book is literally my favorite purchase of the year.
Practicing: Compassion for self, and how to prepare bread sans mixer.
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In closing: I desire for my own life. This week I have had conversations with people who have proposed death as something you work backwards from. If death is inevitably coming my way, I can plan the time I have left before it greets me at my door and consider what actually is important to me in this lifetime without the influence of others. Feeling hopeful for the future.