What have I done during the Pandemic Isolation? Jack Shit, that’s what. I’ve certainly thought about making some interesting body of work with my camera, but then, I just scroll along social media and that feeling passes. I start writing and after a while it just stops being interesting.
I’m not on a artist retreat, I’m living in the middle of a global pandemic. It isn’t lost on me that people are getting sick and some of those people are not getting better. It is strange to think that we all live in a world where the people who are going to die from this virus THIS MONTH might not even be sick yet. Sorry if a series of still life pictures or wet plate mug shot portraits just doesn’t do it for me.
Instead, I’m sitting on my ass and looking out the window. This is a marathon and I’ve run a few of those. The secret to marathons is to keep your goals very simple: finish. Cross the goddamn line in one piece.
I believe this situation will pass. That said, I’m just not that into teaching you how to do stuff, making art about isolation or whatever. I’m doing the New York Times Crossword puzzle and a few other things. Above all, I am so profoundly grateful for the simple gift of being able to stay safe and full of ennui.
My creative wheels aren’t going into overdrive and I don’t have a problem with that. My goal for the foreseeable future is to just stay healthy, help others stay healthy, and get through each day as best I can. No great opuses, nothing else really matters.
One thing I have committed to doing is watching all the James Bond movies with my stepson, who is home from college. Every night, we continue our journey into the wildly sexist international spy series.
Here is to loafing on the sofa, baking stuff, and feeding the cats. Read a book, walk around the block. In a marathon and the goal is just to finish. An ugly, late finish still counts. Pace yourself, stay hydrated and mindful. Worry about being fabulous at the after-party when we all feel like celebrating. That will be a very good day.