Recalling Life

Recalling life

Before government takeover

Brick-and-mortar morning,

and the streets are quiet.

This is the first of many;

Abandoned.

And I get to look at all—

To the changing seasons,

With future.

Men who owned property

Joined the armed services.

“Uncle Sam Wants You”

Can definitely be bad

In the right cash flow.

A lien will be lengthy

Process of condemned.

After the government threw 

Opportunity,

The home was never restored.

Preservation.

Who live abandoned, are abandoned. 

Up against internet-based people.

Abandoned by the

drifts,

Jane.

/

Fuck,

Among those,

It was a life he chose.

-mmd 4/20

As many of you know, I've been making my living as a journalist, and am fortunate to be heavily employed. However, our paper is paid for entirely by advertisements, which are shrinking exponentially as businesses remain closed down due to COVID-19. 

The woman who got me the job at the paper is a wonderful artist, whose works you have all seen plenty of. She is a dear friend and mentor to me in art, journalism and recovery. I started as freelance and was offered a salary position when she became pregnant, knowing they would need someone to fill her shoes while she was on maternity leave. I was honored when she told me she could not think of anyone more suited to the task. 

This week she announced she was back from maternity leave, and was laid off the following day. I do believe our boss had her best interest in mind, knowing unemployment is very accessible right now, and she can spend a few more months with her newborn baby girl. He plans to rehire her late summer. However, the fact that it would behoove our boss to downsize (he also laid off two others) despite the fact that our workload has doubled means business is shrinking, which is unsettling. 

Despite the lack of advertising, with the rapid changes happening, our weekly paper has turned into a daily. Being isolated at home with the bombardment of news, with the added insecurity of wondering if/when I might be laid off, it’s hard to stop working. 

To deal, I have been cooking and emphasizing three solid meals a day. I have a daily yoga practice, and whenever it’s nice outside I take a walk. Lately, it’s been quite windy/stormy, and all the inland parks are closed, so outdoor activity is extremely limited. What has helped significantly is enforcing days/hours off from work, and trying to stay fun and creative in those hours.

This collage is something I did in that allotted down time. This is the first finished collage I have ever made, and it is not the finest piece of work, but the concept is there. Interestingly, this piece started as something totally different,  months ago, and I never glued it. As I was pulling it out of the drawer, I dropped it, and it fell into an entirely new arrangement that inspired this piece. It's hauntingly appropriate for the social climate we are living in. This piece has gone out in the mail to a patron who I know will appreciate it. 

I'd love to know what you all think of this work. Is this a medium you are interested in seeing?

Also, how are you adjusting to these unsettling times?