Greetings,
We’ve reached the phase of the pandemic in which nothing about pandemic era living is interesting anymore. Studies show that 97% of pandemic-conceived sourdough starters have died, and the correct response to any jokes about wearing pants during the work day is crickets. Yet during this boring, ordinary time of pandemic living, we’ve learned to do the extraordinary: we’ve learned how to live during a pandemic.
Save for the few surviving people who lived through the Spanish flu, the pandemic has been a new experience for all of us. And now that its one year anniversary has come and gone, we’ve learned how to do things such as celebrate birthdays. On early pandemic birthdays in the spring of 2020, there was still hope of postponing parties, of rescheduling that dinner reservation. Now, in 2021, we know better. I believe this phenomenon is called either “resilience” or “settling.”
What I mean to say is that I don’t remember what people were up to on 4/20/20. We were probably scrambling to hoard toilet paper or setting up a Zoom book club or eating an edible on the couch. But now, on 4/20/21, “people” are ready to “celebrate.” And by “people”, I mean brands. And by “celebrate”, I mean sell things. Regardless of the day’s history, 4/20 is now just another consumer holiday on which we’re marketed various lotions, potions, edibles, drinkables, and smokables from Big Weed. In other words: it’s as boring and unremarkable as every other consumer holiday.
Yet there is something remarkable about 4/20/21: it’s the day when Derek Chauvin was found guilty of the murder of George Floyd, and guilty on all three charges, a day that will go down in history. But now what? There is no justice for George Floyd, and only time will tell how this ruling will impact the systems of white supremacy inherent to policing in America.
This question of “Now What?” feels apropos to much of the current moment. Many Americans are vaccinated, but now what? We did it, Joe, but now what? Weed was legalized in New York, but now what?
What about the 40,000 people incarcerated for cannabis-related charges, and the disproportionate sentencing of Black and Brown people?
Only time and sustained action will tell.
On this historic day, I ask that take care of your hearts,
Rachel
Reading: Lots of reading this week, which I’ve broken into three categories.
General: We have a name for our misery, and it’s called "languishing.” | Hinges are soothing and make for a nice metaphor. | The pleasure of American Girl stop motion videos. | This love letter to RENT.
Interviews: An interview with Emily Barker, an artist and disability advocate (who was incidentally in Lil Nas X’s “Rodeo” music video). | An interview with Seth Rogan, who I like about as much as I can possibly like any celebrity stoner white dude I’ve never met. (Like, cool, you smoke weed all day everyday, but also, that is a fucking privilege, bro.) | An interview with Issa Rae, who, incidentally works very, very hard and does not brag about a weed habit in the fashion of some white male celebs we know. | And, finally, this highly amusing interview with Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii.
Admiring: The ad campaign for Jay Z’s new cannabis line that reimagines the photography of Slim Aarons. | This photo shoot of Zendaya and John David Washington that also reimagines the photography of Slim Aarons. | Design goals in the dreamy home of Emmy Raver-Lampman and Daveed Diggs.
Headline of the week: She Gets Paid Just to Humiliate Her Fans.
Eating: Now that we know how to “celebrate” pandemic birthdays, may I recommend this chocolate cake? It works well as cake or cupcakes, but freeze before frosting, and feel free to substitute your favorite frosting recipe for maximum impact. (If you’re nice to me, maybe one of these days I’ll share my mom’s frosting recipe with her permission.)
…Maybe you’re into Babybel. I’m not, but who am I to yuck your yum?!
…Or perhaps nothing sounds good because you’re ~LaNgUiShInG~, something I wrote about for Bon Appétit’s Healthyish.
That’s all for now!