You know it’s serious when Bob Pompeani, fashion icon, undoes his tie.
We. Are. Screwed.
I’m kidding.
But can we talk about surreal? 9-11. Driving home early from downtown Pittsburgh in my little Ford Escort. Speeding down the Parkway East as much as one can speed down the Parkway East in a Ford Escort during World War Z. Keeping one eye on the road and one eye on the sky looking for planes as missiles.
This is that to the power of The Walking Dead. What? Has? Happened?!
I created this newsletter back in August and never did anything with it other than write the About page. I called it Breathing Space because you know I’m a huge space nerd, but also because I thought it could serve as a place of respite for Burghers from how awful the world seemed.
Yes, how awful the world seemed … in August of 2019.
Ell. Oh. Hell.
August 2019 is Disneyland compared to this the Krustyland of March 2020. All that’s missing are some rides that decapitate and cotton candy with tiny balls of aluminum foil in it.
Maybe this newsletter will be a place of respite for you until the world returns to normal … and it will. It’s a resilient world. I know this because I’m a student of history. And even if you’re claiming you’re not anxious, I know deep down you really are. That’s okay. Put on your brave face and say your brave words — maybe that’s what the people in your life need you to be — but know that we’re all feeling the same way. That’s the thing with uncertainty. It’s uncertain.
That is the most profound thing I’ve ever written. Embroider it on a pillow. Print it on a mug. Make a dance to it on Tik-Tok.
Maybe I’ll write this one edition and never touch it again, lose my password, and move to a cabin in the woods where I’ll eat vegan, paint nudes, and smoke peyote until my nudes looks good.
There’s a lot of directions I could go from here.
But I’ve got time. I’ve got this computer. I’ve got words. Let’s find a space to smile a bit. Breathing Space.
More soon.
Unless I go peyote/nude/vegan.