considerations during quarantine
Hi,
I’m Tracy, owner of ray art. I usually have too many other things on my to-do list to attend to this “nothings” blog. Which is a shame, because as many of my friends and loved ones would tell you, I have a lot of nothing to share.
Suddenly, we find ourselves in a global crisis, which has altered our reality, and provided a new one. In some ways it has been a gift, allowing a new expanse of unscheduled time that I used to wish would come true. I don’t find isolation difficult, at least not this kind of isolation. I’m still able to walk my dogs, go to my shop and work (alone, but I was doing that before), talk to others on the phone, text, dm, zoom, see friends on the street, email . . . so for me, this is okay, and I am embracing as many opportunities as I can. My heart aches for those for whom this is not okay, have lost a loved one to this mess, are sequestered with someone who is abusive, don’t have money to feed themselves or their children, or are working the front lines and putting themselves at risk for the rest of us. There are moments when I am overcome with grief for the collective pain gripping so many.
As a dreamy, la-la land introvert, I could sit and stare out the window for days as a kid, and truth is, there are some possibilities for the adult me in there too. Difference is, the adult me has the internet, and the internet is an endless stream of nothings to discover. I prefer to use the internet for good – to learn, to have fun, and to expand my mind. I am easily bored with people who use it to hurt or harm others. I care about other people, and believe everyone should care about other people. That means lifting people up, not tearing them down. As a way to bring us up, I am going to use this as an opportunity to tell you a little about myself the way they do it in the magazines, cause I love the editorial style of magazines – in particular, the Q&A content. That’s my fave. I may make this a regular nothing event, but with people other than myself. For now, here goes some Tracy nothings!
RA – What are you doing for fun these days?
TE – Playing Frisbee with my dog. We compete in the sport of disc, specifically freestyle, which is a combination of tricks, unified movement and throws. Each team is scored on a variation of elements, including flow, throw diversity, originality, and so on. It’s a ton of fun, there’s always something to learn, and pulls a bunch of great people together.
RA – Do you have a favorite spot in Marblehead?
TE – Oh boy, there’s not really one, more like ten, buuut I guess if I HAD to pick one, it would be the view of Brown’s Island. I’m a sucker for any place that feels both expansive and intimate at once. I love the feeling of shelter that the island provides, and the glimpse of infinity you see just over the island’s shoulder looking out to the sea. That cluster of trees up on the hill with the rope swing and the crunchy pine needles brings me back to summer moments of long ago, of being at camp, or on a lake in New Hampshire. It’s pretty amazing.
RA – What’s your guilty pleasure?
TE – YouTube videos. A rotation of a couple who live in isolation in a 13′ scamp trailer, Dr. Gregor’s nutricianfacts.org, a gardener in Oregon, a handful of vegan cooking channels, well designed off-grid living of any kind, disc dog and ultimate videos, and the list goes on.
RA – Do you consider yourself an artist?
TE – I guess. I think myself more a designer than a maker, even though I do make things on occasion. I don’t feel compelled to paint or draw, yet don’t see that as the only path for an artist. To me, any creative expression is a form of art. In my case, I like to arrange items in a way that is pleasing to me, and if it is also pleasing to others, then all the better. I like spacial design, creating environments that feel good and make sense. I should have have pushed myself to be an architect, but didn’t have the confidence when I was headed to college. Luckily, my niece Kate does, and once she graduates she is going to be a fantastic architect.
RA – Is there anything in particular helping you to navigate the quarantine?
TE – Not one thing, many things together. I’m keeping a general routine, walking my dogs, doing yoga, cooking, soaking up some sun when it’s out, listening to podcasts, tending to work jobs i have been neglecting, getting plenty of sleep, drinking lots of water, and taking time to be grateful, every single day.