I’m watching Queer Eye from the couch of an elderly woman’s home. I do not know this woman. I have been here for 4 hours.
To be clear, she had surgery today. I am staying overnight as a care service provider. If all goes well, nothing will happen. In situations of childcare/eldercare/pet care, nothing happening is kind of the best-case scenario.
By nature of care work being a big part of my life (going on year 2 of nannying and occasional pet/elder care), I’ve been thinking a lot about the dynamics at play in being a provider and a seeker of care, and how our country is built around not giving a fuck about kids, their caretakers, or the elderly.
It truly weighs heavily on me every day to see more and more of the realities I knew existed but had yet to see, even second-hand. America has a void culture. No community. No sense of place or purpose besides being an individual. Being on our own. I really think it has made us sick.
I spend a lot of time fantasizing about a world where we all are able to do well. To move slower. To relax. To take time for things that matter. Every day I think about it. Every night before I sleep.
I hope this will inspire you to start thinking about it even just a little bit more. In what ways has this void of culture harmed you? The people you love?
Still alive from someone’s mom’s/grandma’s/daughter’s/friend’s house,
Julia
❤️❤️ sending hugs!