Mommy's El Camino Turns 1
Welcome to the Sunday post.
Where can I read more of what I missed in the past year?
Hey, Premium Subscribers riding shotgun: the next FRONT SEAT OFFICE HOUR is scheduled for Thurs. March 21st at 2pm PST. Reply to this email to RSVP. We'll spend an hour co-creating/writing/working over Zoom with a brief check-in and check-out.
In February I took a break from social media. I've been taking month-long breaks like this for the past couple of years and here's what I notice: I like how the little cacophony of insect-like voices in my head quiets. I miss people. I feel disconnected in moments then I get present again and remember I can text people--even see them irl! I remember that my connection is also this newsletter--the occasional replies and comments, the new subscriber emails. The month away helps me focus on what's in front of me--it's that simple. And what's in front of me is myriad: the disturbing, dispiriting, enraging genocide happening in Gaza; the ongoing shitshow of election year in this country; as well as the beautiful and intense teenager in my house, my beloved, hilarious, overworked partner, and the soulful faces of my dog and cats. When I'm off social media I have to pay closer attention to a variety of news sources to find out what's happening in my city and country and world. Away from instagram, away from bluesky and very far away from threads, I write more, feel a deeper focus, and second-guess myself less.
Don't look for me on social media in April: I'm taking off that month, too. Stay in touch by looking out for the Sunday post and upcoming mini-interviews that appear on occasional Thursdays.
Become a paid subscriber and join us at upcoming FRONT SEAT OFFICE HOURS and future offerings to be announced.
Mommy's El Camino officially launched a year ago. I'd been following some substack newsletters, seeing how people I liked were going about it, and thought: this could be fun.
If you like what you've read in MEC, I can't stress enough how much your sharing with others means now. Having left substack because of the loser combo of Nazi problems and unabashed anti-trans platforming means that I don't receive the perk of referrals from other substacks anymore. There was one newsletter that referred nearly 300 subscribers my way--folks who had likely never heard of me and had no idea what they were getting into, but agreed to check it out. One year in, I have nearly 800 followers and while a new subscriber jumps into the cab once in a while, it's nothing like before. So thanks in advance for sharing the newsletter.
I used to curate a reading series every other month for over a decade, and while I don't have the capacity for that right now, I started envisioning an online space where I could share writing and images (sorta like my old tumblr--since deleted), and also invite other people to share work in the space. The weekly self-imposed deadline has been a good challenge. I still envision events--such as the upcoming ART TALK and some conversations with other writers/artists via Zoom. My energy level as is doesn't allow me to do as much as I dream of doing, but I'm slowly but surely building something. See you next Sunday with a 'lil essay on tap. Thank you for being in the passenger seat. Thank you for riding in the back of the truck (I promise I'll only take you on the freeway if you ask). Thank you to everyone who was in the streets on March 2nd. Thank you to everyone doing work behind the scenes. Take extra good care.
