Lil Treasures #117: Team Edward and Two Years of Covid
Plus YoYoMa and a new Substack app
Hello pals! This weekend marks two years since our version of “normal” dramatically changed for so many of us as a result of the Covid pandemic. It is is bizarre to think back to that week leading up to it, and how the normalities that existed in my everyday suddenly became foreign. This is a summary of my thoughts when I try to look back to the beginning of all this:
It has been a wretched season for us all, from the actual public health nature of the pandemic to the ways we have become divided over it. I grieve this time. I think I always will. But I can also look back and see some positives that came out of it. Acts of kindness on display that reminded me of the goodness that humanity can bring. Our universal take-out process also really improved, and they even sold us margaritas to-go and that was beautiful. There are other small victories and nuances that happened that I will store in my heart forever. It has been a dark time no-doubt, but in the midst of darkness there are always small cracks of light that find their way through.
So this weekend as you reflect on 2 years of pandemic life, I hope you take the time to both lament what has been lost, but also celebrate the good things. At my house we’ll be making cocktails to celebrate (reminiscent of making it through a single day in April 2020) and toasting to good health and more cracks of light. Cheers, my friends!
Let’s do the treasures!
👣 I came across the Footwashing Series from the Salt & Gold Collection on Instagram and it stopped me in my tracks.
🍅 This woman in Ukraine is a hero! (make sure you hit the translate button when you click on the link)
🎧 If you’re observing Lent this year and need some good tunes to accompany the season, you can view my Lent + Holy Week playlist here!
🎻 The beloved cellist and overall wonderful human YoYoMa showed up at the Russian embassy this past week to how his support for Ukraine and plea for peace by playing his cello. When asked why he was there, he said: “everyone has to do something”🥺 (you can read more about it here). If you get lots in the news apps this weekend and need a reprieve from the darkness highlighted, listen to his prayer for peace.
🎭 Y’all know I’m a sucker for theatre kids (that was my world growing up) so I am all about supporting these bb’s in their theatre dreams. Our friend and fellow Lil Swipe, Ashley, shared with me this link to support her local children's theatre in Ohio. They are performing Beauty and the Beast and need a little boost raising money for supplies so they can pull it off! If you have some extra change you can throw their way you can give at the link above!
🇺🇦 Loré Pemberton created this incredibly meaningful print called “Carried” (see photo below) to benefit our Ukrainian brothers and sisters who are currently experiencing such great loss and suffering. You can buy this beautiful print for only $5 at this link! 100% of proceeds will go to Save the Children, Books for Children from Ukraine, and #Cookforukraine.
🐻 The Mama Bears Giving Circle is a community of monthly donors that gives grants to LGBTQ+ non-profits working to make the world a safer & more inclusive place for our children. Right now Gov. Abbott in Texas is trying to pass some pretty drastic anti-trans measures to discriminate against and punish trans children, their families, and any healthcare workers who contribute to transitionary care. The Mama Bears Giving Circle, which is a part of the Legacy Collective, is actively fighting these measures in Texas and providing support to those being discriminated against. You can find out more about Mama Bears here!
📱Substack finally got an app! You can now read The Swipe Up: A Newsletter from Your Internet Friend in the new Substack app for iPhone.
With the app, you’ll have a dedicated Inbox for my Substack and any others you subscribe to. New posts will never get lost in your email filters, or stuck in spam. Longer posts will never cut-off by your email app. Comments and rich media will all work seamlessly. Overall, it’s a big upgrade to the reading experience! But PSA: the Substack app is currently available for iOS.
Need some good Tweets? We got ‘em!
RICH ARE YOU DOING MY LENT STUDY?
Okayyyyyy that’s all she wrote, beautiful people! I hope you have a great weekend. Can’t wait to see you in the comments!
I think my treasure this week is the new Substack app!! What a game changer for a reading experience.
I think friends are my ultimate treasure this week. People, not the TV show. My childhood best friend flew across the country to help me move for a week. When we booked her flight I had no idea that I would have abruptly lost my job on Sunday (yes, you read that right. They called on a Sunday after having me work all weekend. Corporate America is a joke?) and being on the verge of an impending pregnancy loss. I’m doing a lot of sitting and crying in the shower right now, and bestie is holding it all down.
Wish I felt more peppy, but I’m rocking a Sadness from Inside Out vibe this week. Really looking forward to checking in on all your lives this week - brings me so much joy.
Currently VERY disappointed that I can’t share a screenshot of a tweet (and amused at the thought of my grandfather trying to understand that phrase) but anyway here it is:
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@carlson_cait
I'm on an important Zoom call with an author when there's an urgent hammering at the home office door.
The 6-year-old peeks his head in.
“Mommy,” he whispers. “I have to tell you something.”
“Is it an emergency?” I ask.
“Yes,” he says gravely. “It’s about the Titanic.”
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And in my head I have a mental picture of Baby Cy saying this so I’m now double full of joy 😂