dislocation
It’s been a month of dislocation—moving into my new apartment, adjusting to working on campus again, seeing someone new, and literal dislocations throughout my body courtesy of my faulty connective tissue.
New Apartment
I moved into my new place at the beginning of August, and I honestly could not be happier. From the laminate floors to the walk-in closet to the kitchen that I can actually use, this place feels like home in a way that my last apartment never did. I’ve begun cooking again, experimenting with new recipes. In this way, my life feels back on track.
COVID and the College Campus
As many of you know, my day job involves working for a university. Working for a university in this COVID era has presented unique challenges, and I have a lot of feelings and thoughts about it that I don’t feel comfortable articulating in this format. Suffice to say, the transition to fully in-person from fully remote has been an interesting one, full of nuance and complications, and I am curious to see how the rest of this semester will proceed.
Living My Best Queer Life
I am writing this on Sept. 5, 2021, the one year anniversary of my coming out to my ex-husband and effectively blowing up both of our lives. While so much has happened in the last year, I think the most remarkable thing to me is that I am living the life I never imagined possible for myself—out, dating, openly queer with friends and (most of my) family. I didn’t think I would ever be “allowed” this life, so the fact that it is mine now regularly blows my mind.
Bodies Are Useless
Well, specifically mine, and specifically my joints. In the last month, I have dislocated my left knee at least twice, dislocated my left big toe, and messed up my left hip (though I am not sure if it was a dislocation/subluxation). My right shoulder continues to give me problems, as does my right ankle (which I sprained when I moved into my last apartment in October 2020). At this point, I am losing faith in my joints and their ability to hold my body together. Such is the life of a medical zebra.
What Now?
Now that things are starting to settle, I’m hoping to get back on a writing schedule. You should be able to expect these newsletters more regularly! I also need to complete my PhD applications, have some major reading goals to meet before the end of the year, and want to get back on a submitting cycle for journals/presses.
I hope you are all doing well amidst the chaos that is this life.