THIS JUST IN: everythingisbad
California is on fire and so is Bruce Springsteen
How’s everyone feeling?
I honestly do not know how to think about anything other than all the bad things happening. The genocide in Gaza, the fires in Los Angeles, the upcoming inauguration — isn’t everyone feeling exhausted? I’m just sitting in my apartment stressed about what to get rid of and what not to get rid of while people’s homes and businesses have burned down and my dad’s place in the San Fernando Valley is surrounded by fires 10 miles away in every direction. And ignorant people like Jamie Lee Curtis are comparing LA to “war-torn countries like Gaza” as if it’s normal there and shouldn’t be normal here. And then others are starting some of the fires themselves, which makes it feel like there’s no point in having faith in anyone or anything.
It makes me continue to wonder if it’s wrong to try to find joy in things when soooo many bad things are happening — like an unbelievable amount. Is it wrong to make jokes? Is it wrong to try to keep your mind off things when everyone should be focusing on it? Is it wrong to look at a photo like this:
and wonder why it always looks like she’s been electrocuted? Is that so wrong? Is that mean? Mm, I don’t care.
Sites like Reductress and The Onion are all about making jokes during hard times. Is there ever a moment where they shouldn’t? I always have a conflicting opinion on this. It’s so hard to know when you’re just supposed to roll up into a ball and be sad about what’s happening to others or drop everything and go volunteer somewhere. I guess that’s more of a multitasking thing — you can definitely be sad and volunteer and live your life all at the same time. The more you know!
State Farm dropped thousands of LA homeowners before the Palisades fire. The more you know! LA Mayor Karen Bass was warned two days before she flew to Ghana that there was an extremely high risk of wildfires in the forecast. The more you know! Jamie Lee Curtis’s home didn’t burn down because her home is in a different canyon. The More You Know!
I’ve had a consistent headache/minor migraine for an entire week because I’ve lost my appetite and am not sleeping well and am checking the fire watch app every 20 minutes to make sure my friends and my dad and my childhood dog aren’t on fire or aren’t breathing in the longterm effects of the horrendous air quality. I don’t say this for pity; I say this because if I’m having a hard time dealing with it from here, how the fresh hell can anyone there go about their days normally? And I’m not doing anything to help anyone! I’m just sitting on my couch in my new living room watching ER and contemplating whether or not I should go to medical school. WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING? WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE THINKING? What are we supposed to be feeling?
Here are some of the ways we can help from where we are:
donate to a GoFundMe: so many people’s homes have been destroyed and need help getting back on their feet — I’m sure your friends have been posting tons of GoFundMe links on their Instagram stories
donate to the American Red Cross: they’re providing shelter to wildfire victims and their pets — also providing food, water, and all types of health services
Westside Food Bank: they’re accepting donations to help feed the fire victims — donations also help provide diapers and baby wipes, as well as hygienic items
Salvation Army: accepting donations of everyday items — first aid kits, flashlights, dust masks, bottled water, nonperishable foods, infant care items, batteries, etc.
Pasadena Humane Society: lots of domestic pets are getting left behind — firefighters have been going back to save them, but they need shelter — the humane society is accepting donations to help with that
There are definitely many other places to help, but these are legitimate ones that I’ve found.
Whilst I did not find my answer about if comedy is allowed during times like these, I will say one more thing about it:
CHICAGO AREA CONN
TO WESTERN WILDFIR
I’m not gonna comment on how she looks here again. I’m not gonna stoop so low. I’m not gonna check Lori Lightfoot’s IMDb page to see if she was in the most recent Beetlejuice sequel. I’M NOT GONNA DO THAT. This is no time for jokes.
music rec: California Dreamin’ by The Mamas & The Papas
book rec: Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion — there’s a great essay in there called “Los Angeles Notebook” where she talks about the Santa Ana winds and LA wildfires and the effect the winds have on human behavior https://www.murrieta.k12.ca.us/cms/lib5/CA01000508/Centricity/Domain/1538/The%20Santa%20Anas.pdf copy that link and you can read the excerpt from it!