a eulogy for what could have been
not a fairy tale of productivity
Welcome to issue 2 and day infinity in lock down! We’re back this week with more content for everyone,
Uhhhh so let’s start with a bit of wholesome?
We came across Tori Press’s (@revelatori) page only recently. And with the amount of illustrators we already follow on Instagram, it didn't feel like one more was necessary.
But she somehow always manages to read our thoughts and illustrate them in the most adorable way. Most of her drawings are personal, but just the right amount to get you attached and leaves you with lots to think about.
Like this one, which is so beautiful and guaranteed to make you smile (we sure need it)
Niti’s thoughts this week !!
Ever since I can remember I’ve woken up on January 1 and my first thought has been, a new year means I get to live another May. The first months of every year were spent in anticipation.
I despise that the first usually harsh months of the year felt softer and lighter than this month is feeling. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
For me, when I think of May, I feel warmth. I think mangoes, weekends spent in my favourite city with Appa, shopping with Amma. May is for family vacations, and Tuesdays drinking diluted beer with friends. But..
Art by Loryn Brantz
I turned 22 a couple weeks ago. I have to admit a large part of the reason that I look forward to May is my birthday. I’ve always been that kid who started talking about their birthday weeks in advance. My parents and my friends made sure I had the best possible day.
But I miss what it could have been. There should have been hugs and kisses and hand-holding, I can’t help but hate that instead there were only video calls, devoid of these senses that have since I was a child made me love this time of the year. I’m disappointed that Niran and my college roommate were on a screen, instead of us dancing together like how we had thought it would be.
Rega Jha wrote last month:
It all felt very illicit. The world is ending.How can we flirt and fight and sing Happy Birthday?
But also: how can we not?
And so with these feelings, comes the guilt of the pandemic. The guilt of having inconsequential problems, however looming it feels inside my head.
Tuuuuunes:
Niran’s most recent delve into the world of podcasts, led her to Modern Love. Considering how much the two of us loved the show, we knew we’d love it.
It took us to origin of the entire thing; Modern Love, A New York Times weekly column. Fifteen years worth of stories. Can you imagine? The inspiration for the show and the podcast. The stories here are everything. Here are some of our favorites,
What Shamu Taught me About a Happy Marriage (YOU MUST READ, IT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND)
Let’s Meet Again in Five Years
Tiny Love Stories, (ugh, you will not be able to stop once you start reading these)
Not all the episodes of the show are engaging but a couple are gems. Their choice of non- conventional, real, contemporary stories is probably the best part.
In Take me as I am, Whoever I am, (the Anne Hathaway episode of the show, which is heartbreaking and inspiring and should be watched over and over again), the way the small details, the gold sequinned top (uff, we all wish we could pull off that look), the peaches in the supermarket, are brought to life, is striking.
Reading
‘An eye for vulnerability’: The world seen by women – in pictures
Resentment Is The Only Thing Our Isolation has in Common
That Discomfort you’re feeling is Grief
Considering that this has been the general mood, the highlight of the week has to be this image our dear friend edited for us (basically the best picture of us to exist on the internet),
Much love,
Niran & Niti
The Aunty Joyce thing was really amazing! And I’m glad to hear y’all have the kind of patience to listen to podcasts :p :)