Live from Quarantine 2020

What a time to be alive. To witness an unprecedented global pandemic in what is considered a modern world, an advanced 21st century society, has been a eye-opening experience thus far. From our worst, to our best, we human beings are revealing our latent truths.

I thought I'd use this time and space, live from my self-imposed isolation DAY 18, to reflect on a few topics: Corona & the Artist, Corona & Sickness, and Corona & Connection.

Corona & the Artist
Yesterday a friend of mine, who is one of our precious brick-and-mortar, old world, art-as-the-foundation-of-society types all but demanded that we--her circle of artist friends--create some work of art based on the times. "We have to," she emphasized. I paraphrased Nina Simone back to her: the job of the artist is to reflect the times in which we find ourselves. She added "to transform it. We are artists. That's what we must do." Agreed.

Admittedly... I was slightly less enthusiastic. For one, if there was ever a time I don't want anyone assigning me tasks I didn't sign up for, it's now. Plus, she would be the director in this outfit and I the actor... Again, being told what to do.... Nah, not right now. Now, is my time. 

But it had me thinking about what my call has been as an artist. I recognize these times when we are "Safer at Home" as one of possibility (pure potentiality - anyone?). It offers us a time for self-care, an opportunity to add to our skill set, to cultivate a creative garden. An actor friend of mine is posting monologues every week. "Actors act" he wrote in his caption. Musicians are playing on LIVE, dancers are choreographing virtually, my husband has found his way back to photoshop creating some DOPE digital art. So what is my artistic call? For now it's been a hodgepodge of a few things; but mainly, I've been called to reflect. Writing has always been my most instinctual method to reflect. We'll see what comes of it. Though more than an outcome, I want to focus on the process of putting thought to word. That's it, then. That's what it will be.

Below is the first of a Haiku poem thread I posted on twitter today (Part 1 of 4):

Coronavirus
The world in isolation
Perspectives may change

— Enisha Brewster (@EnishaBrewster) March 26, 2020

Corona & Sickness
So, ​I was fully accepting of my responsibility as a member of society to help mitigate the spread by keeping my ass at home. You know, flatten the curve. Not a problem. A few people I know have joked together about Quarantine not feeling so different from our normal lives. Haha. Accurate AF. 

But all joking went out of the window when I got a tickle in my throat that turned into a dry cough and a tight chest for 6 days.

My mind went there, naturally. What the *%#! 

Ihavebeenselfisolating Ihavebeenwashingmyhands Ihavedisinfectedeveryknobswitchandfacuet Doireallyhavethisfuckingvirus Howthehellamigoingtogettestediftherearenofuckingtests Maybeitsagoodthingifihaveitthenicandeveloptheantibodies Ibetternotgetsickerthanthis Whatifigetsickerthanthis Thisissomebullshit Iwillnotoverreacticanhealmyself Iamtiredofthisijustwanttofeelnormalagain Okayiamjustgoingtodoallthethings 

So I did all the things I have known, and heard, and read, and were recommended to me! And with the confidence that I am a healthy young person with a relatively strong immune system and without a fever, I marched into an ALL OUT battle with whatever the heck this was that was causing this attack. Here was my routine:

MORNING:
Vitamin C
Chew and swallow a slice of fresh ginger
Hot tea with local honey, lemon, ginger and peppermint drops
Black Seed Oil
Yoga

AFTERNOON:
Hot tea with local honey, lemon, ginger and peppermint drops
Multivitamin
Natural Cough Syrup

EVENING
Vitamin C
Hot tea with local honey, lemon, ginger and peppermint drops
Oil of Oregano
Steam! (Covered head over steaming water infused with lavender essential oil and peppermint drops)

After an honest 3 1/2 days straight of this routine... I was better. Then I was great. Now, I'm back to 100% and I could not be more grateful!! Being sick during this time was really messing with my mind. I was fighting hard not to be defeated by this, to climb out of the rabbit's hole it was sending me down. If I am being 100, 100... I feel like I experienced some mild version of this thing. Maybe, maybe not. But I can't be sure because I was never tested. So in isolation I will remain along with the rest of LA on lockdown until further notice. 

Here's a picture of ALL THE THINGS - my arsenal during the battle:

Corona & Connection
First things first:

Corona & Connection cont'd
Giuseppe and I (and Clover) got our dance on for 2 hours Saturday night. #clubquarantine was just what we needed! Beautiful experience. Then I checked back in on Wednesday night for his When We all Vote campaign with Michelle Obama and was inspired and moved that his party with a purpose resulted in 300K potential new registered voters (last I checked)!!

Get in on that: www.whenweallvote.com/dnice

This time has offered many new opportunities to connect with our communities and families. Have you? I've heard it time and time again. For me, I have talked to relatives I haven't in too long and friends that I hardly do. Shout out to Zoom!!

There's more to say here. But I think I've said enough for today. More to come...

enisha b jane

In my own words
​E as in elephant