Digitally Analog

 


As an Elder Millennial, I was born into an analog world that was actively transitioning to a digital one. As the daughter of a computer programmer, we always had a computer in our home. At age 12, my father showed me Netscape. At age 16, I was in the AOL chat rooms back when a/s/l didn't mean American Sign Language. I understand different technologies as I have grown with them. Some became obsolete, while others have transformed to remain useful. I have retained this knowledge and hope that it will be useful as our digital spaces become less safe, less free.

The handwritten word will become critical. Quiet conversations will be life saving. Knowing how to be poor, how to survive without adequate resources will be invaluable. Knowing what to do when utilities get shut off and how to ration food while still making sure everyone eats will be crucial. 

My life has been varied with times of plenty and times of sacrifice. Through everything I have experienced and survived, I have gained and retained skills that equip me to beat the odds.

2025 is the beginning of what could be the most challenging era for America. This country has seen some horrific events, but this feels course altering. I don't think we will emerge from this and get back to our previous way of life. The current administration is working quickly to transform America and there seems to be no effective opposition. 

So YOLO! I'm going to push myself to learn the skills that I have been interested in but never made time for. I'm going to learn how to have plants and not kill them. I want to grow my own food. I want to learn how to DJ (it's an essential skill because we need to party and dance through this oppression). I want to learn how to make my own clothes (or at least how to modify thrifted items). I'm just trying to figure out how to do all this while working 45 hours a week and commuting 5 hours a week and dropping off/picking up my kids and scrolling TikTok. I have to make the time though. I have to lead my family through this.

I hope all of you are prioritizing your total health. Do what you can with the resources you have to exercise, eat healthy, regulate your emotional state and rest when you need to. These things will not be easy but if we let capitalism and fascism steal our humanity, what's the point of living?

So I'm making a commitment to be a badass, and kill it. I'm also going to keep my commitment to myself not to die on US soil. I want to die free✌🏽🫶🏽

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