The long haul.

It’s been a hard week. Maybe the hardest yet for me personally. I’ve felt an overwhelming sense of repetition in daily schedules and it’s been difficult to stay “up” and focused as the national news continues to be unbearable in a variety of ways. The uncertainty of reopening has weighed heavily on me - as we approach the possibility of holding an artwalk, I feel unsure. There is no answer in any of this that we all agree on, and this dissonance is something that I feel deeply.

I am excited about the fact that we have managed to establish a relief fund for artists, hosting the seveneightfive House Concerts and working on other initiatives that will continue to support the creative community. It’s exciting to think about getting back to “normal” or at least “normal-adjacent”….

As I’ve heard creatives talk about their experiences over the past few months, I hear two distinct themes: One of which is more time to work creatively and fewer distractions because of limited social opportunities. But the other theme is worry and uncertainty. There is not much I can say in a blog post or mass email that will change any of this other than to say this: You are not alone. There’s no right way to do any of this and we all will need to be patient and kind to ourselves and others.

Stay strong, Topeka. I hope that we will all be able to see each other very soon.