Gaby | Chicago—talking work, dreams, and cooking

“Feels more like I’m on a really weird spiritual retreat.
”

My dear cousin Gaby chatted with my way back on May 26 about her experience living in Chicago as the pandemic began. We discuss what it looks like to imagine the future—and the whirlwind of emotions occuring during the stay at home order. And cooking! Thanks for listening!!

“It was a crazy stressful time when it felt like everything was falling apart. I was really scared when I was at work, but at home it felt normal...Sometimes I felt like everyone was overreacting and sometimes I felt like everyone was under reacting. ”

“While i was at work they were like ‘we are closing the gym’”

A 2016 throwback image of Emily and Gaby at the climbing gym.

“On a macro level, thinking about the way this impacting everyone in the city and state and country and world is really horrifying. But also it hasn’t been that close to me. It feels present— But I think I’m like two levels removed most of the time.”

the pile of books i’ve read in quarantine. the pile has become an emotional way of keeping time, and i’m very reluctant to put books away. i’ve lent people a few books from the pile, but have been hoarding the books i myself have borrowed. when quarantine started, i said i’d put them away when it was over...

“Sometimes I think I’m just trying to create meaning out of this time, but it’s really just some time spent at home and it’s not going to change my life that much. Hard to say.
”

an early quarantine self portrait. frozen eggo waffle for nostalgic comfort, weird cabin fever vibe

“I really miss going to the same place everyday, hanging out and doing some tasks. ..Mourning any kind of ability to plan for or imagine the future.”

“I cook extravagant dinners every night... that’s definitely been actually really great. I’ve had some breakthroughs in cooking which is exciting!”

here’s my much abused sourdough recipe where i keep track of dough folds and rise-times. i’ve been using this same piece of paper pretty much since april, when i started making sourdough, like everyone else.

Cover Image: a current quarantine self-portrait. out at the farmer’s market, trying to find a balance between being as safe and cautious as possible and finding some shred of connection to my neighborhood.