IN A BUBBLE

FRAGILE AND SOMEWHAT NECESSARY, WHY BUBBLE IS OUR THEME THIS WEEK

Madeline Strum Photography

Madeline Strum Photography

Madeline Strum Photography

ALL I WANT TO DO IN QUARANTINE IS FINALLY CROSS THINGS OFF MY TO-DO LIST that have been there for years, like old convention issues. I want to be like, “We can’t go anywhere? Then leave me alone while I fi nish this. You’re hungry? You can fi gure it out.” But that’s not how any of this works. I thought about calling Issue 93 a double issue in order to skip this week and free up more time to create the 2018 conventions issues. Then I thought I could phone it in by embracing the fact that I am in a bubble of my own making. Suddenly references to bubbles were everywhere, including The New York Times warning how necessary but diffi cult it is to form a pod so kids can socialize this summer and then a dad with a video warning “the social and emotional bubble is about to burst,” like the dot-com bubble or the housing bubble.*

We are in a bubble. The super isolation helps create the illusion here that we’re not missing anything outside. Three kids fi ghting with each other plus all their school work creates enough drama. I can’t do anything about the impending hot weather and how miserable that will make things, but we can keep avoiding people who don’t want to wear masks or believe everyone should be treated equally. At the least, I hope to emerge a better person with a shorter to-do list. —MV

*Check out unite4ourfi ght.org to learn more about investing in research and support for fi rst responders and children during this pandemic.