writing on burning paper
LA has seen devastation. The 1994 Northridge Earthquake comes to mind, the Woolsey fire in 2018, the countless riots. LA is a city, it seems, always on the brink of some madness. So many good people have been completely upended by these fires. In my 15 years in this city I have never seen this sort of destruction, I have also never seen this sort of support. Communities coming together in the face of tragedy, the disconnected “survival of the fittest” mentality, for a moment, capitulating to decency and kindness.
If you have been a reader of my writing for any length of time, you know how complicated my relationship with LA is. I have found it an unlikely home for longer than I had anticipated, and in that time, I have largely found it to be an isolating, selfish, and noxiously individualistic place. And yet now, as people turn to community for aid, I have never liked this city more. I see my neighbours embracing each other, holding one another in their time of need. I see people donating whatever they can, even if they don’t have much. I see people taking care of each other.
In the spirit of that. Here are some resources that have helped me find families that need my direct support.
Displaced Families
Displaced Families 2
Displaced Families 3
Mutual Aid LA
Regarding the L.A fires, please stay safe. Sending love to you and the people affected.
Times like this truly gives us a glimpse of what a community can be. It's easy to forget that the good still exists in humans, especially because we're surrounded by darkness all the time. Take in that light you're seeing in now. Write it down. Paint it. Hold it tight with you. Next time the darkness sweeps in, you'll have this glimpse you saw to guide your way. Hold on to that, because hope isn't easy to find, and without it, surviving feels pointless.
You have such a way with words. Idk what it is, but it's unique.
Also, I love that you're going full on with promo on Instagram. The last video about that viral Tiktok was a genius marketing move to grab the GP attention. And the one you posted yesterday is golden poetic cinema. I can't get enough.