THIS WEEK
We thought our face masks were cute until we saw Lady Gaga’s at the VMAs. Behold the new monument to Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth. Bill and Ted’s excellent midlife crisis. Every Keanu performance, ranked. '80s aerobics with a Rob Zombie soundtrack. Coming to terms with a lost summer. Goodbye, Lord & Taylor (and hello, clearance sale). Dave Grohl is in a drum battle with a 10-year-old, and he might lose. Is lockdown making us depressed or just bored? It’s definitely making us clumsy. Black Girls Rode to the March on Washington. Not your mother’s Jell-O molds. COVID freed me from politeness and unwanted touching. The best books of 2020 so far. Illustrations of women as powerful warriors. Virtual tours of Frida Kahlo's house. Even Danielle Steele was too anxious to write under lockdown. Wakanda forever.
(Photo: Hakim Bishara for Hyperallergic)
STORY: Taking Care of the Strongest Man I Ever Knew
Editor’s note: This month we’re focusing on stories of caregiving — the people we love and tend to.
By Christine Stroebel
“My father asked me, ‘How long does it take?’ I felt all the sound, light, air — everything — leave the room; only the weight of those words remained. I was standing at the side of his bed, lightly stroking his forehead. Mom was exhausted, slumped in a chair in a dark corner. He was dying and wanted to know when it would be over. He had seen so much life and death on the farm — animal life and death — for 40 years, he knew when death was near and he was ready for it. But for him to ask me… that took me a minute. I was the youngest and a girl. You didn’t reveal this kind of vulnerability to your youngest daughter.”
(Psst: Want to write for us? Pitch us here!)
OBSESSED: Fanny Packs
Fanny packs. Belt bags. Waist packs. BUM BAGS. Whatever you call them, and however much you made fun of them in the ‘80s, they’re still around, and arguably more popular than ever. Because – admit it – they’re useful. The TueNight Crew weighs in:
Margit: In this moment nearly anything I buy for myself is pandemic-practical. So when I spied these fabulous Baggu waist packs in perfect colors (this is not your ‘80s Lady Nautilus accessory.) I knew they would enhance my daily dog walks and socially distant friend walks. It’s roomy enough to fill it up with dog treats and, unlike my crossbody bags, it won’t tug my shoulder into an ergonomic slouch.
Margaret: I’m eyeing this very simple one from Target, which I would wear sling-style and under a coat. It looks like it’s lightweight, logo-free, won’t tear up my sweaters, and doesn’t have a lot of bulk to it (my main requirements besides no leather). That said, this IKEA one is amazing.
Deesha: I like this hip pack because of the fabric and design and because it's made by a Black woman-owned company.
Brooke: I’ve had one for a few years and use it primarily when I need to quickly run out and only want to bring my keys, phone, and wallet. But I think it may be time to upgrade to a day-to-night look. The key to it being “cool” is to never wear it around your waist. Instead, extend the strap to its longest size and sling it diagonally like a crossbody bag.
Jen: I travel a lot and this slim running waist belt is my go-to. It’s secure and, most importantly, the bottom of my shirt covers it so it’s discreet. No one can tell I’ve got a credit card and cash in there. Way better than pulling out sweaty bra cash!
(Photo: Baggu)
TueNight 10: Hope Meng
(Hope live-painting a collaborative mural at LetterWest conference. Photo by Matt McDowell.)
Age: 43
Basic bio: Hope is a designer and artist who believes in the power of letters to communicate through both their content and their form. She is the designer behind Monogram Project, and the artist behind TEXT/TILE Studio.
Beyond the bio: I have experimented with many different interests, sports, and hobbies. For whatever reason, I tend to compartmentalize – never letting my passion for typography and design intersect with my passion for sewing (for example). As I get older, I see those walls breaking down and combining into an expression that is uniquely my own.
What makes you a grown-ass lady? Taking responsibility for my emotions. No one else makes me feel anything, and I know how to honor and process my feelings without being unproductive about it. That doesn't mean I don't get grumpy or lose my temper or feel sorry for myself sometimes, but that I understand those emotions are my choice. There is real power in that.
1. On the nightstand: The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, Luster by Raven Leilani, and a stack of half-read New Yorkers.
2. Can't stop/won't stop: Puzzling. Since the pandemic started, I have completed 19 (and counting) 1000-piece puzzles. When the world feels uncertain and out of control, there is great comfort in puzzles. The little endorphin hit you get after finding the rightful home for a piece and clicking it into place – a puzzle is not just an activity, it is 1000 tiny accomplishments.
3. Jam of the minute: Not exactly current, but I just introduced my 6yo daughter to Salt-N- Pepa's “Push It” and she's obsessed. I'm obsessed with how obsessed she is with this song.
4. Thing I miss: Hanging out with friends indoors. Dinner parties.
5. ’80s crush: River Phoenix.
6. Current crush: Any woman who has found her voice and isn't afraid to use it. Famous examples include AOC, Sarah Cooper, Padma Lakshmi – but there are plenty of lesser-known women who are quietly going around leading extraordinary lives.
7. Latest fave find: Pomelo-flavored San Pellegrino.
8. Last thing I lost: The notion that liberals are not complicit in the preservation of white supremacy.
9. Best thing that happened recently: Right before shelter-in-place began, I completed a mural at The Progress using my TEXT/TILE alphabet. TEXT/TILE feels like my unique artistic contribution to the world, and the mural was a huge validation of that project.
10. Looking forward to: The day when I don't have to worry about germs all the time.
Stay sexy, TueNighters!