Free Palestine
“What do any of you know of my Palestine? Of the late night queer parties in Ramallah? Of raves held in biblically aged buildings? Of lesbians in hijabs, of gay men in hoop earrings, of trans Palestinians dancing with joyful abandon?
We fear Israel first, before our families, always. We're 100 times more likely to die at the hands of an Israeli gun or bomb than by western propagandized ideas of honor killings. I've seen White Christian Americans wish their child be dead rather than gay.
Israel is the one that weaponizes the homophobia that Queer people all over the world of all religions experience to justify murdering Palestinians of all kinds, young and old, Christian and Muslim, Queer and Straight.”
-tweet from @BabaSubeaux
I found this beautiful and chilling poem circulating on the internet from a queer Palestinian and had to share it with you all. Please keep speaking out, donating and protesting. Operation Olive Branch is where I have been donating that houses a massive spreadsheet where you can donate directly to families’ Go Fund Me’s in Gaza. You can support more specific funds to journalists, mutual aid efforts, medical funds, prenatal - postpartum parents and I encourage everyone to commit to donating more than feels comfortable.
COVID subvarient rates are also spiking again in the Bay Area and as per usual, the media isn’t making it be known! Please consider wearing a mask again in public settings (I know, it sucks especially in the summer) but I am comforted knowing I at least won’t be smelling the gross smells of public transportation! I saw a crow devouring a dead mouse the other day downtown and let’s just say I am glad I had my mask on for that one! It’s ~hot~ to protect your community and yourself from the myriad of summer illnesses (and COVID) going around now!
nostalgia
I wake up and nostalgia pulls at my heart strings (whatever that means), tugging and whispering: don’t forget me.
nostalgia feels like ten years old
dirty feet and bruised knees
old wood cabins and campfire songs
cold creek plunges and trotting through the field on that old horse, sassy
old crow medicine show and country music on repeat
tomato soup, grilled cheese, store candy
hand written letters to my family and friends who remember
to write back with a borrowed stamp and envelope
in the mountains we remember!
Whenever it’s sunny and 75 I’m reminded of my childhood summer camp: camp strawderman :,)
may musings
Reporting to you live, Catie Davis remains constipated for 2 (two!) days. Which may come as a shock to you, despite my aforementioned bathroom misfortunes. Will she poop today? Hopefully.
Oops, it’s JUNE. How did that happen? Anyone else feel like they blinked and suddenly it’s summer? Unsure how most people feel living in California, but with the seasons so mild I’m finding it harder to mark time by the weather. When I moved, some days I swear it was Fall. Not sure how I’m liking that part, I’ll report back later.
May was packed with Oh So Many fun and queer social events — I organized a daily L Word Coffee Meet Up based on this Autostraddle article, which was a Great Success! My soccer pals and I met for coffee for 5 days straight and it was great seeing soccer, writing and life pals meet and become pals and to talk about queer things before the work day. Now we meet in the mornings on Fridays at Kinfolx so come join if you’re in Oakland!
I also went back packing for the very first time ever with a bunch of queer pals, two dogs; pooped in the woods, ate yummy tacos and saw Big Sur for the first time! Pictures below! California is unbelievable, I can’t fathom how there’s mountains and the ocean and redwoods all in the same proximity. It really puts East Coast hiking to shame (although the Shenandoah mountains will always have a special place in my heart <3 ).
view from around Big Sur!
if you look really closely, there’s a river flowing down the center and the ocean in the horizon! this was halfway to the camp site.
May was also a fantastic month for working on my novel! I wrote most days and am so grateful for my writing community. Been feeling a lot of angst/ imposter syndrome and thinking and writing about DC/ friends has been confusing but probably a good practice in self- control and a good reminder I don’t have to quit my job and move back just because I miss it!
It’s also Asian American Pacific Islander month and I want to share more writing on adoption, queerness and race soon— more to come. Happy AAPI Month to all my AAPI pals!!
LASTLY!! I went to see Lizzy McAlpine perform her newest album, Older and it was a magical night — she’s an incredible singer/artist (and Strawderman gal!) and I highly encourage you to listen. My faves are All Falls Down, I Guess and Come Down Soon.
Hope everyone’s having a fruitful start to the summer and have a HAPPY PRIDE !!!!!
until next time,
-catie
MORE POEMS PLZ!!! loved this update
Omg the nostalgia poem 🥲🥲🥲