I am conflicted about deciding not to attend the memorial for my maternal grandmother later this month. Although it is tradition to gather to mourn family members who have died, meeting in person isn’t safe, not yet. With a surge of COVID infections nationwide, people should follow the CDC recommendation to… Continue reading 7) Do I Stay, or Do I Go? The Eldest Grandchild Away During the Pandemic
The featured black and white photo shows my great grandma who raised me in Hanford, CA. She and her sister Justina (right side) volunteered in Hanford, CA during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. It doesn’t come naturally for me to give up without a fight, but my heart can’t take continuous worry. Stressed to exhaustion… Continue reading 6) Get Out of My Head: Healing Trauma in the Body
In post #4, I wished for queer mestiza sci-fi dreams that would help me integrate my computer/tech and Chicana feminist worlds. That is a big dream given that Chicanx digital visibility has not increased much in the 41 years since my first computer at age 13. The pandemic has revealed a digital divide in communities… Continue reading 5) When Tenure Goes Queer: “Surprise! You’re Retired” or How to Proceed If the Pandemic Has Forced Your Departure
My August had more ordinary days than June or July. I finally swam in the pool and stopped sleeping the days away. In August I slept at night with far fewer thoughts and tears about the trauma of being fired after 20 years. I started conceptualizing this blog to improve my focus, to set goals,… Continue reading 2) The New COVID-19 Normal: Finding Myself During a Pandemic
This blog is about my process. A Chicana colleague shocked me out of self-pity when she said she thought I was the first tenured Chicana feminist scholar to be displaced by COVID-19. In the spirit of sharing, I am blogging so no one else feels alone. I am sure that I am not the… Continue reading 1) Gloria Anzaldúa Is My Antidote for 2020
For 20 years, I have been employed as a professor at the same university teaching four sometimes five classes each semester. Now that I’m not teaching a 4/4 load, I have created this new WordPress blog about my experiences as a formerly tenured Chicana faculty displaced by COVID-19. The blog is mostly to help me… Continue reading 0) Chicana Faculty Displaced by COVID-19
