Q: Thanks for checking in with us again, Karma. Are you excited about the start of Fall?
A: It’s going to be 100 tomorrow, it’s still smokey, and some of my friends have been evacuated.
Q: Ah, it’s gonna be one of those interviews.
A: It’s 2020.
Q: What were your goals this summer?
A: Well, once it was clear what summer was going to be, I wanted to get into some good routines for myself. I wanted to try new recipes with my CSA, to take a walk every morning, to read in my hammock for a bit at the end of the work day, and to take Sundays off from school work. And I wanted to do some things on the big “to do” list, like backing up my old family photos.
Q: Did you meet your goals?
A: I tried a bunch of new recipes!
Q: What about the rest?
A: I was doing really well until the start of August. I was up to walking for almost an hour, but then my back went out. Right as two upper division online summer classes were starting. Since I give so much more feedback now, I was having trouble getting away from the computer. And then, once my back was better, the fires started.
Q: Ah, yes. And the air turned yellow and unhealthy.
A: While over 100.
Q: Yes.
A: It’s 2020. Yes. But I created an incredible marinara recipe.
Q: Do you think you’ll be able to get back into good health habits in Fall?
A: I’ll be teaching six classes.
Q: No hammock time?
A: The air is still unhealthy, but I do want to use it in between when the fires let up and the rain starts. If we get that break.
Q: Anything else happen this summer?
A: My brother and nephew got Covid, my rent went up, my hometown (with Covid-recovering family) got hit by a hurricane, and I’ve been bleeding for six out of the last eight weeks.
Q: Let’s leave the audience with sometime positive, shall we?
A: My son started grad school.
Q: And?
A: I got the cutest kitten in the world.
Q: And?
A: I survived. I survived more of this year, even though the natural and unnatural disasters make it hard to get out of bed in the morning. And while I didn’t manage to make any headway on my health or on my big list, I did manage to teach three intensive summer classes and to keep on top of them. And my fall classes are ready to go.
Q: And?
A: And I made a great marinara sauce!
