A Day or So in My Life
FT. Quaker Community, Random Snacks, & Kali Uchis.
Artwork by my talented friend, Val (@piggyology on Instagram and on Substack). She’s an illustrator & designer based in bed-stuy, bk.
Last night
It’s about 6:30 PM, and I’m walking a few (more like 15) blocks from a sports bar to my classic West Philly rowhome on one of my favorite streets in Philly. It’s finally snowing. It looks like the kind that will stick, and Kali Uchis is playing in my headphones that double as earmuffs.
I love this street and the equally dreadful and familiar walk uphill because I lived here when I first moved to Philly in 2019. Life is weird but good.
Pre-Quaker Business Meeting
I am cold but feeling invigorated by the snow and good music. I take off my jacket, say hello to my housemate, and walk up the three flights of stairs to my new room.
It’s a cozy room with great natural light. It has all my things, or at least what I could bring back from my family's house in Wisconsin.
I’m back in an intentional Quaker community while I settle back in Philly. This means shared community meals, house meals, and a weekly business meeting. Speaking of which.
Quaker Business Meeting
As a non-Quaker, I enjoy the organizational structure of Quaker meetings, worship, and community. It looks like moments of silence, non-hierarchical leadership, and a justice-oriented approach to most things. Even doing the laundry feels more intentional in the Quaker community.
Post Business Meeting
I grab a handful of random snacks found in the house’s shared cupboards. Groceries are also a shared thing in the community. My stomach grumbles because my dinner was a giant pretzel and a cocktail. I shove fruit gummies and Cheetos in my mouth and call it my second dinner.
Winding Down
My housemate joins me in the living room to watch Desperate Housewives. Small wins. They want me to watch a Chinese Court Drama with them next. I say I’m down.
We finish a dramatic episode, and I say goodnight. I walk back to my room and notice the color of the sky after the snow stopped. Wow, I missed the snow. I lay in bed and scroll TikTok. I think about how many awards shows there are. I confuse the names in my head but look forward to the one I know - the Oscars.
Bedtime
I set my alarm for 9 in case I don’t wake up earlier than that. I think about walking to work tomorrow night in the snow. I roll over and groan. That’s a tomorrow Sarah problem.
Pre-coffee
I wake up an hour before my alarm. I put my glasses on. My contacts are dailies, and without a full-time job, those become a luxury. I save the luxury for a day when I need my peripheral vision more. Haha.
I throw on some leggings so I’m more likely to do my Pilates challenge on day 8 (?) before I get ready for my part-time job at a yoga studio. The mock-neck sweater on top will keep me warm until then.
Coffee
Two of my housemates work from home today, and I’m happy to have the company. I brew another pot of coffee while I toast two Trader Joe’s waffles. I should be avoiding the gluten, but I want a sweet breakfast.
I eat the yummy waffles with frozen blueberries and syrup while I listen to my second podcast this morning.
Job Search Chronicles Continues
The job search continues, and I break out my trusty MacBook Air from 2014. I email in my application for one job and dread starting the next. My tabs for potential jobs are getting out of hand. So are my desperate attempts to network.
Candle Time
My housemate lights a candle, and my spirits lift. I turn on more music and switch gears to write something for my Substack. It’s time I warm up my writing skills again.
It’s almost eleven, and I plan to apply for one more job. Then I will do some pilates, shower, read, and leave for work.