1 Day Left in California’s Special Election

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how infrequently I write on here. I guess I still feel that pressure to be perfect. But there’s something beautiful about just the process. Bad days. Good days. The full journey. No shortcuts besides the long paths that we took.

Tonight, I experienced a prideful moment—having voter’s guides for the special election readily available in the first little free library (LFL) that I set-up. And then seeing that there were new, pro-cycling, AC Transit stickers and a new Bike East Bay sticker. Salute! Very cool. I hope we find time to talk more about palimpsests. Such a fascinating idea. They’re everywhere!

Winter’s coming, and I don’t know if I’ll have enough time to waterproof the library before these weather systems arrive. I have a slightly complicated theory about what’s required to waterproof the first LFL’s doors. And one of these days soon, I’ll test the theory out. Just not now and probably not tomorrow.

My primary responsibility is performing well at work and at school. And I’m very grateful it’s working. But if people want to volunteer to support the library, I have a few little repair jobs that are resourced with all of the materials. I’ve just been struggling to find the time.

Can I tell you what I’m working towards? I’m interested in collaboratively developing a digital archive for my city. And I think a component of that is being vulnerable enough to share about my archival practice. I believe that archiving is a commitment to practice a craft that has been practiced for thousands of years in ways as infinitely varied as the times and contexts in which it has been practiced. And I enjoy learning how I like to practice and how others like to practice.

Pursuant to good practice, I’m sharing this blog post to share a record of what I was thinking about the day after Día de los Muertos and on the eve of this special election. It’s my open letter to anyone who cares to read it in this lifetime or any of the next.