Dear companions,
Thanks for opening your weekly Disco Diaries! Today’s letter is a little different than usual. It’s no secret that I like gazing out of windows absent-mindedly, and that’s been a part of my daily routine in Berkeley. My temporary home here looks out over a small public park that’s great for people watching and sunbathing. Today we explore some of its characters in a very teen-magazine kind of way.
“A beautiful little park” — Google reviewers
Sunshine! Green grass! Cool shade! It must be Halcyon Commons, a humble but generous park in the middle of South Berkeley. This much beloved green space used to be a paved parking area, until the community came together and said, hey! You know what we like? A place to to take our pups. A place where we can sit in the sun and think. A place where our children can giggle and play.
So in 1992 the Halcyon Neighborhood Association began the three-year process of turning these parking spots into a community park, which was only possible with the help of community volunteers and donations from local business. The people of this charming city must have really wanted this park, which would explain why, despite its tiny size, it’s constantly populated by all kinds of neighbors. There’s a near-constant stream of beautiful dogs to admire from the window, numerous people on picnic lunch breaks or strolls every hour, and a cast of recurring characters.
Which brings us to the next point:
Which Halcyon Commons regular are you?
Take this quiz to find out!
1. The first thing you do when you wake up is:
A) Get up and head to the bathroom for a quick shower.
B) Grab your phone to check your Instagram, Email, and Twitter in that order.
C) Brew a cup of tea, fitting in a few gentle stretches while the water heats up.
D) Consider working out, but microwave the leftovers of yesterday’s coffee instead.
2. Describe your daily quarantine look:
A) Same as it was pre-COVID. I’m a professional, and I need to act like one.
Ironing gives me pleasure.
B) I’ll wear the same t-shirt three days in a row, or until I have plans to meet up
with someone for a socially distanced hang. Then, finally, all my online
shopping will serve its purpose.
C) Yoga pants and Birkenstocks. I’m just trying to feel comfortable and relaxed.
D) I pretty much wear the same thing everyday — my favorite shirt and my favorite
jeans. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
3. What do you look forward to on the weekends?
A) I like to get bagels and lox, and maybe do a crossword or read. I’m trying to get
into running. It’s good to catch up on some work emails, too.
B) At this point the weekends are like more of a concept than an actual thing, so.
C) My friends and I try to make time to meet up, maybe plan a stroll through the
flea market with our masks on.
D) Showing up at a bud’s house with some beers and my guitar in tow.
4. What are you most likely to impulse buy?
A) A subscription to Showtime that I may or may not use.
B) A single sunflower.
C) A sort of pricy but totally worthwhile retreat in Costa Rica that my friend
Susanne posted about on Facebook.
D) A capo for my guitar, but not sure how to use it.
5. What have your dreams been like lately?
A) I don’t know, I never really remember them.
B) Lots of wild imagery and cameos from the distant past, but I’ve been going to
therapy, so now I’m no longer phased by encountering an ex in
random places in my dreams.
C) Important. As always. One of my favorite quotes by Carl Jung is “A dream
uninterpreted is a letter from God unopened.” That really resonates with me.
D) I have the best ideas in my dreams, but I always forget them when I wake up.
6. Imagine you’re attending classes at a college. It’s the first day of the semester, and you’re walking into a full classroom. Where do you sit?
A) I sit in the front, where I won’t be distracted by classmates, and can make eye
contact with my professor ahead of our first of many one-on-one office
hour meetings.
B) I try to spot someone with similar vibes as me, with hopes that I can make a
new friend or collaborative partner or, yes, love interest.
C) I sit wherever there is an open space with a comfortable view of the teacher. I
try hard not to judge people by their appearance, and believe that I can learn
something new from everyone.
D) I sit in the back, which is probably where I’ll find the like-minded free
thinkers.
Tally up your answers and make a note of which letter you had the most of!
And now, a brief fig intermission before we get to the results.
Results:
If you answered mostly As
Barefoot contemplator on his lunch break
Sometimes you feel like you’re suffocating under the weight of your high-end reputation, and you just need to drive your Tesla to a park where you can kick of your Teva sandals, drag your bare feet through the grass, and take a break from it all. Although, yes, a Tesla is a bit flashy, it’s also practical, and that’s a balance you can appreciate — sophistication and utility. This is made all the more apparent by the sleek and compact down jacket that you wear over your crisp button down during your walk. Warmth meets style. You want nice things, for yourself and for your family, but you occasionally wonder if the long hours and hard work are really worth the lifestyle. Your ambition is admirable, but your barefoot break in the park was probably long overdue. Maybe next time you can take the whole afternoon off and bring a blanket and a tumbler of wine.
If you answered mostly Bs
Millennial couple on their third date
Love is in the air. Although you may hesitate at first to lean into intimacy and sunshine-soaked cuddles, you’ll eventually find yourself all about the PDA. Maybe that PDA is literal and with a partner, or maybe it’s just a metaphor for you being unapologetically yourself where all can see. Through the challenging times that are 2020, you’ve managed to find someone — or something — that lights your fire. Lean into it. Enjoy the excitement of novelty, but be sure you know your own boundaries, COVID-related or otherwise.
If you answered mostly Cs
Pretty middle-aged yogis
It’s taken you a while to get here, but look at you. Mental health, inner peace, and personal wellness are finally at the forefront of your lifestyle. Good on you for taking time out of your day to meet up with the ladies in the park for a slow yin stretch each evening at 6 p.m. on the dot. All of these positive habits — tea in place of coffee, regular yoga, gratitude journaling — may seem like small gestures, but the whole is greater than the sum. Keep it up. Oh, and namaste.
If you answered mostly Ds
Classic rock acoustic guitar jammer
Sometimes the whole world seems like it’s trying to bring you down, but if there’s one thing they can’t take away it’s your creative freedom. You like — you need — to express yourself by any means possible. Still, in These Uncertain Times it can be difficult to find your own voice and make something new. You must remember that sometimes copying something you admire is a good way to get the juices flowing. So, feel free to play that gorgeous acoustic intro to “More than a Feeling” in the afternoon Berkeley sun. Our windows are open, and we’re listening.
A song for you
Extremely into this song.
Final thoughts du jour
This is Disco Diaries #18, and every edition has been a pleasure to write. But what’s made me even happier is getting feedback and responses from friends and readers. It means a lot to sensitive lil’ me when you reach out. So thank you. I’m looking forward to staying in touch in this way, and hope that this newsletter can lead to even more connections, not just for me but maybe someday for the readers, too. That being said, if you ever feel inclined to share Disco Diaries with someone, please know that you are free (and encouraged!) to do so!
All my best wishes to you and your pets and your friends,
Katya