I think I finally understand the phrase, “Be careful what you wish for.”
My summers have always consisted of mandatory two-month-long family trips to Greece and Cyprus to visit family and ~reconnect~ with my parents’ motherlands. For me, these trips were more like an opportunity to bathe in glittery seas, bask in the Mediterranean sun, and indulge in the cultures of nearby cities like Florence, Nice, London and Tel Aviv.
Although I’ve always appreciated the privilege that afforded me the opportunities to swim in water almost clear enough to drink and explore cities outside the one I grew up in, I’ve always wanted to spend a summer in New York with my girlfriends. All those summers, I had watched from afar as my friends finessed their way into the Hampton homes of thirsty frat boys and rich extended family members. Their reckless adventures led to stories, memories, and inside jokes that I desperately wanted to be a part of.
Well, my wish has finally come true. It is the middle of July, there is one month of summer left, and I am stuck in hot, sweaty New York during the coronavirus pandemic, no less. It sucks. I have not been invited to a Hamptons house (not that I would go out of fear of catching the ‘rona), I have not seen my friends, and I have not made any memories with them, or, at the very least, with myself. I have simply been existing in a city that’s doing its best to heal, within a country that could probably do better.
And so, dear friend, my summer days thus far have sadly consisted of lots of alone time, including binge-watching competitive cooking shows on Netflix, trying out a new workout routine that I use as an opportunity to go outside but only after the sun sets (it’s only week 4 and I’m already seeing results babyyyy!!!), tweeting endless nonsense on my burner account (if you know, you know), and laying out on my balcony while watching the clouds wade through the sky.
Not a freckle has formed on my face yet, and I do not anticipate any major improvement to the quality of my summer any time soon. Sigh.
In an effort to make it a little more bearable though, I’ve put together this playlist. I want to make it a point to start sharing cool stuff I stumble upon with you guys, whether it comes in the form of a mood board, a playlist, or one of those reckless posts where I just ramble on for 1,200 words (i.e. my last post).
The playlists consists of 12 songs that sound kind of desperate, a lil sad but not “Summertime Sadness” sad, a smidge upbeat, maybe a lil reggae-inspired, but not really reggae at all. It’s chill. Kind of reminds me of lo-fi beats but not really. I feel like TikTok teens would like it. There’s one song on it by Billie Eilish if you’re into that. Anyway, enjoy, and maybe even let me know what you think?
kiki 