*Joke creds to Ellen Grace and 2% of Hadiyyah, whose speciality is finger guns and no substance* Ellen Grace here, sometimes u just gotta finger gun.
Hello. We love you very much. Since the pandemic started, our lives have been filled with reflection over the past year, so instead, let’s focus on the now.
We’ve made it through. There are flowers (depending on where you are), there are vaccines (despite the disorganized rollout and discriminatory hierarchy of who “deserves” to live more), and Now More Than Ever People Are Aware Of The Systemic Issues Which Arise From Another Virus Called Capitalism.
We’re having a hard time thinking of what to write. Often times, when our lives are busy and messy and stressful, writing becomes more of a rote activity propelled by a certain deadline than an honest portrayal of vulnerability. This year has been probably the hardest in our lives.
But once a week, over Zoom, we began to learn about each other, be it popsicle scandals; the reality of first years whose university experience has been entirely online; who has pets that might pop up on camera; or the squishmallows that we as EICs both have (isn’t that a lovely coincidence?).
We’ve also learned from each other, and from our writers and contributors. Every issue, we’re amazed by the content that authors and illustrators produce for a silly little college newspaper. But it’s not silly and little: it’s intimate, open, and a vehicle for community. Is it cringe to say that? Probably.
We’re imagining a future where we all get to come together, masthead and contributors, to celebrate this volume. Since it’s imaginary, we might as well make it cool.
We’re on the moon, or something, a cool dreamy planet. We see each other from a distance covered in fog. As we move closer, the mist begins to disappear, becoming the morning dew of grass. I don’t really know where I’m going with this one.
Head empty, very little thoughts. Besides that, we have a lot of love for you even though we already said that. We mean it, friends. Thanks for reading this paper—you’re really rad for that. Thanks for being by our side when we weren’t sure how things were going to go. There’s still some mist in our eyes but we’re supposed to be professional and not say that they are really tears! Yes, mist. We are not crying and missing you already.
We hope we have inspired you in some way. We hope you eat something yummy and do something fun after reading this. Please do something fun.
Hadiyyah’s going to listen to a BTS playlist and Ellen Grace is going to recreate Phoebe Bridgers music videos on TikTok using Lego and Playmobil. Take care of yourself. If you’re not graduating, or even if you are, we hope The Strand has a place in your hearts and homes once again.
Hopefully you didn’t cringe too hard. Relax your face.