Welcome to my Moonbox: a gathering of musings, learnings, and aspirations held (perhaps, sometimes only briefly) by the many expressions of me, Sarita.
From the desk:
otro día nevado
feathery ovals collapse
shapes of brown bodies, beneath
what was once a sky building
now rubbling water and light
bodies arcing in their gravity
such oval flattening
such white snow this world can see
such cold burial, just another day
and then another — the tree bark almost
looks red, the dirt roads
needle pines pressed like cupped hands,
the stones of the earth erupt
shade white with dark absence
and the snow is knuckling hard
against the earth, and these bodies remain
earthlings, caught by storm
heartwoods, as brown as ever
otro día, nevado pero entero
as in, rooted, cradling light
a red, rubbled road into the sky—
why can't we see it
the end to the storm, layered everywhere—
where gravity ceases
and even ovals desist—
feathery ovals collapse
against a forest of brown bodies, above
what was once just water and light
now sky buildings of cupped red earth,
such undulating texture
such warm roots
this, just another day
but this, where the forest justly belongs
to its earth, is exactly
what the world
refuses to see.
-for Gaza, for all
Life updates: February ended up being a busy month for me, from mitigating shin splints to salvaging my first race as a professional athlete to spending hours in airports to trying to embrace my ever-aging body and its relative demise during winter months…where motivation drops and the number of Vitamin D pills I take goes up…or I find myself just wanting to loaf on the couch and do absolutely nothing because that is, currently, the one thing that doesn’t have to do with any sort of contract or gig or manner of advocacy in my life. And I savor the privilege and ability to wilfully choose respite, as millions of people cannot.
There admittedly is an extra layer of pressure when it comes to my athletic training now, because of contractual obligations and, of course, ego. But, thankfully, it hasn’t changed my ability to adapt, to rest, to enjoy training as I always have. Let us hope this never changes. As for March, the business is tapering down. Writing opportunities/gigs have come and gone, and I am finally gazing toward a few days that have little to no obligations at all; I am excited to embrace a sort of minimalism.
Patrick is finally out snowboarding for the first time this season, as our finances have been a little tough. I work in industries that tend to pay 30 or 60 days after invoices are submitted, and that is just undeniably rough. Plus, the cost of living—do I even need to state it? We’re paying for health insurance this year, and it hurts. If I had known getting a single mole biopsied would cost over $200, I probably would have requested the Derm to only take a sample if it was dire. I’m scared to ask how much my annual breast MRI, transvaginal ultrasound, and mammogram are going to cost. If they are hundreds of dollars each, what am I supposed to do? Do I condone the financial stress or do I decline these critical screenings? Why does health care in the U.S. work like this?
I did some math and the monthly premiums plus out-of-pocket max (which includes deductible) that my plan requires equals 91% of the income I will make from being a professional athlete this year. LOL! If you take just deductible plus monthly premiums, then it equals 35% of my income. Premiums alone equal 22%. According to an ACA threshold, you should only spend 10% of your annual income on individual health coverage. I am on a heavily discounted Gold plan for a “nonprofit” and the costs are still obscene. UGH. But the reason I don’t qualify for Medicaid anymore is because of Patrick’s income. If I did all of this math using household income, then both our premiums plus both of our out-of-pocket max(es?) equals 29%. Both our premiums plus both our deductibles equals 11% (this math is also based on the projection that Patrick will be getting a raise this year). So, I suppose this is all saying that the cost of health insurance is more affordable the less you use it…hmm…funny and sad. Especially for those of us who don’t have the luxury of ignoring health care lest we succumb to our genetic predispositions and/or conditions…
I would love to have a body that didn’t have a genetic mutation. What a cheaper life that would be!
La Vida Mundial:
GearJunkie – REI Buys Grand Canyon Land for Glamping Destination – Not sure how I feel about this…I would have rather seen REI buy Grand Canyon land to donate to local Tribal nations.
Outside Online – Climber Charles Barrett Convicted on All Three Counts of Sexual Assault – The news of this has rattled the climbing community and especially people and places that I am familiar with or know personally. I did not know him, however, but am really happy to see him behind bars now!
NPR – As they wait for a truce, Palestinians and Israeli hostage families voice their agony – This conflict is of course maddening; the parallels with other historic genocides are undeniable.
HBD to all February birthdays.
[Previous: Moonbox Notes #21]
Recent Top Pick Reads:
+ “Gutbucket,” by Emily Raboteau, Orion Magazine, Articles, Feb, 2024. A touching essay about a mother seeking wisdom about survival who also travels to interview the Yup’ik people about climate change. Woven in, she recalls the passing of her father, who had been a historian of African American religion, drawing parallels with Yup’ik generational trauma.
+ “Too Much Like Thirst,” by Anja Semanco, The Third Thing, Feb 20, 2024. Semanco braids her grief of having to leave Colorado for a new job with the science (and steps) of dehydration and the increasing rate of wildfires in the state.
+ “This Native Runner Challenges Stereotypes to Elevate Performance,” by Ben Pryor, Outside Online, RUN, Culture, Feb 1, 2024. Timberlin Henderson (Navajo) wants to destigmatize the use of cannabis in the running/everyday world, along with showing how running itself is seen as medicine in his traditional Navajo culture.
+ “How Trail Running Saved a Top Chef from Addiction,” by Nicholas Triolo, Outside Online, RUN, Culture, Feb 16, 2024. A great write-up about Gregory Gourdet, an award-winning Chef who took to running after several hard years of addiction and bad luck, eventually finding home (in both the kitchen and in the woods) in Portland.
Books/Mags in progress:
+ I’ve fallen off the book reading wagon for 2024, but I just ordered several that have sparked my interest.
Recent Listens/Watchings:
+ “Introducing Guest Host Mira Jacob,” Thresholds Podcast with Jordan Kisner, Apple Podcasts, Feb 7, 2023. Kisner and Jacob talk about, among many things, the vulnerabilities of publishing, how to enact self-care amidst the influx of sharing, and how we can still show up for others experiencing trauma.
+ “Chasing Greatness #29 – Ti Eversole,” Chasing Greatness with Ben Sorensen Podcast, YouTube, Mar 6, 2024. Sorensen and Eversole (Diné) discuss cultural traditions, rituals, and the intersections of adventure and life, among many other interesting things.
+ “Skiing with the Indigenous Youth of Taos, The New Radical: Episode 2,” SacredStoke, YouTube, Feb 29, 2024. In this episode, Connor Ryan (Lakota) visits and spends time with the people of the Taos Pueblo, learning from and providing support to the local Working on Wellness program. A very touching episode, I will add.
+ “The Hypocrite,” Teton Gravity Research, Protect Our Winters, YouTube, GearJunkie Winter, Feb 23, 2024. An interesting documentary that brings more light to the conundrum of climate change and the actions of outdoor recreationists, particularly those of professional winter athletes. While I appreciate this discussion taking place and the many voices they bring in to engage in dialogue surrounding a tough topic, I will say that they failed to include Indigenous voices on the matter, which, in my opinion, is a gross oversight because no one should be talking about climate change and stewardship without including Indigenous voices. Tribal nations are traditional water and land protectors and we should always include counsel from them.
Writing/Projects: (updates are highlighted)
+I published a piece with Outside Online/RUN: ReNew Earth Running Takes Action to Enhance Visibility for Indigenous People
+I also published a piece with iRunFar: Running for a Cause: ReNew Earth Running and the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition
+I currently have one general submission in the ether: a short nonfiction piece entitled, “El Viento.”
+The hybrid essay/memoir I wrote in 2021, “Chuckwalla,” still needs some major revision and writing. I have also submitted this project to the 2024 Graywolf Press work-in-progress prize.
+I have a Science Fiction novella that I’ve been slowly working on since 2017.
Athlete Life (new section!)
- Race Schedule:
- Feb 24 – Angry Tortoise 25K, Bryceville, FL (1st Female, 3rd Overall!)
- May 24-26 – Mexico Sky Challenge 35K, Orizaba, Veracruz
- Jun 6-9 – GoPro Games Apres 5K, 10K, & Pepi’s Faceoff, Vail, CO
- Jun 20-24 – Broken Arrow Skyrace 23K, Olympic Valley, CA
- Aug 3 – Kennebec Mountain Run 15 Miler, Durango, CO
- FKTs on the list for 2024:
- Ubehebe Crater, Death Valley, CA
- Corkscrew Peak, Death Valley, CA
- Durango 7 Summits, CO
- Evo Loop via Lamarck Col or Standard Loop, CA
- Lowest to Highest (Badwater to Tumanguya/Mt. Whitney), CA
MISC/Brags:
- I recertified my Wilderness First Responder earlier this month (March).
- I’ve partnered with GoSleeves, maker of compression garments utilizing kinesiology tape for targeted support. Check them out here and get 15% off (or use “heysara” at checkout).
Thanks for tuning in to Sarita’s Moonbox.
Happy end of Winter!
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