April 14, 2024
Raggazzi,
The last you heard from me, I warned ya’ll to expect little of me because I was barreling towards an impromptu work trip to New York and the drop of Cowboy Carter on “Good Friday.” A promise I kept because I did, in fact, have no energy at the end of that trip to write anything. I did, however, listen to Beyonce’s album on a loop from dawn to dusk (and frankly, have never stopped). And now - you are getting this two days late from our usual programming. I do not even know where to start. I just know I have a lot to cover.
To give you an idea of the whirlwind I have been living in, when I boarded my flight to Paris this morning, I didn’t even know what hotel I booked to head to for my arrival (I am writing this from the flight). How did I get here?
Well, first, there is work - there was a lot of it. My day job has lulls of balance and highs of Ramen noodle dinners; these past two weeks have been 65% Ramen noodles.
And then, there is the work travel. Work travel means that 24/7 from the minute you arrive until you leave - your life is work- “Let’s get coffee! let’s get lunch! where are we going for dinner? Anyone want drinks?” and before that is typical “omg, we are all together let’s do a workshop” even though a workshop might not be a good idea - it becomes one because there is some false romantic idea that working together IRL is more valuable (it’s not, the only thing that is, is the “hallway” discussions and pretending to work politics (first in last out!)) - the rest, I’d argue, is diminishing returns (I digress and I don’t care because I am on a free trip to Paris right now, so no complaints from the inefficient spending of other peoples money).
Speaking of spending money, Lastly, my boyfriend and I decided to put an offer in on a house when we were NOT actively looking, but hey—YOLO. The offer was submitted this morning as I was leaving the house for the airport, by the way.
I should also clarify I am anything but chill when it comes to getting shit in order. For example, I am blessed to have a mother who has been a realtor since I was 12. As her only child, you’d think there would be no limit to the calls I could make to her as I navigated this YOLO decision. Well friends, I think I have called her so much, she might uninvite me from her Italy Birthday Trip (I forgot to mention I have a vacation in 2 weeks) - and honestly I wouldn’t blame her.
And then there is Fort Bianchi, my little corner of the world where I get to sit down once a week and stretch my writing-researching-creative-sharing muscle - typically with some level of focus on a theme point of view of the world to share how I am navigating a world not built with women in mind. And outside of spilling my life’s guts here - I’ve got nothing. I can’t even think of what to write about right now. Except, of course, a deep analysis of Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter album - because, yes, I’ve been doing that in the background of all this chaos. But alas - I have not done that because although I am the self-appointed ruler of Fort Bianchi, I figured it was only fair if you all voted on that sort of thing. Moving on…
So now, as I sit in my hotel lobby at 3:27 am EST but at 9:28 am in Paris (I have since arrived from when I started to write this and figured out where I was staying!) with maybe 1 hour of sleep on the plane, exhausted but wired on a very strong espresso I thought - oh well this would be a good time to make sure I finish penning this note to you. It’s not a Backpack, Field Note, or Front Pocket - it’s simply a letter from me to you.
From your American friend in Paris, Bianca
P.S. I can’t leave without adding that I 100% told my therapist (somewhere in all that chaos ^) that Beyonce’s album made me feel proud to be an American again for the first time in recent years (cc: American Requiem, Ya Ya, and Amen for the lyrics). So that is the energy this bitch is bringing to the folks that funded our Revolution. MERCI to our compatriots! MERCI! We won’t let you down.
me right now
Oh! One last thing: I need your help.
I still have no idea what to write about for Backpacks in the near future; my mind is blank. Do you have anything that you need right now? Advice? Perspective? Something you're wondering about? Something you’d like to see here? Really…. anything would be helpful—to hear from you on what you want more of! Just reply to this email to write to me or comment—whatever you prefer.
Offer on a house? So exciting!!! Keeping fingers crossed for you two!