The MezzaDigesta Volume 44
March 23rd, 2020: Shit Went Bad Real Quick
Compadres,
Chris Paul can say it better than I can, so let me take you to the man himself, via Daquan, my favorite meme account on Instagram:
I want to address the elephant in the room first. I have not written the MezzaDigesta in 3 weeks. Now, why is that? There’s a multitude of reasons, and I will not go into all of them here. No, I’ll try to keep it light and breezy in standard Digesta fashion. But basically….shit went bad real quick.
You see, shortly after sending my last edition out, I travelled from Laos (a country that had reported zero known COVID-19 cases) to Vietnam (a country that already had reported double digit cases and was taking the situation much more seriously). Around this same time, the virus in the States was starting to get a lot more serious - from the outbreak in the Seattle area to reports of virus-carrying cruise ships.
The news reports seemed to be picking up and intensifying by the hour. Soon after arriving in Vietnam, the country announced a new round of cases of Coronavirus that actually was centered in the city where I had travelled - Hanoi. The city all but shut down in the following days, as residents took measures to protect themselves against uncertain levels of exposure to the virus. It was truly a surreal experience being there in the midst of the panic. We signed up for a boat tour of the incomparable Ha Long Bay only to learn that our boat had ceased operations to fully quarantine and clean. A day after we completed our tour of the historic UNESCO site (we found an alternate operating boat), we read that all Ha Long Bay boating companies had completely shut down.
I had a piece halfway written about Vietnam’s commendable response to the virus outbreak. It was truly remarkable - businesses shut down quickly, residents mobilized right away, large gatherings came to a screeching halt, temperature checks were instituted at risky areas, hotels started having guests fill out detailed travel logs to combat the risk of spread. But one day later, Becca and I experienced some xenophobia in Sa Pa - a small, contained, indigenous area in northern Vietnam where locals were (understandably) wary of foreign backpackers transmitting the virus in their tight-knit communities. At one bar where we sat for a beer after a long hike, police officers barged in to ask the bar owner who we were, where we came from, and why we were there. We were the only patrons in the place. It felt like a scene out of a war movie. The next day, we read that Vietnam was completely ceasing to grant visas to any foreigners. They were shutting off outside travel completely. My draft on the Vietnamese response seemed laughably out of date in an insanely compressed period.
Meanwhile, as Becca and I adjusted to our new and rapidly changing realities in Vietnam, the situation was likewise getting much more serious in the U.S. Cities where we have family were getting hit for the first time. Friends started to work from home to prevent spread. The NBA suspended its season, and then all of a sudden all sports were cancelled. South by Southwest was the first big event to get nixed before almost all others followed. Next thing we knew, social distancing became the term du jour and stay-at-home orders were rolled out.
In light of all of these novel, momentous, extraordinary, and frankly scary changes, I struggled to sit down and write. Maybe I was overthinking it, but it didn’t feel right. The situation felt too grave. My style of light, fun, carefree writing didn’t feel like a right fit for the moment.
As Becca and I processed the spread of the virus and the increasing panic worldwide, we contemplated the rest of our planned trip abroad. At this point, we had been away from home for about 2.5 months but had targeted another month of travel. We went back and forth - Was it safer to be in Asia than in America? Was it irresponsible to travel and potentially carry the virus to different places? Was it better to be close to our friends and family or farther away so that we didn’t risk infecting them? As we continuously partook in these debates, things got even more real. Cambodia, the country we planned on visiting after Vietnam, announced that it was completely shutting its borders to Americans. Just three hours later, Singapore (which was next on our itinerary after Cambodia) published that all foreign travelers to the region would have to immediately self-quarantine in isolation for 14 days. It it hadn’t already been clear, it became increasingly obvious…..it was time to make moves. The quarantines and travel bans had caught up to us; the risk and fear of getting stuck in an unfamiliar country during a global lockdown terrified us. After weeks of angst and debate, we booked travel home as quickly as we could.
After a long day of traveling (and a shockingly and terrifyingly easy process of getting back through Customs), we are home. I am writing this from Stinson Beach, California, where I’ll be for the next 10+ days as Becca and I self-quarantine after our extended travels. As we adjust back to life at home in very changed circumstances, we find ourselves so grateful for the access to information we had to track this unprecedented outbreak, and for the family and friends who checked in with us while we were abroad. We find ourselves feeling healthy and prepared to help those in need once our self-quarantine period is over. And we also find ourselves with more time than ever on our hands - meaning time for new hobbies (I might become a birdwatcher with the requisite binoculars in Stinson? Can you see it?) and old.
Which means yes…..The Digesta is back, baby. Let’s go.
****I want to add a quick note to thank all those who asked about the Digesta over the last few weeks. In previous instances where I’ve been late by a day or a few hours, I’ve been disheartened to NOT receive messages like this asking where it was. This made me feel like the project was stupid and that people weren’t reading like I’d hoped. Hearing people ask about my writing recently was really nice and made me feel heard - always a great feeling. Sorry again for slackin’!
We’re gonna change things up a bit with the sections this week. I’ve got some different stuff planned for the next edition as well and want to keep it fresh, interesting, and also relevant to the wild times we’re living in. So without further ado…..
What’s Hot During the COVID-19 Lockdown
1) Balconies
Wow, what a come-up for balconies! Who knew that balconies would ever be so front and center in popular culture like they are right now? An improbable and truly inspirational time in the limelight for balconies.
They’re just everywhere. People singing songs from balconies. Community workout classes from balconies. Jealous jokes about balconies.
Balconies - the official gathering place of the Coronavirus.
2) Instagram Live
Is your favorite musician no longer able to tour? Is your gym newly shuttered but still looking to engage its clientele? Is the annoying coworker you sit next to no longer able to interrupt your peace and quiet?
Odds are that all three have one thing in common in recent days - they’ve taken to Instagram Live to connect with the outside world. Instagram Live must be seeing an extreme uptick in usage in these times. I feel like I *maybe* saw one account go live per week when I logged on in the last year. Now, multiple accounts are going live and trying to allure their audiences during social distancing.
It’s cool and all…I know some people require more active engagement with their favorite brands and role models than others. But read a freakin’ book, yo! Don’t spend three hours watching Jen Selter do squats.
3) Posting screenshots of your FaceTime/Zoom conference calls
In these times, there’s no better way to let your social networks know that you do, in fact, have friends than by posting a screenshot of yourself talking to your friends.
The boozy brunchstagram has been replaced by the group FaceTime. The group bathroom mirror selfie has been usurped by a ten-person Zoom conference collage. Dominant arms worldwide are getting a static workout from holding their phones on lengthy FaceTime calls. It’s the era of the remote call.
Speaking of, what a time for Zoom. I had never heard of Zoom until a week ago! And then I found myself on a Zoom call this weekend. Huge times for the Zoom brand.
4) Toilet paper memes
Get your toilet paper jokes in, folks! It’s a hot time for toilet paper jokes! Remember that time when people stockpiled a bunch of toilet paper? Wasn’t that crazy? Ha ha ha ha!
5) Posting pictures of your Peloton, or other at-home workout*
And we are absolutely back with some good old fashioned Peloton content. Peloton is seemingly the at-home workout that will never die, and boy is it Peloton SZN right now. Forced lockdown and social distancing make staying fit a bit more challenging, but you absolutely HAVE to let the people know that you are keeping the body tight in these trying times. Gotta get those Peloton bike pics off.
*this goes for other at-home workouts too. Yes, I see your pushup challenges.
What’s Definitely Not Hot
1) Vanessa Hudgens
Oh, Vanessa. This past week definitively was not your best week, homegirl.
Vanessa, like…..I get it, I respect it…..but you maybe should have kept your mouth shut on this one, hun.
Shout-Out Section
This worldwide pandemic has brought an incredible amount of anxiety and uncertainty to the world, as jobs go on hold, schools close down, and medical facilities are strapped for resources. That means that in these hectic times, there are a lot of opportunities to help. In this section, I’d like to shout out a few folks who are directing their energies toward lending a helping hand in these circumstances.
1) In my network: Michael Mezzatesta. That’s right y’all - my little brother! Mike has been living in Park City, Utah since the start of 2020. As an active member of the Nextdoor community in the town, he quickly realized that there was an opportunity to help out by picking up and delivering groceries to the elderly and immuno-compromised in his vicinity. His efforts even led to a write-up in the local Park City newspaper this weekend. Well done mate!
2) One degree removed: Donald McNeil. If you watch MSNBC, listen to the Daily, read the New York Times, or have sought out valid information from “the real experts” out there, odds are you’ve come across Donald McNeil in recent weeks. Here’s the man himself on Rachel Maddow’s show in a clip that went viral last week:
Mr. McNeil is the father of a dear friend, Galen, who has always been a perfectly rational and reasonable young lady and now I know exactly why! Her dad is the man!
3) Not at all in my network: Shea Serrano. I’m not connected to Shea, but I’ve been a fan of his from afar for years. The author of hit books like The Rap Year Book and Basketball (and Other Things), Serrano has arguably built more of a brand by using his platform for giving back to others in need. Right now is no exception, as Serrano has taken to Twitter to give back to those who are struggling to pay bills in these uncertain economic times. Over the past few weeks, he has offered to directly Venmo people who have been laid off or cut off from jobs that allow them to make ends meet.
His efforts are being noticed, as the gawd himself Barack Obama shouted him out in a tweet, and the New York Times also wrote an article about his and others’ efforts.
Sounds of Coronavirus
I’d like to document some of the most impactful “sounds” that have come along thanks to the virus. Times like these are ripe for creative energy!
1) Vietnam’s Viral Hand-washing Video
In response to worldwide attention on appropriate hand-washing technique, Vietnamese dancer Quang Dang decided to get on TikTok and educate people in a really fun and catchy way:
For some reason, I’m having issues embedding the video here, so hit this link to check it!
Following the video’s viral ascent, Quang partnered with Vietnam's National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health to create a version that has now been watched over 22 million times on YouTube. UNICEF has even publicized the video, and it got a shoutout on John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight.”
Now that I’ve been to Vietnam, I can confidently say - shout-out to my dude Quang Dang.
2) Rita Wilson, popping off
So we all know that Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson were two of the first confirmed celebrity cases of the Coronavirus. And it seems, from this video, that Rita has made herself a pretty full recovery!
Damn, Rita! You really didn’t have to snap so hard on us!
3) Cardi B, going viral on us again
Last week, our girl Cardi took to Instagram to let us know that she was, in fact, quite scared of the Coronavirus. In typical Cardi style, she let us know this bit of news in very entertaining and instantly meme-able fashion.
Cardi’s rant inspired a hero out there to take her passionate words and turn them into a banger. A DJ named iMarkkeyz found inspiration in Cardi’s proclamations and graced us with this piece of art:
The song has generated some buzz, rising to number 4 on the iTunes hip-hop songs list and entering consideration for the Billboard chart as well. In a bit of positive news, Cardi and iMarkkeyz agreed to donate all proceeds from the song to workers who are hurting in these times.
Love to Cardi ✊
Alright y’all. It feels damn good to be back. Hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of the Digesta. Share it if you feel so inclined, and hit me with your COVID-19 content recommendations! The next edition of the Digesta might be sooner than you think….
In love and good health,
Joey
I'm so thankful and relieved that you and your wife are safe! I was so worried about you. With much love Marcella