ash’s first jab. (Patreon)

hello loves.

i just posted this to social media, because i think it’s important to share this sorta stuff:

this is me and neil yesterday with ash as he gets his first covid vaccination at ostend medical center on waiheke island, new zealand, the random (?) country in which we’ve stayed waylaid for almost two full years because of this pandemic.

none of us have seen our home in new york since i started the the tour in august 2019 that was supposed to wrap in new zealand. four final shows in mid-march 2020. i still can’t fucking believe it sometimes.

we wanted to both be there for ash, to each hold one of his hands. ash was so scared, and so good, and so brave, and the two sweet kiwis (one guy and one gal) who did the vaccinating took their time, they didn’t rush him, they let him be scared. one of them blew bubbles and offered him a lollipop.

this is a moment in my life i never want to forget.

i gave my phone to persephone (who is 9, and part of ash’s day camp carpool, so she came with us to offer him moral support). she took the photo. she also coached ash, because, as a vaccinated 9-year-old, she’s been around the block.

it didn’t even occur to me until i posted this and saw ash’s feet that i have gotten so used to being in new zealand that it doesn’t strike me as odd that it’s pretty acceptable for your kid to go barefoot into a medical center.

this life, people. my god.

to the parents out there who have struggled, and are struggling still, to my friends with kids in new york who don’t have any words anymore for how they feel…to every parent who has had to hold down a crying and protesting child to stick a covid test up their nose, to every parent who has soothed a hyperventilating child while they faced this vax needle in their arm, to every parent who has wondered how they can possibly cope with the heartbreak of explaining to a kid that no, this is just the way the world is right now, sorry, i’m sorry…..

and to every healthcare worker who has helped every parent and every child through these jagged and raw moments of life: i love you. oh my god, just…thank you. i see you all.

thank you.

we got this, humanity. we got this.

xxx

afp

ps i’m about to take a road trip with neil and ash to our old neighborhood in NZ even though i should really be working this week. i have a song to release and a substack column to write. i’ll figure it out. the kid comes first. but send me good luck. it’s gonna be a lotta early mornings and late nights this week while i mother by day and become writer/artist amanda by night.