MoMo and her roommates | Eastlake

Images by Colin Stanley Hovde. Words by Adriana Nodal-Tarafa.
April 11, 2020

Monique, who goes by MoMo, Hannah, and Gloria, were instantly welcoming. I mean this as more than flattery. The process of sharing this city while adjusting to physical distancing has involved witnessing people in a spectrum of states, some overwhelmingly inspiring, some more reactive, and alienating. Messages seem to get distorted by fear.  For many, edginess and outright aggression have been challenging to regulate. It is understandable, yet no less felt by those of us who end up on the receiving end.

In that context, Gloria, MoMo, and Hannah's inviting disposition was a real balm. There they were, calmly, joyfully greeting us in the high density of urban life, of which their Eastlake apartment building seemed such a perfect example. At one point, taking a step back during the shoot meant I stepped into their next-door neighbor's outdoor space. 

MoMo reminisced with us about her time living in NYC during 9/11 and how, through touch, New Yorkers as herself were able to provide various kinds of comfort to one another. 

"With COVID-19, it is [the] extreme opposite." "I know a lot of aloof people, and they actually crave physical contact."

Once physical distancing ends, MoMo would love to see people continue to create different strategies for communication access. At the risk of sounding saccharine, taking in her presence and smile at first glance was like suddenly looking at a field of gorgeous, wild sunflowers. 

Hannah, a theater artist, expressed how encouraged she is right now by people creating and sharing the art they love. As an actor, she is aware her body is also her instrument. But the change of pace has given her uninterrupted time to connect more meaningfully with it. It has cemented a welcome discipline to attend to her body's needs; it has inspired her to show love to herself unapologetically.

"I cherish the way my community continues to be hopeful and come up with solutions. The desire to create is stronger than the obstacle in front of us.

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Every day, I have found joy and indulgence in movement [...], and that is something that I didn't know I was capable of claiming fully and without shame. "

Gloria is usually a very busy extrovert. Working in restaurants and theatre,  they were used to having a different schedule every day of every week. So, losing all of their jobs was initially a scary event. Still, they have turned it into an opportunity to take care of themselves in ways they used to push to the back-burner. They are surprised to be so well adjusted to the stay at home, unemployed life and by how stabilizing having a routine is to them. 

Their hopes for community life after physical distancing ends include greater respect for service workers, janitors, health care professionals, and, especially, greater respect and appreciation for our elders. 

"I also hope I [can] take what I have learned about taking care of myself as an individual [...]."

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" [...] Work is NOT the most important thing as I have been taught and always believed. My health is the most important thing."