Thankful.

We're on the other side of Thanksgiving, the masses are punching each other over Black Friday deals, football's on the television (please don't talk to me about LaFleur's highway robbery and bullshit little wink, I've already crashed out twice), and the dog is sleeping like he's the one who spent all day yesterday cooking and cleaning. Our house was once again filled with some of our closest friends, and our table and bellies were stuffed by an alarming number of side dishes made with love and adoration as well as what might have been Donato's best turkey yet.

It's been a hard year. I fought with my colleagues and our union after the company put us in multiple emergency situations, only to unceremoniously lose that union (and, obviously, job) in August, finding myself unemployed during the worst economic situation of my adult life. (But not of my lifetime, because being a Millennial is neat.) Alongside all of that, we've all been running ourselves ragged fighting a fascist administration as it disappears our neighbors and continues to impact the most vulnerable among us. It's been fight, after fight, after fight, after fight. Come December 12, I will have been unemployed for the longest stretch of my life after spending much of it holding multiple jobs at a time. There's little seasonal work, there's little regular work, and positions in entertainment journalism and criticism are more scarce than ever. I've been in survival mode for months.

Today, though, I am thankful.

Growing up in the situation that I did, I learned quickly that I couldn't rely on anyone but myself. Prior to now, though I've been lucky to have been blessed with a few notable exceptions in my adult life, not much has changed in that regard. But when I lost my job this year, my community came out of the woodwork. There are no jobs to be had, and very little budget to boot, but anyone who has it has shared it, giving me work that's enabled me to stay afloat.

Meanwhile, in any other scenario I'd be doing nothing but keeping my head down, working, and staying home with the dog to ensure that I could pay my bills and squirrel whatever I can away for the Holiday drought (we're in it, I hate it, I'm fine). Friends have said "no way," covering meals or drinks and ensuring that I can still come out and play. It's something that's generally hard for me to accept, growing up the way I did, but I'm lucky to have friends who have turned my own brand of blunt love against me and telling me to lovingly shut the fuck up and reminding me that I'd do the same. I wish I could say that it isn't hard to do anyway, but I am grateful for it all the same.

And then there's all of you. The subscribers — many of which I've never met — who have chosen to participate in this journey. Whether you're here on a free sub or have tossed a few bucks my way as I navigate what comes next, I am thankful for you too. People forget that the outlets they love are only what they are because of the writers, editors and talent who create for them. It means something that you followed me when I no longer come attached with the same access or output.

The last 4 months have been impossibly frustrating, stressful, and panic-filled as I look at where I go next and how I write my next chapter, but I am reminded every day that even though I can and have handled similar situations on my own, I don't have to now. Thank you for all who has come along on the journey so far, and thank you to all those that will join in as the saga continues.

If you're looking for this week's work, I reviewed Zootopia 2 and went long on how Wicked: For Good's story completely fails to meet the moment.

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