Back in March 2020, I created this fictitious magazine cover for a hypothetical publication called "Covid Monthly" and shared it with my friends as a joke. At the time, I included the issue month of September. It seemed impossible in March 2020 that the pandemic could last until September of 2020, and it was meant to be humorous that it could go on for that long. As we know now, it got much worse in September 2020, and here we are now in September 2021, still trying to fight that hideous monster.
September 24, 2021
Since I lost my job, this has been my near-daily sight. The only way I can keep income is by doing "gig work," like DoorDash and Instacart. There's no job security with any "gig work" either. The rating systems and ways to get deactivated due to customer actions are copious. It has been getting hotter outside, so I've been stuck waiting in parking lots in 90-100+ degree weather waiting for orders to pop up so that I can complete them and make money. I can't let my car run for the A/C because it'll put more wear on my car and waste gas. I'm overdue on an oil change, overdue on an alignment, overdue on new front tires. I can't even afford to pay all of my bills, so I don't know how I'm going to afford basic maintenance on my car (now my main source of income). I've been applying to jobs in numerous places, but haven't gotten any calls back or responses. I can't afford the commute if it's outside of my main city, unless they're willing to pay more. I just got my Bachelor's degree and I haven't even been able to use it because the only jobs at this level that have been posted are the same crisis work/work that is currently too overwhelming for me, mentally, or work that doesn't pay enough to survive. I shouldn't have to sacrifice my mental health to survive. I wish we had better social services for our country. It's such a shame that it's considered "lazy" or "unpatriotic" for this country to help its own people.
June 2, 2021