James Henrichs - Fauxmaha

MARCH 20, 2020 © Right Here, Right Now.

Josh - How are you doing?

I’m doing pretty well. I feel like each day is different so far for me. I would say the time that I began to take it as seriously as I do today, which is pretty seriously, was this last weekend. The last weekend seeing business…when you start to see the…the real things that are happening, you know it’s more like evidence. It’s usually the rest of the world that is catching up and, you know, it’s one of those moments where i wonder if i’m late to the game. I wanna do all the right things.

Josh - What’s it like, you know being open right now.

I’m the only one working up here right now, yeah.

Josh - Yeah so what’s it like having to serve costumers curbside…

I wanna be sensitive when I respond to this but it’s…it makes me nervous. And it’s because of details in my personal life. Got little health things that could make my immune system sub par at the moment, after winter. I’ve got people that I’m close to and someone that depends on me that I will have to be in contact with that needs to me to keep them safe.

Josh - Has that been a struggle for you?

Yes. One thing that having a personal relationship with Mick has allowed me to feel a little bit more comfortable than I would in other positions. I’ve been able to ask if, while I’m working, if I can, in the most professional way as possible, try and keep people outside. I’m the one working in this business that’s probably the most stressed about that so that might be restricted a little bit more when I’m in charge of that interaction. Let’s say if on Wednesday - that’s my day off - when someone else is working it might not be quite so ridged but I really do my best to take care of myself and give everyone the impression of being safe but it’s uh……We’re still in that time when people still aren’t taking it seriously that…that adds a lot of stress to my interactions. I know there are so many people trying to do the right thing and even people who are staying in business, going to work, are not taking it seriously. Everyone’s just trying to get by right now. So that’s definitely not meant to come from a place of judgement but…it’s hard to know what’s safe for me or anyone else so I really try to create some fresh air and outdoors between us because I don’t…I don’t really know what the right thing to do is or if I should even be working right now. It adds a lot of stress when the wellbeing of people you care about are at risk potentially. 

And it’s tough because I don’t want to seem ungrateful…there’s so many people that don’t have an option to work right now. So even right now thinking about…okay it’s extra interesting, it adds an additional detail in our position because we live together. So whether or not I’m here or not doesn’t necessarily control whether or not there are things in my home. It makes me consider people with roommates or uncontrollable elements in their environment, even in their home where you’re quarantined, create a safe isolated space. It’s just a hard thing to know…information changes every day so to even know if you’re making the right decision is pretty tough. But I’ve already gotten some response about my precautions, jokes cracked at the cars and, you know “You can be careful but don’t be paranoid.”

Josh - How does that feel?

It doesn’t feel great. Luckily I’m old enough, I don’t know if age is really an element, but I’m at a place in my life where that wouldn’t hit me personally. It doesn’t hurt my feelings at all but I just hope that if that isn’t appreciated now, if this develops and gets to a point not where any of us want it to go, of course. But if it gets to that point I just hope they think back on the places that they’ve visited and appreciate we had that space and know that this wasn’t a place they could’ve contracted it. That’s what gives me a little bit of peace of mind. Because I act like a sanitizing psycho around here. My sanitizing obsession haha.

Josh - Well I appreciate it. 

Yeah! And I really think that most people do. A lot of people are just incredibly kind, thankful, and if I had to guess what 99% of the people are feeling it’s probably gratitude when they see that effort.

I’m grateful for what I hope is my health. I’m grateful for being in a position where I feel a lot of privilege in knowing that I have a choice. Not only do I have a place where I can earn income right now but I know that…and it’s tough if this lasted 6 months nobody’s okay, 3 months maybe, literally no one’s okay. But for the time being, when I look at 30 days and I look at 60 days, I have the privilege of being able to make that work. If I didn’t work, to preserve the safety of my family, another person would come and do that work, are they gonna be as safe as me…do they take it as seriously as I do. Have they seen as many health problems or adversity. Everybody has their own life and their own experiences. Have they been through enough to take it seriously, you know. There’s just things to consider for everybody.

My thoughts are that, more than anything, I wish that we all could have a little clarity and know what to do. I wish we knew what the right and wrong answers were. And that is giving everyone…it’s a lot of weight for everyone. Everyone is just trying to do the right thing. What I think about probably the most are people with children right now. I just think about people who don’t have child care. Who, if they’re lucky enough, might have work. But…who takes care of your kids? Do you lose your job? Did you quite your job? I just know that that should be one thing that I make very clear is that as scary as everything is, I fell very lucky. I have a lot of perspective about where I’m at.

I’m doing my best to make sure that that my energy is productive when I’m around other people that are just as stressed as me.

I’m hopeful that…you know everything that happens, I’m hoping we come out better than we went in. And I’m just hoping that if there are things to be learned from this, if there are secrets that need to come to light, whatever we need to learn, whatever needs to be better because of this - I hope that really happens. Because if nothing else, those that go through tremendous heartbreak right now, that could give just a tiny bit of comfort. That anything good happened. You’re always searching for validation and for some comfort when you’re going through that, through anything hard, and I think that right now everybody going through a lot, you know. I can’t believe that these delivery drivers and grocery store stockers, these low paying positions, are the one stuck at work right now. I can’t imagine how nurses and doctors are feeling right now seeing people go to bars for St. Patrick’s Day. Right?

The struggle to not feel rage. I’m the kind of person that does not handle anger well. It feels very unnatural to me. So I’m the kind of person that’s more likely gonna cry. The physical aspects of anger would just need to purge, almost any time I feel angry. And right now people are really angry and I’m trying to make sure that when I’m out in the world that I’m still kind and I’m not overreacting more than I need to to things. I’m both hopeful for humanity and really angry at people right now just because I want them to care more, in some ways. And then you’re really grateful when you see people taking incredibly precautions. It is what it is. I hate saying I’m angry on record but…it’s a tough feeling. 

Josh - I don’t think you’re the only one.

(Laughs) I don’t think so either. But I’m definitely not one to share it if I can avoid that. If it’s not productive. I think anger can be pretty unproductive. So…if you can find a good place.