Sarena Brown

I've been having a string of really difficult days but somehow the stars aligned on December 8th was a wonderful day. I had made more money than expected at the holiday art market I vended at the night before, so I felt like money stress wasn’t very present, thankfully. I made curated collage kits the week before to sell at this market, and they flew off the shelves. I’m so happy a creative idea paid off!

I started my morning by picking out the best shirt (a western 80’s top with little Christmas bears all over them!) and by making coffee. I made a peppermint mocha syrup the day before and added it to my cup, also frothing the milk, and it elevated my everyday coffee to a glorious treat. I know people would pay like $7 for that so I felt proud. Then I had work and it was uneventful and everything I wanted. I love having a job that doesn't feel like it's draining my life force out of me, that is amazing (I've had also a string of really terrible jobs so this role I've got right now feels like such a break) 

After work I met my partner Miles at Common Beat on Baltimore and we bought a turntable and we had a great conversation with the person who was working the shop, who helped me pick out a good one. After we left we walked by the Christmas tree lot at 51st and Baltimore and we thought about getting a tree but they were a little bit pricey for us, so then we went to House of Our Own Books and got overstimulated, at least I did. 

It is floor to ceiling books in an old Victorian house and concept-wise, that sounds incredible, but when I was in there I was overwhelmed. That old book smell that I normally love in small doses was very prominent and it had bookshelves and stacks of books in front of the bookshelves and books piled on tables and books by the floor along every hallway and it was just a little bit overwhelming. That's my warning if you go to House of Our Own just so you’re prepared. They've got some really great gems but you just gotta know what you're walking into. 

Then Miles and I made our way to Bookers and had a dinner there. We don't go there too often because it's a little bit out of our everyday budget but it's great food. We did the Sunday Supper (three courses for $45 on Sundays with live music!) and we ate outside because the weather was really comfortable and because we’re not eating indoors out of covid cautiousness. We thankfully had the whole outdoor area to ourselves and it was a really peaceful night. We both had the same exact thing because we’re gay and I don’t like making decisions all the time. We had the Gumbo, Blackened Catfish, and Carrot Cake. All of it was excellent and then Miles was like “wait, have you ever had my Gumbo?” because Miles’ family is from the south. I've never had his gumbo! After 6 years I’ve somehow never had it, so later this week he's making me gumbo and I'm really excited. 

We went home and we had quiet time. I worked on a new poem I’m energized about called “Poemmath” where I’m trying to understand my relationships to others and the world through equations, and Miles played video games. I don’t know about you but we need to decompress sometimes after we spend the whole day doing stuff. All in all this whole day felt like a much-needed respite from the rest of my week/year. I barely took any pictures on this day because I was so busy experiencing it :) 

[image description: a decomposition notebook with an orange sale tag that’s scribbled out at the top and a piece of white tape which reads “poemmath” on it, with “by Sarena Brown” in the white box beneath it]

Sarena Brown is probably crying. They’re also a multimedia artist, poet, and fun-lil-drink-enthusiast, among other things. Find them on instagram, TikTok, and Substack @sarenabrownie.