I’m sitting in front of my computer screen and I’m watching the cursor blink, and I can’t think of a time where I’ve had less of a desire to write about pop culture. I love this site and I love coming here throughout the week and geeking out with you guys. It’s like finding a Highlights magazine in the dentist where the item search hasn’t been filled out.  There’s a certain amount of excitement that happens when I formulate an idea, often like a mad scientist, and allow it to drive me through the rest of my workday until I can sit here and talk with you.  I Am Geek has always been about exploring fandoms together. As a community. If one of my columns allows you to take five or ten minutes and just let the real world fade away for a bit then this site has done its job. No matter how crappy the real world can be at times, and right now guys it’s on a different level, we can always find solace in the stories we love. The stories that inspire us. The stories that unite us. But honestly, when I sit here trying to write, I can’t find my avenue in. I can’t think of a reason why it’s important to write about these things today.

Writing about pop culture today feels hollow and slightly tone-deaf. I wish this was a typical Monday where I would come here all giddy and slapsticky to talk about all the best things to hit your eye and earholes this week. Right now, I feel that there are more important things happening in the world than the Rick and Morty finale or what’s dropping on Netflix this weekend. That’s just a fact. And while this site has, and will continue to, celebrate those things, I just don’t have it in me right now to write about them, you know?

Like most of you, I’m angry. I’m sad. I’m confused. I’m scared. The times we’re living in are so uncertain and so fragile that when I wake up in the morning to check the news, I’m filled with anxiety to see what I slept through. Cities are burning. People are dying. And the division within this country seemingly deepens with each passing hour.  On top of all that, there’s still a pandemic going on. 2020 has been relentless.

I know this isn’t much of a column and probably wasn’t the little bit of escapism you were hoping for. For that, I’m sorry. It just feels wrong. I don’t have the energy for it. That’s not to say that I won’t as the week goes on. I’m going to try and give you new columns. I think escapism is important and sometimes it’s good to step back from the news cycle for five minutes and just remember what it’s like to enjoy things. To remember that other people enjoy the same things as you. I said it from day one, I want I Am Geek to feel like a community and we’ve done a really great job of building a wonderful, geeky, community together. So today, I’m going to take a step back and choose to not write about pop culture. I’m going to hit the pause button. Just today. Tomorrow is a new day and I’m hoping that I’ll have the energy to give you something that can clear your mind for five minutes.

In the meantime, I hope you’re all being safe. I’m always up for chatting in the comments or on Twitter (@iamgeek32) and maybe we can have some conversations about the stories and fandoms that unite us. To remind ourselves, that not everything is awful. Much love to you Geeklings and I’ll see you throughout the week.