Letisia Cruz, Writer/Artist
North Port, Florida
Letisia and Biggity, sheltering in place in North Port, FL
Aside from your creative work do you have any additional source of income?
Yes, I work as a marketing coordinator for an engineering firm. My team is an insanely creative all-female crew of hard-working badass ladies who inspire me every day.
Who do you live with and how do you feel about that?
I live with my partner, Bob, and our two furry kids named Bigwig and Row. We moved to North Port from Miami two years ago. Our house was in pretty gnarly shape when we bought it, but it sits on a creek where we regularly see limpkins, herons, osprey, alligators, wild bunnies and even bobcats. It’s a pretty great place to be hunkered down in if you’re a nature freak.
How are you spending your time?
I’m lucky to be working from home. I have my computer and stay pretty well connected to my team. We have regular skype and zoom meetings and stay in touch via skype messenger, text and email. Aside from work, I write (which keeps my mind busy) and draw (which keeps my hands busy), and I think both of these things help keep me more or less sane. Bob and I have been taking walks around the neighborhood, kayaking in the creek, and spending a lot of time pulling weeds in the garden. Every little thing feels like a luxury right now, so just sitting outside and complaining about the mosquitoes is nice.
How is the pandemic impacting you?
I think part of me is still processing how much the world has changed in such a short time. It’s humbling in the way that hurricanes and natural disasters are humbling—or maybe that’s the only thing I know to compare this to. There’s a tendency to forget, in the safety of our routines and the rhythm of our day-to-day, that life is fragile. There’s a sense of impermanence that a crisis like this brings to the surface. It’s a heavy space to inhabit but it’s front and center now so there’s no avoiding it.
What do you want to accomplish personally and/or professionally during this time?
I’m taking it day by day and trying to stay present. Just kidding—I’m filling all of my empty journals with nonsense and sending all of my drawing pens to the pen graveyard, which is a cigar box full of inkless pens.
What kind of world do you want to see on the other side of this?
A more sustainable one. CO2 emissions and air pollution have been reduced as a result of everyone sheltering in place. This virus is a tragedy, and I’m not suggesting we all shelter in place indefinitely, but—to end on a positive note—if we respond to the climate crisis with the same urgency that we have responded to this health crisis we could potentially reduce the likelihood of human civilization coming to an end in the foreseeable future. Wouldn’t that be sweet?
How can people find you and support you and your work?
Find me at www.lesinfin.com or @lesinfin on IG.