PART 20: VALERIE

March 2020, Melbourne

Today I had a meeting with Ruby about the progress on our logo. This is like the first proper logo I’ve ever done outside of college, and I really wasn’t feeling confident, but we’re definitely getting somewhere which is good. We also thought of some really cool merchandise ideas and that kind of stuff, so I’ve got a busy day ahead of me working on that which is good.

As soon as I got off the phone to Ruby my mum called and asked if I want to return home to Townsville, just with all this virus stuff going on and I think she just wanted me to be close by in case anything really hectic happened. I ummed and ahhed because I would love to be up there with them, especially if this goes on for a long time, or like forever, who knows. I looked at flight prices and they were really reasonable, like $100-$110 to get from Melbourne to Townsville. But then I thought of having to get an uber to the airport, going through the airport and being in contact with so many people just to get there, and then having to spend 14 days not leaving my house, or my room I don’t know how strict it is in proper quarantine. It just didn’t seem safe.

I’ve talked to my Dad and my step-Dad recently too and they’re both hell on the conspiracy side, they’re like “the worst is yet to come”. Which might be the case, it could be the end of the world who knows. I guess we just all gotta see how this will pan out.

But yeah, so work is shut for the foreseeable future, which is a bit hectic. I’m going ok for money even though I haven’t worked for two weeks. Got heaps of shit to keep me entertained at my house, we’ve got a nice big couch and tv which I haven’t had for a long time. So, we can sit and watch movies. I’ve got heaps of art stuff to do, TØS work to do, my basketballing, my handstanding. But yeah, some people are really freaking out which is fair. It’s whack that now all of these dancers have no jobs, maybe this was their full-time thing, maybe they don’t have a supportive family, you know it’s a bit scary for some of us.

There’s been a big influx of Only Fans creators, which is awesome. A lot of people have been asking if I’m gonna do that, but it’s such hard work. Like no one understands. Like my friends that do it, they have all of these stands and lights and you get all dressed up and they’re making content every day. It’s a full-time job and I’ve seen a lot of people joking about making an Only Fans because we’re in iso. You know it would be good to be able to make money but because there is so many girls doing it now you’re gonna have to up your game and I don’t think you guys have it in you. But you know, each to their own.

I’m pretty set, I’ve got heaps of shit to keep me occupied. At least we still have the internet, least we still have food, water, a safe home, you know, I feel like we are very privileged like this shit probably happens, you know this type of fear is probably everyday life for someone who’s in a third-world or in a war zone. I think this crisis will help us wake up to a few more things. I know definitely even when we’ve crossed people in the street or in the park, I’ve said hello and they’ve asked how I going. I don’t think many of us would have really done that as often before all of this happened. I guess we’ll see. Hopefully this won’t go on for too long and we can just all get back into the club. I really do miss it. I really gotta put my pole up in my house so I can practise otherwise I’m gonna come back looking like a baby stripper.