Wrapped: 2024

Sneaking it in under the wire per usual

I forgot to acknowledge my favorite season again: Spotify Wrapped season. Though, of course, they laid off a ton of designers for “right-sizing” reasons, which does explain why it sucked so much this year. But my top-played artist was no secret to me.

had to bring this graphic back, i’m still proud of it

Yes, I had a brat time this year. It was what I needed. Last year, I gave up a lot for something that I was incredibly hopeful for. This year, after it fell apart, I needed desperately to tap into selfishness. My summer, marked by the buzzing beats, was a “fuck it, we ball” moment as I got a massage, my hair done, nails. I denied myself no expense and I would do it again: the salve for heartbreak was catering to this decadent, indulgent self-care moment.

My top song this year was “Everything is romantic feat. caroline polachek,” which was only released in October, so I listened to it hundreds of times that month for it to hit my top. Fall in love again and again - I touched on this song last entry, but to see its influence on me in such a short time was lovely. Reconnecting with myself, my family and friends, remembering my life is deeply romantic.

And yet, the grief, you know?

A friend reminded me last year that it couldn’t *all* be about Vi, that I had to flip the perspective and remember my life is, indeed, about me. I can’t let the breakup define this year, as much as parts of my identity had been devoted to it. I have to be willing to look at the good in the midst of the bad.

So, here’s the 2024 Katie Oh Wrapped.

In 2024, I: found a love of boxing, marked a year without Vi, helped remotely organize a sexy Queer Craft Market, started to make friends in Portland, got dumped, saw two of my favorite bands with my best friend on both coasts, organized a Pride QCM, tried archery for the first time, moved myself back across the country, got promoted the day I landed in Pittsburgh, had a minor mental breakdown, read in public for the first time in years, turned 35, visited Boston, did two stunning photoshoots, visited Toledo, was on a podcast for the first time, organized the QCM Winter Bazaar, visited Chicago and Columbus, and, eventually, remembered that I am still Katie Oh!

I love a new year. I don’t necessarily think about resolutions, as I’ve had the same one for about the past ten years (“be more fabulous every day,” which I nail every year.) But I like the idea of starting a new year with good intentions and some goals to work toward.

I’m really excited for 2025. I have big plans for the Queer Craft Market, for projects at work, for figuring out what I want in my personal life. An amazing tarot reader - who called my breakup and my raise at the beginning of 2024 without knowing anything about me other than my name and questions - told me that 2025 is about healing and then rising to the occasions presented to me.

More than ever, I feel ready.

photo by Big Fat Magick

Thank you for being here with me. I hope you’re going to have an amazing 2025.