A small voice inside kept saying, “I need to be quiet.” I argued with it. My silence is restriction. Reasoned with it. I am not a quiet person. Ignored it. But still it said, “Be quiet.” The days droned on in blended shades of gray. The peaks and valleys were still situated around a baseline … Continue reading Be Quiet
Category: Things I Learned the Hard Way
Everything. The answer is everything.
Time’s Up
This is the speech I would have given at my aunt's funeral, had I been in any position to stand or say words. Some many months ago- too many as it tends to go- I found myself at my aunt's house for an impromptu sleepover. I don't know how it fell into place, if she … Continue reading Time’s Up
Lucky
"Hey there. Mind if I sit next to you? I don't much get to sit next to pretty girls anymore."I look up into the smiling, friendly face of an older man with twinkling gray eyes deeply wrinkled at the corners."Of course. If for no other reason that I am a sucker for compliments from handsome … Continue reading Lucky
No Church in the Wild
I first found out I was black when I was about eight. To be fair, I knew that I was black before then, but I didn’t know that it meant anything. Certainly nothing bad.But it was at eight when, upon meeting me, the parent of one of the friends I’d made at my very exclusive, … Continue reading No Church in the Wild
Roots
I am often consumed by the desire to lay waste to my life and start it over again. I don't mean some overly dramatic Eat, Pray, Love kinda reset. I don't see me setting fire to my world just to watch the flames. But sometimes in the morning, when I turn the key in the lock on … Continue reading Roots
Sister Circle
(It’s likely no coincidence I was finally inspired- after sitting on it for months- to complete this on today, my favorite Libra’s birthday.) I was once one of those girls. You know the ones. The ones who proudly proclaimed that they had no female friends. That girls “didn’t like” them. That I preferred the friendship of men, that … Continue reading Sister Circle
Growing Pains
(For Robyn. For me. And for You.)We've been dream sold about what it means to grow.All the self-help tomes and personal journey movies would have you think that growth is a thing that happens when you go to a beautiful place and watch a gorgeous sunset, the vastness of the earth’s marvels humbling you, making … Continue reading Growing Pains
Do the Right Thing?
We’d reached that portion of brunch talk where we were past the formalities and right in the middle of real talk. You know, somewhere between your 3rd and 4th pitcher of mimosas where you’ve stopped saying the things that you should say and finally start saying the things you’ve been dying to say to someone … Continue reading Do the Right Thing?
Early Onset Age Alzheimer’s or Also: Shouldn’t this Part be Over?
Remember how I turned 28 a couple months ago?Well, apparently you would be the only one.In the last few weeks, I have, loudly, confidently and quite wrongly, referred to myself as 27. In a couple different instances. In a few different ways and under a handful of different circumstances. But in all cases, the threading … Continue reading Early Onset Age Alzheimer’s or Also: Shouldn’t this Part be Over?
Party of One
I am not much for holidays. Perhaps I lack that sentimental gene, or maybe I just don’t understand waiting for some arbitrary day to celebrate. But either way, I only look forward to the holidays that mean I will get to miss work. I am fond of New Year’s Eve, but only for the drunken … Continue reading Party of One
Liquor, Loans & Love 