It’s been busy around these parts, so let this serve as November’s and December’s post 💁🏾. Let me also pause to publicly share how grateful I am for what life is offering me at this moment. Watching kids grow up holistically, feeling like a safe space for said kids (and some adults) to trust their life choices/events with me, having time to breathe, and taking time to just be has added physical weight to my body 😳, and an incredible amount of joy to my heart.
I picked Michai up Friday (please pray he cleaned his room and turned his books in as he said so he won’t receive additional charges to his Spring bill 🫣). He seems to remain in a good space after previously saying this would be his only year at NCAT. We went to Tabor to watch basketball, where he and his friends sat in the “old head” section of the gym, despite being in the “student” section just months ago 🙄. It was funny to watch his enthusiasm (since he doesn’t show much excitement about anything) in experiencing the growth of some of the players. I admit, I was hype too.
If you watched Our Kijiji, you know how yesterday went. Michai eventually got his food out of the car while I dressed for my first Hanukkah party. I was so relaxed and open to the experience, particularly because I didn’t have to drive 🙌🏾!
The hosts were incredibly hospitable (and it was sweet to witness how in love they are), many of the guests were friendly and funny, it was nice to see the people I knew outside of our community work, the food was so flavorful, and the drinks did NOT include cheap ‘liccuh’ 🍸! Good ‘liccuh’ was important because, based on who the guests were, much of the conversation included the needs of the community and who can do what to help eliminate some of those needs.
I’m used to being part of the cleanup crew, but when I mentioned that to the hostess, she strongly said (in the northern tone I’m used to hearing from Des), “Well you need to leave if that’s how you feel because I won’t allow it! 💁♀️”
During my Our Kijiji announcements, I also mentioned the “Brown Girl Collective Mix and Mingle” that was scheduled today from 11a-2p in High Point. As I was getting out of the car, Lové (pictured on the left in the cover photo) rolled up on two wheels with music blasting (which is what is expected from her spirit), so I waited so we could go in together. WE.HAD.A.BLAST!!! We walked in and received gifts, we received gifts throughout the event, the food offerings were superb, and there was a signature “Merry (Mi)Mosa” offered.
The energy in the room was unforgettable! Dr. Shinika (pictured on the right in the cover photo) and team have created something powerful, and the Triad better get ready because Brown Girls and our power are here to stay.
The chair massage, all the masseuse’s product samples, the products and services raffled and given away, the number of Black women entrepreneurs, and the love, versus the competition, meant so much. The moment that highlighted all the positive attributes of Black women was when a young lady went to the mic to share how she quit her job to become a provider to children with autism. She was nervous and shared from some notes she’d written. She got emotional while sharing how she learned she was cousins to a coworker at the job she left. That cousin, who was also there, was so encouraging to her and she was grateful for her positive energy.
Well…the massage therapist who was offering chair massages came to the mic in tears because she has a nonverbal three-year-old granddaughter whom she thinks has autism and was so happy to be in the room to receive help.
Well…a leader from Visit High Point was one of the hostesses. She said High Point is becoming a hub for autism resources and wanted to offer a job to the young lady who had just become an autism provider. Ain’t God alright 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾?!?
The next couple of weeks are gonna be full and will include a couple more parties, but I remain grateful for where I am right now. A basket full of Michai’s laundry (y’all, I have a child who is eighteen 🫢). Being able to let the person behind me in line go in front of me because they are in a rush, I’m not, and I wanted them to stop breathing down my neck since it’s still flu and covid season 🙄.
SEASON’S GREETINGS! 🥂🎉