Unsilenced Woman

Yesterday I celebrated 38 years of life on Earth. With my first book out this year, I feel like I’ve had enough celebrations in six months to equal five years’ worth of birthdays. Affirmation upon affirmation of life and love expanding. Heartbeats fast and slow.

Looking back, I find myself drawn to the blurry photos of my year. The ones out of focus between the still frames. The expressions sliding into shared words and laughter. A quality of movement and merging presence. Places where the pixels smeared.

My eyes closed; more beauty opened. We posed, and then the pose fell apart. Truth slipped through the shapes we planned and the smiles we knew. When I see the rounded edges of 38, I see infinity doubled and cracked open. I feel it too.
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Yesterday also marked the one-year anniversary of my nana’s death. I was with her last year on my birthday as she transitioned beyond this world. My mom and I held her hands, three generations of breaths in and out. Until one of us moved into the forever-exhale. Even that moment blurred—“Is that her last breath? Oh wait, there’s another.”

My birthday will always hold birth and death for me now. Both sides. I am thankful for what I have witnessed in this sacred knot, my arrival and her departure and every messy and mysterious place between.
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As we also approach the half-birthday of PROUD FLESH, I’ve been developing a project from this tender juncture of celebration and grief in this season. Here’s a first glimpse and invitation for the curious. I’ll share more tomorrow.
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🌑SUMMER BODIES, SUMMER FRUITS 🌕
🌹A one-week writing prompt cycle by email
🥀FREE, in honor of my nana
🌗We begin on August 25, the six-month anniversary of my memoir Proud Flesh.
🌙Come write along. Link is in the bio.
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Thank you for being here and for helping to make this year and this life so beautiful. I send you my love.