A Wish for the Holidays

This Holiday season, your humble blogger would like to share a heartfelt wish:

May you and yours enjoy a blessed and prosperous Holiday filled with love, peace and happiness. If it's not available to you, know you're in my thoughts and prayers.

Msranadee 

Some Words On Dobbs v. Jackson

Tomorrow, the world will be watching the U.S. Supreme Court as it begins hearing oral arguments for Dobbs v. Jackson, regarding Mississippi's 15 week abortion ban. Many on both sides of the issue are keeping a close eye on the case as it could deal a significant blow to Roe v. Wade. Naturally, this has brought up conversation on women's freedom.  Your  humble blogger takes a look at this here on her recent post for Rehumanize International.

Put it over a turtleneck, Part Tres

It's fall, so your humble blogger is back on the layering pieces over turtlenecks tip. You may recall some looks here and here. This one below has to be my favorite thus far as it's all about simplicity in the background and making the colors of the Christopher John Rogers tank pop. Add some nice simple jewelry and you've got a sleek look.

 

A big day and fundraising

 In five days, your humble blogger will be celebrating the big 4-0. To commemorate, I'm fundraising for St. Jude. This charity was chosen as my sorority is a partner. Any amount will help to help end childhood cancer. Click here to donate. Thanks in advance for your help!

Back on the loc'd tip

Your humble blogger isn't one to put a lot of pictures of herself on here, but I had to share that I'm starting my locs again. 

On nostalgia

The other day, while at the store, your humble blogger came across this:

This automatically took me back to my childhood as this was one of my favorite drinks at the time. Not only that,  this flashed me back to my specific memories of going to the hair salon and drinking this with whatever meal I'd get from the pizza place next door. It was a reminder of some good times.

Sometimes, nostalgia seems to maligned as there are too many instances in which it's employed in a rose colored glasses kind of way.  However, nostalgia doesn't have to be all that bad.  While many people have argued with a more clear and concise rationale than your humble blogger can do here, it's worth reiterating- sometimes , thinking back on the good times in life can be a buoy when life bugs you down. 

On God Not Making Junk-A Pride Edition Appreciation Post for Janelle Monàe's "Dirty Computer"

Earlier today,  I checked an email in my inbox from the Sisters of Bon Secours. It had a musing from Sr. Fran Gorsuch on the phrase "God doesn't make junk"

The following line stood out to me:

"The line, “God don’t make junk” might sound trite, but think what it might mean to a person who has been treated as “junk/trash” all her/his life."

 My mind immediately drew parallels with themes from Janelle Monàe's Dirty Computer. As Paper Magazine 2019 Pride Month profile of the artist noted, the album "itself was an honoring of the 'other,' full of anthems for the ostracized." For yours truly, the album already had some personal resonance in that I'm a Black woman with a variation of sexual development. As a person of the Catholic faith, it called me to a deeper solidarity with those considered "other" or "junk" in different ways than myself-in particular,  LGBTQ.

The best description of the experience is encapsulated in the quote by the Paper article's author that "With this album she extended an open hand".  That hand was creating a space in which there is conversation in what it means to be a person of marginalized sexual or gender identity. As Christian ethics professor Marcus Mescher  noted in "The Problem of Indifference ", when the hand of the 'other's reaches out, we as Catholics can't be indifferent.  We have to find ways to "be willing to move our feet, being willing to enter the ditch [a reference to the Parable of the Good Samaritan] and take that vantage point as our own". "Dirty Computer,  for me, inspired me to lean into that

For that, I owe a debt of gratitude.

A great handbag for Spring/Summer

It may have been said already,  but there's nothing like adding a pop of color to the wardrobe for Spring and Summer. On that note, your humble blogger would like to highlight the Loretta tote in green by by Detroit handbag designer Mira Estell. The foresty shade evokes the greenery eponymous of the season. It's also the perfect size for carrying just enough items to get you through a day of enjoying the outside. The design is simple yet with a modern twist, and at $140 you can't beat it.  Check out this and Mira's other awesome designs at miraestell.com

Again With the Plant Update

 

Here's the update on the plant situation. Unfortunately, your humble blogger had to say goodbye to yet another plant (Ms. Cecile,  who was introduced here). Now we have Owlivia (pictured above). So far, she's doing well. 

Until next time. 

A Review of The Mauritanian

Here's my new piece at Rehumanize International., a review of the movie The Mauritanian. Much respect to Mohamedou Ould Slahi for letting his story be told. It's unimaginable what happened,  and unconscionable similar things are still going on in our name. 

For Her: A Poem

 

My Telfar bag came in the mail today.

A woman 

just like Riah Milton, Dominique Fells  or Ashley Moore

probably imagining what it's like to have one

Can only see getting one 

As a pipe dream

She got kicked out of her home for coming out 

We meet in a connection of soul

Where her being herself 

Calls a greater self out of me

No fists 

No suit

saying the shelter she's trying to get into 

can look up her skirt 

before letting her in

"I've got this, sis", she tells me

In this space

"Just have my back".

This is for her.

Surprise!!!

Well, the cat's out of the bag. Your humble blogger is a staff writer for Rehumanize International! Here's my first piece:

https://www.rehumanizeintl.org/post/a-tale-of-two-views-of-anti-violence