tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44103958381062803742024-03-12T23:09:16.367-04:00aadunanotesaadunanotes keeps you in our creative loop and lets you stay abreast of what is going on behind the scenes. It will also provide general comments on a variety of cultural issues that ignite our interest and imagination. Subscribe to stay current on posts from aadunanotes!aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.comBlogger774125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-36851257199716754062022-10-27T08:00:00.005-04:002023-12-10T11:58:06.877-05:00The Excellence of Tradition<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPThOysAPJMOT-xt1i8s75JYhMAAGaYYobLZfIHaJpEh9e3qiZ0-ZSAXNDKjXRzfsYcoEZEIfKDObkpwdGGgUKNwHH7iRsMt0022zL7NnPkk4wXQvT83FYFuXo79Xjd54SWsm-9qjCvvwc_ve3g_23cfLYH_5u4VOKHFnR8LXf3HDKlYjrvRecaoHFg/s3815/howard%20nelson%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2591" data-original-width="3815" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPThOysAPJMOT-xt1i8s75JYhMAAGaYYobLZfIHaJpEh9e3qiZ0-ZSAXNDKjXRzfsYcoEZEIfKDObkpwdGGgUKNwHH7iRsMt0022zL7NnPkk4wXQvT83FYFuXo79Xjd54SWsm-9qjCvvwc_ve3g_23cfLYH_5u4VOKHFnR8LXf3HDKlYjrvRecaoHFg/s16000/howard%20nelson%20(2).JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Howard Nelson on stage at aaduna's Halloween Gala Fundraiser, October 31, 2019<br /> Carriage House Theater, Auburn, NY </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">In every community whether seen as a country, state, county,
big city or small town, there are creative people who have an extended their
creativity instincts to such an height that they are considered giants in their
creative field. Interestingly, when the public may deem such creatives as being
at the pinnacle of their artistry, these folks keep pushing the creative
envelope. They continue to explore new nuances and themes, as well as re-interpreting
what as been accepted as excellence in their field. These traits make them
exciting people “to watch” since their creativity enables the public to explore
personal concepts and attitudes of the relationship between artistic merit and
life’s daily dynamics.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOQdUTRq6copZ-dPz-UjevGtjked4c4OaO8CQXru4zeDgXwRsjxrRF44EBtXiDywVNwRW8G5Hwzc5L90DRLfzfP3k__JtGBUefhO_CiAOO790Cz3fceSRkHQgZsnrZTOXv10aLXGYtdrJ9qNWhFvBIAym54WaRUdN8TsAchkY7wiCh6paAzIZ-lgcEw/s698/howard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: verdana;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="698" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOQdUTRq6copZ-dPz-UjevGtjked4c4OaO8CQXru4zeDgXwRsjxrRF44EBtXiDywVNwRW8G5Hwzc5L90DRLfzfP3k__JtGBUefhO_CiAOO790Cz3fceSRkHQgZsnrZTOXv10aLXGYtdrJ9qNWhFvBIAym54WaRUdN8TsAchkY7wiCh6paAzIZ-lgcEw/w400-h400/howard.jpg" width="400" /></b></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: verdana;"><b>Howard Nelson (photo credit: Lisa Brennan)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Howard Nelson</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> has lived in Cayuga
County since 1970. Born in New Jersey in 1947, he was educated at Gettysburg
College and Hollins College. He moved to the Finger Lakes region of New York in
1970 to take a faculty position at Cayuga Community College, an institution he
retired from with the rank of professor emeritus. He is married and has three
grown children. His collections of poems are Creatures (1983), Singing into the
Belly (1990), Gorilla Blessing (1993), Bone Music (1997), and The Nap by the
Waterfall (2009. His poems have appeared in numerous periodicals and anthologies
and read on Garrison Keillor’s “Writer’s Almanac.” All the Earthly Lovers:
Selected & New Poems was published in 2014.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Mr. Nelson’s poem “The Moon” was published in the 20th
anniversary issue of Northern Woodlands magazine, and he was nominated for a
Pushcart Prize for “Best of Small Press Publications for 2014.” He also writes
criticism and essays and is the author of “Robert Bly: An Introduction to the
Poetry” and editor of <i>My Likeness: Nature Poetry of Walt Whitman</i>. He
contributed to <i>Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia</i>. Howard is a member of the
Thoreau Society, and his recent pieces on Thoreau have appeared in “The Thoreau
Society Bulletin.” He continues to read at several venues throughout the United
States. His new collection of poems, “The Need Is Great,” is due out in 2023.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #cc0000; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><b>Nelson has appeared at every aaduna fundraiser.</b></span></p><h2 style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">JOIN US TONIGHT!</span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/10/aaduna-6th-annual-fundraiser-event.html" style="background-color: white; text-align: center;" target="_blank">aaduna's 6th Annual Fundraiser Gala,</a><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"> "Celebrating the Legacy of Harriet Tubman in the Spirit of the Harlem Renaissance..."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtcCnKXK0Zz0zktcZzVxgC7otgd-cmGHIDEYY0_h2QvNWiZc_LazA0LOneiiBqX6gGeJMAuKh6Y9gTf2j8j4ppVgUSCvT2z_xAI_E5u1nSejb62fpvKpHaUFP6fqffgLlD7Ihqow8wIsPkuNNcAVgQ0fAVIbv7F-gDLA9Zystmw8Sb1XM8jTDYue34A/s2100/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1275" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtcCnKXK0Zz0zktcZzVxgC7otgd-cmGHIDEYY0_h2QvNWiZc_LazA0LOneiiBqX6gGeJMAuKh6Y9gTf2j8j4ppVgUSCvT2z_xAI_E5u1nSejb62fpvKpHaUFP6fqffgLlD7Ihqow8wIsPkuNNcAVgQ0fAVIbv7F-gDLA9Zystmw8Sb1XM8jTDYue34A/w387-h640/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br style="text-align: left;" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;">Doors open at 5:30PM ~Tickets $20 at the door. SEE YOU THERE!</span></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span color="inherit" style="font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="background-color: transparent; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><><><></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="113" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/w200-h113/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; 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font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.33px;"><span style="color: #001000;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 18.06px;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; 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margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br style="color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: left;" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-54262255267070986162022-10-26T22:17:00.000-04:002022-10-26T22:17:20.536-04:00Genesis moving towards Being…<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfxfuwOichuAK1Irmh6A4d0q8rlXTL2eieBAj_2i7ODXUihb4iAxFzsJawgAwHy9BdnkdI4aKQUNso5xTZcvGuCKPauw89RYO3veG8JdE8wSE2dc5kn3OWSPQfCmEf8zkeBUXhW9R1PtV0AVTy-fh33En91rfBAOb_DZNd1S5wiGDNr-v3jrdBF0wTA/s824/sprouting%20seed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="824" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfxfuwOichuAK1Irmh6A4d0q8rlXTL2eieBAj_2i7ODXUihb4iAxFzsJawgAwHy9BdnkdI4aKQUNso5xTZcvGuCKPauw89RYO3veG8JdE8wSE2dc5kn3OWSPQfCmEf8zkeBUXhW9R1PtV0AVTy-fh33En91rfBAOb_DZNd1S5wiGDNr-v3jrdBF0wTA/s16000/sprouting%20seed.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is
always a beginning in the natural order of things and even if one was to
investigate the nuances of evolution, there are stages. There is a learning
curve. There is nurturing and mentoring. There are experiences that construct
and guide the processes of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>moving from
point A to point B. What is exciting to see and bear witness to is the
transformation from point one to beyond. What is exciting is to be an observer in
that ever-changing landscape of individual development where you see how a
person navigates an intuitive process and goes from a seed to…</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A few
years ago, an ‘aspiring poet attended one of the aaduna gala fundraiser with
folks who invited and encouraged her to attend. Now, it is not evident whether
or not there was an already planted seed just waiting to sprout or a barren
landscape, devoid of growth that would require planting a seed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is now known is that this person will
read her work to an audience. Her poetic work will soon be published. So,
understand this singular understanding.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The seed
sprouted and {with care and support from others} will embolden this person to
move toward being an established poet. And interestingly, another creative
person will bring unique perspectives to those facets of experiences and
intellectual stimulation that underpins who we are as a community.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mAcxlpmUVVtT5kZ9MY-T5sImjJ0m231VZAU0soXGGuWU7D0COv8lqX1-GR0FFLoptqRc75eH90vsI9mte3wpHBHQsmyK_0xbn_gkzSWSBSPS3aGHQquZHH-xEOG73qIs0TB0FPhvrjBbe495XZekXvJ5LywRUkcOrVnPYk72SqKtJ-7AHyNC4mfeXg/s1280/Chantell%20Frazier.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="839" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mAcxlpmUVVtT5kZ9MY-T5sImjJ0m231VZAU0soXGGuWU7D0COv8lqX1-GR0FFLoptqRc75eH90vsI9mte3wpHBHQsmyK_0xbn_gkzSWSBSPS3aGHQquZHH-xEOG73qIs0TB0FPhvrjBbe495XZekXvJ5LywRUkcOrVnPYk72SqKtJ-7AHyNC4mfeXg/w420-h640/Chantell%20Frazier.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Chantel Frazier (photo provided)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Chantel
Frazier</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> is an
emerging African American poet, born and raised in Syracuse, New York. After
her high school graduation in 2013, she enrolled at Onondaga Community College,
</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333;">SUNY</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> where
she completed courses in English, public speaking, general psychology, and
American sign language. In 2014, she left college to join the workforce as a
certified nurse’s aide to support her family. Growing up on Syracuse's south
side, Chantel faced personal struggles as well as witnessing her peers'
challenges. Although her peers had come from different backgrounds and
circumstances, they were seen the same by many. She started to understand the
public’s view of her community. In her mind, the public’s negative attitudes
were rooted in, and blanketed by a persistent negative veil that could only be
lifted by someone willing to speak from an unbiased point of view.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Discovering
this “wisdom” in her early twenties, Chantel embraced the world around her;
gathered personal stories articulated by her peers, as well as from her
immediate family and started to construct her poetic voice. With this creative
foundation, she complemented others’ experiences with her own poetic
explanation of life during and after high school. Ms. Frazier sheds light on
the societal misconceptions surrounding the teenage upbringing of African
American students, washing away the idea of a cyclical bruised community never
waking up to their calling of healing themselves…. Frazier’s poetry has found a
home and her work will debut in the fall/winter 2022 issue of <i>aaduna</i>.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Genesis
moving towards Being…</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><h1 style="background: white; line-height: 48px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #990000;">ATTENTION!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Meet Chantel in person on October 27th as she performs at <a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/10/aaduna-6th-annual-fundraiser-event.html" target="_blank">aaduna's 6th Annual Fundraiser Gala,</a> "Celebrating the Legacy of Harriet Tubman in the Spirit of the Harlem Renaissance..."</span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtcCnKXK0Zz0zktcZzVxgC7otgd-cmGHIDEYY0_h2QvNWiZc_LazA0LOneiiBqX6gGeJMAuKh6Y9gTf2j8j4ppVgUSCvT2z_xAI_E5u1nSejb62fpvKpHaUFP6fqffgLlD7Ihqow8wIsPkuNNcAVgQ0fAVIbv7F-gDLA9Zystmw8Sb1XM8jTDYue34A/s2100/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1275" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtcCnKXK0Zz0zktcZzVxgC7otgd-cmGHIDEYY0_h2QvNWiZc_LazA0LOneiiBqX6gGeJMAuKh6Y9gTf2j8j4ppVgUSCvT2z_xAI_E5u1nSejb62fpvKpHaUFP6fqffgLlD7Ihqow8wIsPkuNNcAVgQ0fAVIbv7F-gDLA9Zystmw8Sb1XM8jTDYue34A/w387-h640/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br style="text-align: left;" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;">Doors open at 5:30PM ~Tickets $20 at the door. SEE YOU THERE!</span></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span color="inherit" style="font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="background-color: transparent; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><><><></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="113" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/w200-h113/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; 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font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #001000;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 18.06px;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: lime;">Help us build community! </span> Share with your friends, "like" our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AadunaInc/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">Aaduna-Inc </a>facebook page and follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/aadunaspeaks" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">@ aadunaspeaks </a>! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; 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float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; 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margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13.33px;"><img alt="aaduna-Inc" border="0" height="70" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dA-6jCKY-Vc/U4oWjMAt2uI/AAAAAAAABew/V4jcL9EncAU/s1600/LikeUsOnFacebook_Icon_000.jpg" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none; border-width: 0px; height: 72px; max-width: 810px;" width="200" /> <span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AadunaInc/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">aaduna-Inc</a> Visit regularly for updates !</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br style="color: black; font-size: medium; text-align: left;" /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></p><br /><p></p>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-35173782398422664162022-10-26T21:58:00.001-04:002022-10-26T21:58:14.175-04:00Re-Awakening<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjE38iZ3TVYe0TDt5y4LCisHWkOnXCdue-lM433c9D5Lq5OYzugkFB6mhVXkZDMcguyDUsLz7UC9S5Ke2fsoPx9xA8sBI4oG0wGNWrrzPl7IlmoUsZX68AvKTDas22xQFEgNcJLxVDe6hSt6_4LAIQZHjVSywSu_isojqIjgZACVL8tLIDpxzZwKE5g/s1046/renewal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="1046" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjE38iZ3TVYe0TDt5y4LCisHWkOnXCdue-lM433c9D5Lq5OYzugkFB6mhVXkZDMcguyDUsLz7UC9S5Ke2fsoPx9xA8sBI4oG0wGNWrrzPl7IlmoUsZX68AvKTDas22xQFEgNcJLxVDe6hSt6_4LAIQZHjVSywSu_isojqIjgZACVL8tLIDpxzZwKE5g/s16000/renewal.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
process of renewal, re-birth, reconnecting are innate life experiences most
people have dealt with. When that happens, there is an individual or collective
sense of discovering those things that were readily known or embracing the
opportunity to explore something new, and possibly grasping certain unique
experiences that inevitably re-charge our spirit and strengthen our soul.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
inaugural poets and writers that graced the initial issue of aaduna were unique
in that they charted the pathway; set the bar for subsequent contributors and
built a formidable creative presence as their ongoing work found new
publication avenues. It is understandable, that the rapid spread of Covid-19
darkened the spaces where literary folks presented their work to the public. To
their credit, creatives discovered that dormancy is not permanent. It ebbs and
flows but is not constant. And clearly, not an obstacle to diminish or deter
the creative flow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;">One of
those inaugural poets is an “adopted” entity. A poet tenderly hugged by
residents of the city of Auburn. Her presence at aaduna readings enabled her to
build a regional fan base and folks in Auburn look forward to her ‘annual’
presence. While the pandemic temporarily halted her public readings, she is back,
and as fierce as ever.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mJXqcgMTz4Pt5ufo36wr0J44JNr9djmifFafGu4BBkV1pcddj1Jdqlf85dGLS3hC3fYdMnVPTkO_Da3mQltsZ78TRvzT1k4XNlrWMQzOCzTEKvG4Y4xvT8iJg24Fnc8f6sHvI8j2CVRvomhYYfk8Ftlqke65e3v7DCi8XLzlBXRbL670mPYO8-TFHQ/s431/Cyd%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="431" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mJXqcgMTz4Pt5ufo36wr0J44JNr9djmifFafGu4BBkV1pcddj1Jdqlf85dGLS3hC3fYdMnVPTkO_Da3mQltsZ78TRvzT1k4XNlrWMQzOCzTEKvG4Y4xvT8iJg24Fnc8f6sHvI8j2CVRvomhYYfk8Ftlqke65e3v7DCi8XLzlBXRbL670mPYO8-TFHQ/w400-h400/Cyd%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Cyd Charisse Fulton (photo provided)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Cyd
Charisse Fulton, is editorial assistant at Black Renaissance Noire, Institute
of African American Affairs, NYU and founder of Emphat!c Press. A 2012 Pushcart
Prize nominee, her work is featured in Stand Our Ground, I Want My Poetry To…,
and Dovetail anthologies, aaduna, Author’s Den and WordPeace literary journals.
Cyd featured her poems during Summerstage 2016 in Brooklyn, NY, 2016 Black
History Month Say It Loud program at NYU Gallatin, Remembering the Harlem
Renaissance 2015 at Theater Mack in Auburn, NY, the 2015 People’s State of the
Union Poetic Address to the Nation, 2014 Washington, DC celebration of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., The Mariposa Retreat Reunion at The Writer’s Center in
Maryland, Louder Arts, Cave Canem, Nuyorican Poets Café, Bowery Poetry Club,
and was the featured speaker at the 2013 100th Anniversary Harriet Tubman
recognition gala in Auburn, NY.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background: white;">In 2016, Ms. Fulton produced and directed “Amiri
Baraka: Black Love,” a poetic tribute at NYU. Cyd is a 2016 Downtown Urban Arts
Festival finalist whose play “Educated and Still Trapped” was presented at the
Cherry Hill Theater in New York. Her chapbooks “Feeding Off of the North Star”
and “Emphatic Radical” are tools for social change. Fulton wrote 12 poems for
the 9th Annual My Mother’s Wish, My Sister’s Heart Foundation held on October
28, 2018 in Atlanta. Her finalized poetry manuscript “Equitable Rage” was read
at “Fierce” a three-women poetry reading co-sponsored by the National Park
Service with aaduna at the National Women’s Rights Historical Park in Seneca
Falls, NY in November 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;">She will
bring her work to aaduna’s October 2022 fundraiser for one night only.</span></p><h1 style="background: white; line-height: 48px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #990000;">ATTENTION!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Meet Cyd in person on October 27th as she performs at <a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/10/aaduna-6th-annual-fundraiser-event.html" target="_blank">aaduna's 6th Annual Fundraiser Gala,</a> "Celebrating the Legacy of Harriet Tubman in the Spirit of the Harlem Renaissance..."</span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtcCnKXK0Zz0zktcZzVxgC7otgd-cmGHIDEYY0_h2QvNWiZc_LazA0LOneiiBqX6gGeJMAuKh6Y9gTf2j8j4ppVgUSCvT2z_xAI_E5u1nSejb62fpvKpHaUFP6fqffgLlD7Ihqow8wIsPkuNNcAVgQ0fAVIbv7F-gDLA9Zystmw8Sb1XM8jTDYue34A/s2100/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1275" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtcCnKXK0Zz0zktcZzVxgC7otgd-cmGHIDEYY0_h2QvNWiZc_LazA0LOneiiBqX6gGeJMAuKh6Y9gTf2j8j4ppVgUSCvT2z_xAI_E5u1nSejb62fpvKpHaUFP6fqffgLlD7Ihqow8wIsPkuNNcAVgQ0fAVIbv7F-gDLA9Zystmw8Sb1XM8jTDYue34A/w387-h640/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br style="text-align: left;" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;">Doors open at 5:30PM ~Tickets $20 at the door.</span></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span color="inherit" style="font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="background-color: transparent; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><><><></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="113" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/w200-h113/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; 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margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; 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margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-25256768147543546352022-10-24T08:08:00.003-04:002022-10-24T08:08:42.743-04:00The Reality of the Unexpected<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRUkNGG7mrM9jIjUrzUr4dQjQYBtyTYX11paUMnKAmmHvDFT0SVWLPtUO4uYGGDKruFcupu4lw-hfJMY_dBEKR1uPMr1Pm3orDYf2xuj_1mxg7YqhFBmQd-5TFRJy3HCH3j-_Vs2FH5QB-lJlSU8_U5kZvJbNw1qLv-UmK_x7ixuXkNSGulICvTFlAw/s1043/Time%20keeps%20on%20slipping%20slippin%20slippin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="1043" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRUkNGG7mrM9jIjUrzUr4dQjQYBtyTYX11paUMnKAmmHvDFT0SVWLPtUO4uYGGDKruFcupu4lw-hfJMY_dBEKR1uPMr1Pm3orDYf2xuj_1mxg7YqhFBmQd-5TFRJy3HCH3j-_Vs2FH5QB-lJlSU8_U5kZvJbNw1qLv-UmK_x7ixuXkNSGulICvTFlAw/s16000/Time%20keeps%20on%20slipping%20slippin%20slippin.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Time is fleeting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Time has the universal potential to
cement certain events and experiences in our memory bank; embolden activities
in a contemporary moment for later recall and reflection, and deeply embed
unexpected experiences in our consciousness that becomes those enmeshed and
cherished memories.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The club was in Rochester, NY. The name
escapes recall. It was a dual art exhibition where the art was complemented by
a spoken word piece that transformed the visual image to an outburst of fiery
and nuanced words that bore deeply into one’s consciousness. And there was the esteemed
leader of diverse, prolific wordsmiths whose poetry, literary delivery and
powerful, un-stylized performance galvanized the audience.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZeUZL4A2Cy7ns9QheAfPBGgfLEhKn8g5O0rO9ICw4AGMKB4EjOd3lC3TXUEIRKrkYF9ccT2tREHAv7jlFNhviT4wTXvxh1YutrQzbNgGD7Aui2_ToxOerWiNmXGd0Nto9fDDrPO2lWceyc49ekBzt9bvs07nm15JghBQtZ5OinZ0liCGKXtcnpEDlQ/s1138/Lu%20back%20to%20wall%20Crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="852" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZeUZL4A2Cy7ns9QheAfPBGgfLEhKn8g5O0rO9ICw4AGMKB4EjOd3lC3TXUEIRKrkYF9ccT2tREHAv7jlFNhviT4wTXvxh1YutrQzbNgGD7Aui2_ToxOerWiNmXGd0Nto9fDDrPO2lWceyc49ekBzt9bvs07nm15JghBQtZ5OinZ0liCGKXtcnpEDlQ/w480-h640/Lu%20back%20to%20wall%20Crop.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Lu Highsmith (photo provided)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Lu Highsmith</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> is at the core of a literary
hurricane. She rests in the center of an humanistic enclave where brilliance
comfortably is adjacent to a certain calmness as the outer whirlwinds spin in a
pre-ordained state of magnificence and power. To hear her words is to know who
she is as a person and creative powerhouse. What else is there to say?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ms. Highsmith</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> has published extensively over the
past 25 years and been featured in Western and Northern NYS newspapers. Highsmith,
a Rochester, NY native is a poet, writer, publisher, promoter, spoken artist
and designated Slam Master for Rochester’s first adult slam team, Roc Bottom
Slam Poets. Lu has published two books of poetry, "Vicissitudes: The Ups
and Downs of Life" in 2008 and "Ascension into Love" in 2010. No
matter which genre she chooses to exhibit her creativity, each platform has
been reflective of her passion for spirituality, sensuality, and social
consciousness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lu has performed at festivals, coffee
houses, art galleries, and community events throughout Rochester, Syracuse,
Buffalo, Albany, Atlanta, and Toronto. She co-hosted the successful
"Flowetic Rhythms" Open Mic @ Gallery One for 10 years. In October
2012, Lu joined forces with her Grammy-nominated musician/composer husband,
Jimmie Highsmith Jr. on her first spoken word CD entitled “Ascension.” Most
recently, Highsmith became a member of the Black women’s writing collective,
“We All Write” performing in the 2018 Rochester Fringe Festival and 2019
Women’s Convention in Seneca Falls, NY. Her poems have been published in the
“Colors of Light” anthology, “Simpatico on the Road,” the novel, <i>Win-Win</i>,
and cited in the <i>Baptist Peacekeepers</i> quarterly. Highsmith was awarded
the “Big Pencil” award from Writers & Books in 2018 for inspiring the
creation and appreciation of literature among young people in the Rochester
community. For further information, please visit <a href="http://www.lucreations.net">www.lucreations.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><h1 style="background: white; line-height: 48px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #990000;">ATTENTION!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Meet Lu Highsmith in person on October 27th as she performs at <a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/10/aaduna-6th-annual-fundraiser-event.html" target="_blank">aaduna's 6th Annual Fundraiser Gala,</a> "Celebrating the Legacy of Harriet Tubman in the Spirit of the Harlem Renaissance..."</span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; 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background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">aaduna-Inc</a> Visit regularly for updates !</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"> </span></p><br /><p></p>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-18594539699286715722022-10-22T12:22:00.003-04:002022-10-22T12:22:17.767-04:00The Complexities of Creativity<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMjkOo92HadCoM3zdBQzMX9kDZLMUnSsX-mGO0B8lhMTcy-ZSqdlygZiyDBXEhv6N4qOx93Cn2zNauxR_zH7vHoDz5kXpIhu35TQt9QNjwyQcgsqR1amzvOAsLUqbtkhtExZDHQP6OcAve0LTXqiavV45EMoKzFBuGOGIUsHN2BqjHJ1x1mJYK91YHA/s904/death%20%20coverart%20full%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="904" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMjkOo92HadCoM3zdBQzMX9kDZLMUnSsX-mGO0B8lhMTcy-ZSqdlygZiyDBXEhv6N4qOx93Cn2zNauxR_zH7vHoDz5kXpIhu35TQt9QNjwyQcgsqR1amzvOAsLUqbtkhtExZDHQP6OcAve0LTXqiavV45EMoKzFBuGOGIUsHN2BqjHJ1x1mJYK91YHA/s16000/death%20%20coverart%20full%20(2).jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many
readers may know a creative individual and even embrace that person as a friend
or easily an associate, a colleague. And many creatives are singular in their
pursuit: dance, music, art, theater, writing etc. And several creatives develop
an complementary artistic interest that supplements if not complements their
primary artistic interest. And then there is that smaller cohort of creatives
whose imaginative reach impacts several fields; those folks naturally evolve
into a whirlwind of artistic endeavors.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSU8mOLG3AiY9fcAlU-L0DlPSLu-LjnK-aeylc8zEw_sJl1521P22FdOJn0sc_QjuC0Lf2XLnjWYM0GZM-_evv3FdZVl167hTVfDLpdKDxfuypJ01Whox8FbkN_DmEWBrGy_TRUNf01U5QtB86XauxREmi0-fjBbJDrCb0_s3KMU9XppMaj868MkGMA/s4032/karen%20faris%20bio%20pic%20aaduna%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSU8mOLG3AiY9fcAlU-L0DlPSLu-LjnK-aeylc8zEw_sJl1521P22FdOJn0sc_QjuC0Lf2XLnjWYM0GZM-_evv3FdZVl167hTVfDLpdKDxfuypJ01Whox8FbkN_DmEWBrGy_TRUNf01U5QtB86XauxREmi0-fjBbJDrCb0_s3KMU9XppMaj868MkGMA/w480-h640/karen%20faris%20bio%20pic%20aaduna%202022.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karen Faris (photo provided)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Karen
Faris is one of those whirlwinds. With a quiet demeanor and inquisitive mind,
she is hard to pigeonhole. At one point, she can be seen as a poet, then
writer, then fabric artist, then papermaker, then photographer, then whatever
her creative mind latches on to for her to quelch her insatiable creative mind.
So, this description may not necessarily serve her well; but you can meet and
greet her at the aaduna gala fundraiser on Thursday, October 27 at Cayuga
Museum’s Carriage House Theater in Auburn, NY starting at 6 PM. So…</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Creative
Faris works across the artistic spectrum melding visual and written work into
ensembles of art and spectacle. In her words, {Faris} “does not believe
retelling the old stories from the old perspectives does anything but give us
the world we already have, and, god knows, that hasn't worked out so well.” She
would like to see a compassionate, fairer planet where more than the pursuit of
money is rewarded. That alone may explain her penchant for poetry. In August
2022, she read her work at Macedon, a first after a 2–3-year hiatus due to the
pandemic and lack of in-person readings and venues. She has presented a
literary/visual art piece titled “Aliens Like Us” at the 2019 Rochester Fringe
Festival. Her publications include “Florine! Oh Florine!” a 2021chapbook of
words and art to coincide with the opening of her art show; “The Death of
Compassion,” a poetry chapbook, published jointly with aaduna in 2020. Other
publications include </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Grumbles the Novel," a chapbook, “A
Few Poems,” </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Before There Was Yonder,” illustrated by Katherine Weston
and “Strings of Motherhood,” a literary art book. Journal publications include
work in aaduna, descant, great weather for media, Golden Walkman Literary
Journal and rundelmania.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">A dynamic and prolific speaker, Faris has read at several New
York State venues most notably “Words on the Verge” in Brockport, the open mic
sessions at “word, revisited” in Auburn, Books, Etc. in Macedon, PH
Gallery+Studio in Troy, NY and at Rochester Spoken Word with both those readings
in July 2018. A year later, in the summer of 2019, Faris exhibited her artwork
at the Cayuga Museum as part of the Museum’s CNY Emerging Artists series She
was the featured speaker at “word, revisited” in Auburn on October 11, 2018,
and participated in “NOT NORMAL: Art in the Age of Trump” also in that October
in Syracuse. She has exhibited at Albany Gallery Members and Friends July 2018
show in collaboration with photographer Pilar Arthur-Snead. Her visual art has
also been displayed in The Link Gallery at Rochester City Hall as part of the
Artist Breakfast Group Show in December 2017. A graduate of the NYFA Boot Camp:
Artist as Entrepreneur, Ms. Faris continues to be based in Rochester, NY</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><h1 style="background: white; line-height: 48px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #990000;">ATTENTION!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Meet Karen in person on October 27th as she performs at <a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/10/aaduna-6th-annual-fundraiser-event.html" target="_blank">aaduna's 6th Annual Fundraiser Gala,</a> "Celebrating the Legacy of Harriet Tubman in the Spirit of the Harlem Renaissance..."</span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; 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color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aaduna-6th-annual-gala-fundraiser-a-celebration-of-words-music-tickets-438598709547" style="background: transparent; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">aaduna 6th Annual " Gala" Fundraiser: "A Celebration of Words & Music" Tickets, Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite</a></div><p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br /></span></p><p class="xmsonormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span color="inherit" style="font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="background-color: transparent; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><><><></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; 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line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"> </span></p><div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><br /></span></div><p></p>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-29563928404603509152022-10-20T21:48:00.004-04:002022-10-20T21:48:54.829-04:00THE MUSIC...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxFvXRIwYxYb5NBx8H2DHWUUSrfwus7z_0DOfq77I_HfiwOBpFV0MZVAGR3Tz0_6uin5rAEoW9byxZLnxxESVWy7JgHrs49kklWphLUwEWjCAocgGj1baYlRh6tD_8SVAMQv2EX6vmn_lPQSmCX5f0VmFmGYtYOVEQGzWWXm0cou9bIH05hP_fniKPQ/s1920/pump%20the%20music.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxFvXRIwYxYb5NBx8H2DHWUUSrfwus7z_0DOfq77I_HfiwOBpFV0MZVAGR3Tz0_6uin5rAEoW9byxZLnxxESVWy7JgHrs49kklWphLUwEWjCAocgGj1baYlRh6tD_8SVAMQv2EX6vmn_lPQSmCX5f0VmFmGYtYOVEQGzWWXm0cou9bIH05hP_fniKPQ/s16000/pump%20the%20music.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #242424; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Music
has the power to embolden a wide and diverse range of human emotions from joy
to sadness, celebration to sorrow, excitement to reflection. It is possibly the
singular most influence on humanity and how people share their hopes, destinies
and desires. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 12pt;">Music
has always been a critical component of the </span><i style="color: #242424; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">aaduna</i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 12pt;"> universe. While we
extol the power of the “word” and the enriching contours of the visual arts, it
is acknowledged that music is a uplifting core of aaduna live events and is
always the backdrop when putting together any issue.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #242424; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/10/aaduna-6th-annual-fundraiser-event.html" target="_blank"><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 12pt;">The
October 27</span><sup style="color: #242424; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">th</sup></b></a><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/10/aaduna-6th-annual-fundraiser-event.html" target="_blank"><b> 2022 gala fundraise</b></a>r at the Cayuga Museum’s Carriage
House Theater in Auburn, NY will once again give our audience the freedom to
“shake that thang.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 12pt;">Here are
the musicians who will bring their “chops” to further elevate words to even
higher levels.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKZaIUA1tEjOGBP29x-6X-oNftkIX_xmpnG99XWN287JMh8HHuWz5UEjNJkqOQD_roTLUQW3Y4GaP3JUIVb50Dnrmnwy7NNHMd_CDEMuW2Q-Tqndtb1QhBQUHzBAgb0DnG8ZI_ffWH6kYSi0YEolK89UiHhqh6G8oG5KKYWy0WTX8Z9TywohJvJ8sQw/s442/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKZaIUA1tEjOGBP29x-6X-oNftkIX_xmpnG99XWN287JMh8HHuWz5UEjNJkqOQD_roTLUQW3Y4GaP3JUIVb50Dnrmnwy7NNHMd_CDEMuW2Q-Tqndtb1QhBQUHzBAgb0DnG8ZI_ffWH6kYSi0YEolK89UiHhqh6G8oG5KKYWy0WTX8Z9TywohJvJ8sQw/s16000/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022%20(2).jpg" /></a></div><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #242424; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #242424; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Bernard
Williford</b></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #242424; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">, a multi-instrumentalist keyboardist who plays bass, guitar,
flute, trumpet and can lay down a mean set of vocals, is musical director for <i>aaduna’s</i>
October 2022 gala fundraiser where he will be playing with members of his
former group, Trumptight 315. Berny currently works for Syracuse University’s
after school program; serves as minister of music for the Salvation Army Citadel,
and also is the music producer for "Mate Masie" along with griot
Vanessa Johnson. He has worked doing sound reinforcement with major international groups such as Earth Wind and Fire, Kool
& the Gang, Parliament Funkadelic, as well as the playing at the New York
State Fair for 10 years. Berny states, “I love the direction that the music
industry has taken me and have had the pleasure of playing all across the
nation and even outside of the country. He can be reached at </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:bernywilliford@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">bernywilliford@gmail.com</span></a></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> <span style="background: white; color: #242424;">or 315.254.5539.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><b>Jamar Lacey</b>, </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">drummer,
has been playing out with his father James Lacey since the age of 19.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jamar developed a passion for playing
drums in the church and also from his participation in a 6th grade band. He has
played with several bands in the Syracuse area including Rodney King's
Nightlife and Sammy award winning Stevie Wolf and The Blues Express band. Jamar
is one the founders of the Syracuse, NY top band, Trumptight 315. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Don Clark</b></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> born in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania is the second of 10 boys and his oldest brother was the bass
player for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes for 25 years before passing away in
2008. Don has played with some of the finest musicians and bands in the Philly area,
Syracuse and is currently playing guitar and musical director for Trumptight
315. Don has also been and still is the front man and guitar player for the
Bobby Green's band, A Cut Above. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>Belinda Jones</b></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> started singing as a
young child in church and from there she began singing in an all-ladies group
called, Ladies of Soul. For the past 10 years, Belinda has been singing as the
lead female singer alongside her husband, the male lead singer Eric Love Jones,
in the band Trumptight 315. Ms. Jones states, “ I love singing and I will
continue to share my gift by the grace of my mother to the world!”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>James Lacey</b></span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> better known as Pop has
been the bass player for Trumptight 315 for the pass 7 - 8 years. James has
resided in Syracuse for the past thirty years and has been playing bass
probably for the same length of time. And in his humble and gracious manner and
style states, I am also glad to be a part of this special occasion. Thank you.” </span></p><h1 style="background: white; line-height: 48px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #990000;">ATTENTION!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Bernie Williford Band opens the event at 6PM on October 27th <a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/10/aaduna-6th-annual-fundraiser-event.html" target="_blank">aaduna's 6th Annual Fundraiser Gala,</a> "Celebrating the Legacy of Harriet Tubman in the Spirit of the Harlem Renaissance..."</span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtcCnKXK0Zz0zktcZzVxgC7otgd-cmGHIDEYY0_h2QvNWiZc_LazA0LOneiiBqX6gGeJMAuKh6Y9gTf2j8j4ppVgUSCvT2z_xAI_E5u1nSejb62fpvKpHaUFP6fqffgLlD7Ihqow8wIsPkuNNcAVgQ0fAVIbv7F-gDLA9Zystmw8Sb1XM8jTDYue34A/s2100/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1275" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtcCnKXK0Zz0zktcZzVxgC7otgd-cmGHIDEYY0_h2QvNWiZc_LazA0LOneiiBqX6gGeJMAuKh6Y9gTf2j8j4ppVgUSCvT2z_xAI_E5u1nSejb62fpvKpHaUFP6fqffgLlD7Ihqow8wIsPkuNNcAVgQ0fAVIbv7F-gDLA9Zystmw8Sb1XM8jTDYue34A/w387-h640/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br style="text-align: left;" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;">Advance Sale Tickets AVAILABLE NOW via EVENTBRIGHT until October 26th.</span></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aaduna-6th-annual-gala-fundraiser-a-celebration-of-words-music-tickets-438598709547" style="background: transparent; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CLICK TO PURCHASE</span></a></h2><p style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aaduna-6th-annual-gala-fundraiser-a-celebration-of-words-music-tickets-438598709547" style="background: transparent; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">aaduna 6th Annual " Gala" Fundraiser: "A Celebration of Words & Music" Tickets, Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite</a></div><p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br /></span></p><p class="xmsonormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; line-height: 24px; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span color="inherit" style="font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="background-color: transparent; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><><><></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="113" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/w200-h113/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; 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line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"> </span></p><div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><br /></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-34127714548529148612022-10-14T08:33:00.005-04:002022-10-15T17:42:36.873-04:00When the unabridged version “trumps” the soon to be released edited version! <p> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Dbdeiil3klYeSELp9KyZrmh7hzC5nCEXg4xtBqfyFbCBV_gtCWu4v_Tt1A8v7tqjiJltlfL85w3UezHB6iYdA3DYYZF2IVUT9aCkm7Y_iIuc_RbwOgpRYUoa2Zv2Gx6vxlqjudFpb5UshZm9rjJUKejxKApr62Ie3SplGVwu2qrFAZQb-m06RdscSQ/s960/vanessa%20photo.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Dbdeiil3klYeSELp9KyZrmh7hzC5nCEXg4xtBqfyFbCBV_gtCWu4v_Tt1A8v7tqjiJltlfL85w3UezHB6iYdA3DYYZF2IVUT9aCkm7Y_iIuc_RbwOgpRYUoa2Zv2Gx6vxlqjudFpb5UshZm9rjJUKejxKApr62Ie3SplGVwu2qrFAZQb-m06RdscSQ/s16000/vanessa%20photo.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="xcontentpasted0" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Vanessa
Johnson <u>is</u> an <i>aaduna</i> artist. Moreso…she is an
empowering force of humanistic spirit, continuously thrusting forward swirling
wind gusts of positivity. Ms. Johnson is simply… <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;">a griot and
storyteller in the West African tradition. She is a writer, a playwright,
actor, fiber artist, museum consultant, community activist, community
researcher and documentarian, teaching, and performance artist all the while
directing her storytelling band “Mate Masie” (ma-tee ma-say). {“Mate Masie”
recently performed “One Soul at a Time”- Singing Harriet Tubman at the Cayuga
Museum’s Carriage House in Auburn N.Y.} <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Ms. Johnson
served on the Juneteenth Committee and coordinated this pivotal annual festival
at the Southwest Center in Syracuse, NY for three years where she created and
directed the “Juneteenth Interactive Museum” for five years. Vanessa was the
co-coordinator of the New York State Fair Pan African Village for nine years,
founding and implementing the “Harambee Youth Tent” which offered free art and
cultural experiences for youth and adults. She founded “Syracuse Africa Bound”
in 1989 offering youth aged 10-18 travel and cultural exploration in Ghana,
West Africa. Vanessa was the director of education for the Onondaga Historical
Association for over four years where she used her storytelling talents to
articulate the diverse history of Onondaga County at museums, schools, always
underpinned by her community presentations throughout New York State. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;">As a visual
artist, her first solo quilt show, “Unwrapping Vanessa”, was exhibited at Syracuse’s
ArtRage Gallery in 2017. In February/March she curated her first exhibition
“The Struggle to Connect”, a visual conversation between women of color and
women of European descent centering on the critical issue of race in America.
This summer her dual fiber art shows “In the Voice of God - The Spirituality of
Harriet Tubman was on exhibit at the Schweinfurth Art Center as well as at the
Cayuga Museum in Auburn, NY. And if that is not enough background… <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Johnson’s play,
“Doors” was produced in May 2014 by the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company of
Syracuse. She has written, directed, and produced children’s plays for the
Onondaga Historical Association’s History Drama Troupe in Syracuse, NY and for
several after school drama programs. During the 2021-22 school year, Vanessa
created “The Griot Guides” program at Syracuse University’s Community Folk Art
Gallery, teaching African American history through storytelling, art, and
cultural lessons about the African Diaspora, and literature. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;">At present,
“Ms. V” is the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation women’s rights center’s Artist in
Residence. As a consultant for the museum, she designed the Underground
Railroad Room, and was trained in Dialogue Facilitation for the museum’s
Community Dialogue Program on Reproductive Rights (“Who Chooses?”). In 2012-13
Ms. Johnson was the Gage Foundation Community Liaison for their Girl’s
Ambassadors for Human Rights Program, sponsored by the U.S. State Department
and the International Coalition of Sites of Conscious, between the United
States (Syracuse), Chili, and Sri Lanka, and she directed the program from
2016-2021. Ms. Johnson’s one woman shows include her portrayals of Fannie Lou
Hamer, Audrey Lourde, and Julia Cooper. She is developing two new shows for her
residency at the Gage Foundation where she will portray Shirley Chisolm and Ida
B. Wells. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Several of
Vanessa’s short stories can be found in a local publication - “Women’s Voices:
An Anthology of Poetry and Short Stories” published by Bialo Publications, Inc.
She is the editor for a collection of stories written by youth from the Arts
Academy at Syracuse University’s Community Folk Art Gallery “High Flown Words”
2022 published by Wildebeest Publishing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5ccasl1nNg0tdGWQhcyAmcEzuF-oUAMBoDh8ATM_dReA679un2X8njHfnmes5kZ6aZaKC4AYdwCl6FTgasQ5mXdH7_wFURE-i4zMNzNTjnhIL_10GrSd78j0RLss4mrbXxncO2E4ufNlY_CODybHeX-Rt5P5_KYR5pb9DHGdx_8EeM1Mjysozq7J4w/s720/vanessa%20bio%20photo%20aaduna%202022%20fundraiser.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5ccasl1nNg0tdGWQhcyAmcEzuF-oUAMBoDh8ATM_dReA679un2X8njHfnmes5kZ6aZaKC4AYdwCl6FTgasQ5mXdH7_wFURE-i4zMNzNTjnhIL_10GrSd78j0RLss4mrbXxncO2E4ufNlY_CODybHeX-Rt5P5_KYR5pb9DHGdx_8EeM1Mjysozq7J4w/w400-h400/vanessa%20bio%20photo%20aaduna%202022%20fundraiser.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #999999;">Vanessa Johnson (photo provided)</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><o:p style="color: black;"><br /></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span color="inherit" style="font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span class="xcontentpasted01"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Vanessa Johnson</span></span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"> will read her work
at <i>aaduna’s</i> October 27, 2022, gala fundraising event at the
Carriage House Theater, Cayuga Museum of History and Art in Auburn, NY. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br /></span></p><h1 style="background: white; line-height: 48px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #990000;">ATTENTION!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Meet Vanessa in person on October 27th as she performs at <a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/10/aaduna-6th-annual-fundraiser-event.html" target="_blank">aaduna's 6th Annual Fundraiser Gala,</a>"Celebrating the Legacy of Harriet Tubman in the Spirit of the Harlem Renaissance..."</span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtcCnKXK0Zz0zktcZzVxgC7otgd-cmGHIDEYY0_h2QvNWiZc_LazA0LOneiiBqX6gGeJMAuKh6Y9gTf2j8j4ppVgUSCvT2z_xAI_E5u1nSejb62fpvKpHaUFP6fqffgLlD7Ihqow8wIsPkuNNcAVgQ0fAVIbv7F-gDLA9Zystmw8Sb1XM8jTDYue34A/s2100/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1275" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtcCnKXK0Zz0zktcZzVxgC7otgd-cmGHIDEYY0_h2QvNWiZc_LazA0LOneiiBqX6gGeJMAuKh6Y9gTf2j8j4ppVgUSCvT2z_xAI_E5u1nSejb62fpvKpHaUFP6fqffgLlD7Ihqow8wIsPkuNNcAVgQ0fAVIbv7F-gDLA9Zystmw8Sb1XM8jTDYue34A/w387-h640/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br style="text-align: left;" /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;">Advance Sale Tickets AVAILABLE NOW via EVENTBRIGHT until October 26th.</span></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aaduna-6th-annual-gala-fundraiser-a-celebration-of-words-music-tickets-438598709547" style="background: transparent; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CLICK TO PURCHASE</span></a></h2><p style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aaduna-6th-annual-gala-fundraiser-a-celebration-of-words-music-tickets-438598709547" style="background: transparent; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">aaduna 6th Annual " Gala" Fundraiser: "A Celebration of Words & Music" Tickets, Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite</a></div><p class="xcontentpasted0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span color="inherit" style="font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="background-color: transparent; mso-ansi-language: EN; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: center;"><><><></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="113" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/w200-h113/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; 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line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; 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line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-37547817769005657322022-10-11T21:17:00.005-04:002022-10-19T08:05:00.264-04:00Luisa Aparisi-França…somewhat of a prologue<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bo2VwgGrBs62O5_c1xu3xu-_EMxN9oesPHmVss4irv8FbwijNg5YA1eZDdl7tav08YZWpIPcPb1jwZ7YTygVWTdiCtb2FerI7Eds4RTokcsmVAsfc8gEVk0fsqRfoNRD-hJzh1vCsBpti0Xgjw0PnsXTAWbE70BBUiCpt8oU4dHZHuKdcDb-KFopjw/s474/integrityphoto.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="474" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bo2VwgGrBs62O5_c1xu3xu-_EMxN9oesPHmVss4irv8FbwijNg5YA1eZDdl7tav08YZWpIPcPb1jwZ7YTygVWTdiCtb2FerI7Eds4RTokcsmVAsfc8gEVk0fsqRfoNRD-hJzh1vCsBpti0Xgjw0PnsXTAWbE70BBUiCpt8oU4dHZHuKdcDb-KFopjw/w640-h640/integrityphoto.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“…integrity.
</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">It is, by far, the thing
I'm most concerned about. I often explore intersection and how mine are linked
to privilege through the textual use of italics (when using other languages)
and through structure. It's normally seen as othering when languages other than
English are italicized in text, but I use it as a method of separation. Who I
am and how I was raised is not something that is visible to most, and there's a
clear disconnect in how I'm perceived, which I think is most accurately
reflected, in my case, with the use of italics.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Luisa
Aparisi-França</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is a queer, non-binary
Latinx writer from Miami, FL currently living in Georgia. Her pronouns are
she/they. “I use she and they based on how distant or close I feel to
something. I'll use they when referring to something I've cut ties with, or
people/things that no longer serve me. It is linked to self-protection as it is
to identity. In moments of intense joy or hurt, I tend to use she, since it's
more accessible and familiar. I'm she when taken off guard or delighted. They
when trying to be matter of fact or impartial. Luisa also identifies as a
demigirl. Coming from a family that is Spanish and Brazilian, being raised in
the US was a huge culture shock to the collectivist values they were taught. As
a third culture kid, and someone who, for the most part, slides in and out of
confines, {Luisa} seeks to use language as a way of bridging divides. Her poems
explore transitions, transformations, community, deconstruction, family, love,
obligation, and the spaces we constantly create with each decision and
interaction.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEF5KK2YpTgNSeYyBD_iczebzRHlLNgnBmz9zWdqI-wIiPBiC0DZEKHWCBVO-lEk6NKn9fldI5dvwvuPUnT9l17U_kcECuj-ZwLhv6AGGQEzg58P0RC_T5G58POCL2d-LiAJKGUnasLY9LMb-9-p2_1CQwYjxICKsUMkKtZYP738TxLWbDHEJZGZK6A/s1362/Luisa%202%20(3).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1362" data-original-width="1361" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEF5KK2YpTgNSeYyBD_iczebzRHlLNgnBmz9zWdqI-wIiPBiC0DZEKHWCBVO-lEk6NKn9fldI5dvwvuPUnT9l17U_kcECuj-ZwLhv6AGGQEzg58P0RC_T5G58POCL2d-LiAJKGUnasLY9LMb-9-p2_1CQwYjxICKsUMkKtZYP738TxLWbDHEJZGZK6A/s320/Luisa%202%20(3).jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: justify;">Luisa Aparisi-França</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Aparisi-França</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">’s poems will be in the fall/winter 2022
issue of <i>aaduna</i></span></p><h1 style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #990000;">ATTENTION!</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Meet Luisa in person on October 27th as she performs at <a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/10/aaduna-6th-annual-fundraiser-event.html" target="_blank">aaduna's 6th Annual Fundraiser Gala, </a>"Celebrating the Legacy of Harriet Tubman in the Spirit of the Harlem Renaissance..."</span></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtcCnKXK0Zz0zktcZzVxgC7otgd-cmGHIDEYY0_h2QvNWiZc_LazA0LOneiiBqX6gGeJMAuKh6Y9gTf2j8j4ppVgUSCvT2z_xAI_E5u1nSejb62fpvKpHaUFP6fqffgLlD7Ihqow8wIsPkuNNcAVgQ0fAVIbv7F-gDLA9Zystmw8Sb1XM8jTDYue34A/s2100/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1275" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtcCnKXK0Zz0zktcZzVxgC7otgd-cmGHIDEYY0_h2QvNWiZc_LazA0LOneiiBqX6gGeJMAuKh6Y9gTf2j8j4ppVgUSCvT2z_xAI_E5u1nSejb62fpvKpHaUFP6fqffgLlD7Ihqow8wIsPkuNNcAVgQ0fAVIbv7F-gDLA9Zystmw8Sb1XM8jTDYue34A/w387-h640/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022.jpg" width="387" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;">Advance Sale Tickets AVAILABLE NOW via EVENTBRIGHT until October 26th.</span></h2><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aaduna-6th-annual-gala-fundraiser-a-celebration-of-words-music-tickets-438598709547" style="background: transparent; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CLICK TO PURCHASE</span></a></h2><p style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #010101; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aaduna-6th-annual-gala-fundraiser-a-celebration-of-words-music-tickets-438598709547" style="background: transparent; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">aaduna 6th Annual " Gala" Fundraiser: "A Celebration of Words & Music" Tickets, Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite</a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="text-align: center;"><><><></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="113" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/w200-h113/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.33px;"><span style="color: #001000;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 18.06px;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; 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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-22978501205934699072022-10-09T14:14:00.004-04:002022-10-09T14:14:39.106-04:00aaduna 6th annual Fundraiser Event ~ Thursday, October 27th @ 6PM ~ ADVANCE SALE TICKETS!<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QhZG51GvhxjRAu8RNqrPD2wbnk8EzH1nDKGXMzDPJH5P96cYjOzUjw3auShBN4YzzPsrKDTsOpUyMXK3LHbABbP0vk5rbQN9A25kGFp0zFwfmmJT_ESWiBb31HN7cwr3LppwP0uvElbIFz9U7alO-aSSxmgDaMX5gh8-sVjne-WQGmj1L6FfFdOpLg/s2100/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QhZG51GvhxjRAu8RNqrPD2wbnk8EzH1nDKGXMzDPJH5P96cYjOzUjw3auShBN4YzzPsrKDTsOpUyMXK3LHbABbP0vk5rbQN9A25kGFp0zFwfmmJT_ESWiBb31HN7cwr3LppwP0uvElbIFz9U7alO-aSSxmgDaMX5gh8-sVjne-WQGmj1L6FfFdOpLg/s16000/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022.jpg" /></a></div><br /></h2><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;">Advance Sale Tickets AVAILABLE NOW via EVENTBRIGHT until October 26th.</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aaduna-6th-annual-gala-fundraiser-a-celebration-of-words-music-tickets-438598709547" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CLICK TO PURCHASE</span></a></h2><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aaduna-6th-annual-gala-fundraiser-a-celebration-of-words-music-tickets-438598709547" target="_blank">aaduna 6th Annual " Gala" Fundraiser: "A Celebration of Words & Music" Tickets, Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><><><></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="113" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/w200-h113/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; 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margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.33px;"><span style="color: #001000;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 18.06px;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; 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font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #001000;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 18.06px;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: lime;">Help us build community! </span> Share with your friends, "like" our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AadunaInc/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">Aaduna-Inc </a>facebook page and follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/aadunaspeaks" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">@ aadunaspeaks </a>! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4410395838106280374" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13.33px;"><img alt="aaduna-Inc" border="0" height="70" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dA-6jCKY-Vc/U4oWjMAt2uI/AAAAAAAABew/V4jcL9EncAU/s1600/LikeUsOnFacebook_Icon_000.jpg" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none; border-width: 0px; height: 72px; max-width: 810px;" width="200" /> <span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AadunaInc/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">aaduna-Inc</a> Visit regularly for updates !</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div></div></div></div></div>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-85510153150056290882022-10-08T15:05:00.004-04:002022-10-09T09:03:35.807-04:00Embolden and Nourish Your Spirit!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXbRHX1fU1fa5ljtoacPHUF7nvYz18fwS_aG40f3qltHPrM320eUlI90YdWRoovukKA6A5OWopdGsQVaox6U1PWQtsEziVT3zlwIQjMeVRi85BYFQRweKJrnKBOYFbjK9axs7A_4gb6NFvsiS1Y4ubG4VnSeLvY_5mEaE9dnO9bN9E_btB7Ez-SihJA/s1000/nourish.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1000" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXbRHX1fU1fa5ljtoacPHUF7nvYz18fwS_aG40f3qltHPrM320eUlI90YdWRoovukKA6A5OWopdGsQVaox6U1PWQtsEziVT3zlwIQjMeVRi85BYFQRweKJrnKBOYFbjK9axs7A_4gb6NFvsiS1Y4ubG4VnSeLvY_5mEaE9dnO9bN9E_btB7Ez-SihJA/w640-h508/nourish.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">after 12 years, still badass…still promoting literary words and
visual arts on <i>aaduna’s</i> terms…still multicultural, gender diverse, intergenerational;
embracing all creatives regardless of “isms” with no apologies to anyone or
group…still exploring the outer regions where unexplored words and visuals
twirl uninterrupted for those who dare seek to harness that creative power
within the realm where music still defines the contours and nuances of life’s
activities…simply, </span><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">aaduna</span></i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> dares!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here is a headz-up worth noting. </span><span>Copy and paste the following link:</span></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/10/embolden-and-nourish-your-spirit.html" target="_blank">https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/10/embolden-and-nourish-your-spirit.html </a> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and forward to your friends,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>family, colleagues, e-mail distribution lists and just maybe even those
folks who you no longer like or get on your last nerve! </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">We need you to help get the word
out! To everyone.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><><><><i><o:p> </o:p></i></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i></i></span></p><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpo83StcN6XaIIKh5udSB4fME6JFfdp153jfYVgTmhH_A3m_D1kIRTYqazrA704xbhKNLvRTFHpqr06LJIY4Up96ZfJeVzG6Ie6iJouPGaX0A5QZLQjIITR1RXu9V8IWmLl5zcGPDfdBmfSd0gHBX2fX3cGWCE4J-rLd9cAo5uyYRtjWG_3h7g4XcWQ/s1269/aaduna%20fundraiser%202022%20Banner%20heading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1269" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpo83StcN6XaIIKh5udSB4fME6JFfdp153jfYVgTmhH_A3m_D1kIRTYqazrA704xbhKNLvRTFHpqr06LJIY4Up96ZfJeVzG6Ie6iJouPGaX0A5QZLQjIITR1RXu9V8IWmLl5zcGPDfdBmfSd0gHBX2fX3cGWCE4J-rLd9cAo5uyYRtjWG_3h7g4XcWQ/w640-h362/aaduna%20fundraiser%202022%20Banner%20heading.jpg" width="640" /></a></p></span></i></span><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: large; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">aaduna </span></i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: justify;">is finally back at The
Carriage House Theater, Cayuga Museum of History and Art in Auburn, NY for its “gala”
fundraiser scheduled for Thursday, October 27 with festivities kicking-off at 6
PM when the doors open.</span></span></h3><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After a three-year unplanned hiatus due to the pandemic, in 2022,
poets, writers and musicians will once again fill the Carriage House with words
that spit passion, evoke emotions, and put back in play forgotten memories as
literary phrases bounce off the walls and skip from table to table while
settling comfortably on your mind’s eye and captivating your brain. The music
will defy you from sitting still…so get ready for toe tapping, boogey shaking,
head bouncing notes that will cascade along the walls and drip from the ceiling
down to the lower level as live music compels you to let your reserved manners
and feelings evaporate into a free-form expression of smiles and heart-warming
merriment as you sashay around the room laughing if not grinning from ear to
ear.</span></p>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: #ffa400; font-size: large; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>aaduna </b></span></i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: large;">is still, and will always
be, nothing but a party of words and music! Fortunately, somethings will never
change.</span></b></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With poets and writers Howard Nelson, Lu Highsmith, Karen Faris,
Cyd Charisse Fulton,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doug Curry, </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luisa
Aparisi-França, Vanessa Johnson, Chantel Frazier and music pumped by Bernie
Williford’s band, October 27<sup>th</sup> will celebrate the legacy and ongoing
spirit of Harriet Tubman while continuing <i>aaduna’s </i>embrace of the
emboldening power of words fueled by live music. This<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>event will also signify another historic
period, called The Harlem Renaissance…whether celebrated in sleek uptown
brownstone parlor rooms, walk-up tenement rent-parties or even the after-hours
joints where whatever goes, went. And these festivities usually happened on
Thursdays when Black domestics had the evening off to socialize and party,
relax and be who they were. This year’s event will also honor the untimely passing
of two pivotal African American poets/writers/artists/community activists,
Jackie Warren-Moore, and Charles “Seabee” Banks.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFgCTqgNP_u-FpyPeiPr8OP1HASmzVFKc3MeNSLIwOekU5fE3x1jm4VV308vAPk8Wfi0Uzf8rrWKTL0jfr6shyEtVQEV5D_fA82-vKjenMTHYlQvqp80hjALjs-FQq5vSOM5drkvenqMSlnK2O9IjiKteLIh5nPt16c9hW4pv8aed6-n9Ue6p8TLyuA/s1051/aaduna%20fundraiser%20poets%20roster%202022%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="1051" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFgCTqgNP_u-FpyPeiPr8OP1HASmzVFKc3MeNSLIwOekU5fE3x1jm4VV308vAPk8Wfi0Uzf8rrWKTL0jfr6shyEtVQEV5D_fA82-vKjenMTHYlQvqp80hjALjs-FQq5vSOM5drkvenqMSlnK2O9IjiKteLIh5nPt16c9hW4pv8aed6-n9Ue6p8TLyuA/w640-h422/aaduna%20fundraiser%20poets%20roster%202022%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbYONsHZZf3qrj1QTQEuMTET3Mdeq8W3UqzwuFxxiysLv10KxCnlsTevBWWIHRZmM7JVrqvr9zxU53OkTEP2uQX3c5Yv38eHDzvEg7nuWMsjiiRrEVfoO-h_XV_celA8mQa6meBp4JoxpCDXjmoPItg5PHiJ4-REhkwUjOVBKInzKCZ4wHDDGg0WItQ/s442/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="442" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbYONsHZZf3qrj1QTQEuMTET3Mdeq8W3UqzwuFxxiysLv10KxCnlsTevBWWIHRZmM7JVrqvr9zxU53OkTEP2uQX3c5Yv38eHDzvEg7nuWMsjiiRrEVfoO-h_XV_celA8mQa6meBp4JoxpCDXjmoPItg5PHiJ4-REhkwUjOVBKInzKCZ4wHDDGg0WItQ/w320-h250/aaduna%20fundraiser%20flyer%202022%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>Tickets
will be $20/person, cash only at the door. And an advance discount ticket price
will be announced in a few days. And if you cannot attend, </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">donations
are always welcome and encouraged since aaduna Inc. is an IRS 501(c)3
tax-exempt organization</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. With that said, The Carriage House
Theater will offer wine, beer, soft drinks, bottled water, and snacks for sale
with that revenue going directly to the museum to support its programmatic
initiatives.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So,
there cannot be an excuse. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark your
calendar. Thursday, October 27<sup>th</sup> starting at 6 PM, <i>aaduna </i>will
rock the Carriage House Theater. Be there or be…. <o:p></o:p></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">More
promo info will be released soon.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><><><></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 32px; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="113" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/w200-h113/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; 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font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #001000;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 18.06px;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="color: lime;">Help us build community! </span> Share with your friends, "like" our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AadunaInc/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">Aaduna-Inc </a>facebook page and follow us on twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/aadunaspeaks" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">@ aadunaspeaks </a>! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; 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font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4410395838106280374" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; 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margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13.33px;"><img alt="aaduna-Inc" border="0" height="70" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dA-6jCKY-Vc/U4oWjMAt2uI/AAAAAAAABew/V4jcL9EncAU/s1600/LikeUsOnFacebook_Icon_000.jpg" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none; border-width: 0px; height: 72px; max-width: 810px;" width="200" /> <span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AadunaInc/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">aaduna-Inc</a> Visit regularly for updates !</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-84510185352224730692022-08-07T11:44:00.003-04:002022-08-07T20:57:39.840-04:00In Time... After Thoughts<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaarX6xnUixLW0Jh53FQhBZnU3gZQdEV5fl7apE7pgifxempBNSjPXNVLMNMAU3RTsDP4frfvSJfLg6OIkvbh1--IIOKZ6lDQ0HTo51KdCV_MpxmrjTup8s1VpuHZpKuiV9WxKn27K3fxPIOno4e49-Vcq0XnaIno5JGvGEEiFamHBwUsqN-Kujg2C7w/s960/298163929_10217111171129808_7872737725098239052_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaarX6xnUixLW0Jh53FQhBZnU3gZQdEV5fl7apE7pgifxempBNSjPXNVLMNMAU3RTsDP4frfvSJfLg6OIkvbh1--IIOKZ6lDQ0HTo51KdCV_MpxmrjTup8s1VpuHZpKuiV9WxKn27K3fxPIOno4e49-Vcq0XnaIno5JGvGEEiFamHBwUsqN-Kujg2C7w/s16000/298163929_10217111171129808_7872737725098239052_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Glimpse of the Gardens at Seward House Museum, photo by Lisa Brennan, August 5 2022</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">After a few years of appropriate,
health-driven safety isolation and contact with others primarily platformed by zoom,
Facetime and other modes of “artificial” interaction including social media,
mass distribution of e-mails…you get the picture.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 2022, folks are starting to venture
out and take advantage of the opportunity to see others from the neck down
without a background of kitchens, living rooms, at home libraries or the cat
walking across the screen or the incessant barking of the family dog. Or just
the unmoving face or a black screen with the person’s name since these people
had something better to do. Were they really listening as they ventured to
accomplish other tasks out of sight? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While there are still moments when one
should err on the side of being cautious, the human need for interaction with
others has slowly permeated the scope of our social interactions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">aaduna</span></i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> has been quietly active during the
pandemic. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unfortunately, the website had to transition
to an “in exile” state due to repeated foreign hacking infringements, as well
as our content outgrowing the site. Or, maybe it was our older, specifically
designed for our use a technology that eventually became incompatible with the
new! However, the creative work of each issue was available on the blog
platform (aadunanotes.blogspot. com)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>where the poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and visual imaginings of
contributors are available and duly archived. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Intriguingly, the work to establish a
new publishing platform will continue. More importantly, submitters’ interest
in “what aaduna does, and how it does it” remains strong. For those creatives who seek a respectful,
nurturing, collegial space steeped in multiculturalism, artist-driven publication
nuances and understandings that is compatible with diverse avenues to build a
public audience for <i>aaduna </i>contributors and an intrinsic simpatico
relationship with contributors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Notwithstanding this past recent
history, the story of this “blog” is really centered on an August 2022 First
Friday celebration at The Seward House Museum in Auburn, NY.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Fm6EnTGrMjpyJaHkU0Gvah3AeIoSiSsJnTAiNswD6IPLooqErQwfqOOtF9DegylMzHAzKADnG3lKxehBRnbujNswFxBTnpdPzJorh2WaoTJcqJ5nuRRzBI-RhetPZZlLs8zytASOLl7hPQraqYsokunopXSeEhCPuf0H6M13wQVrIE0o5hemIBUy4g/s1440/297830232_10217109243681623_1678340908438967667_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Fm6EnTGrMjpyJaHkU0Gvah3AeIoSiSsJnTAiNswD6IPLooqErQwfqOOtF9DegylMzHAzKADnG3lKxehBRnbujNswFxBTnpdPzJorh2WaoTJcqJ5nuRRzBI-RhetPZZlLs8zytASOLl7hPQraqYsokunopXSeEhCPuf0H6M13wQVrIE0o5hemIBUy4g/w640-h360/297830232_10217109243681623_1678340908438967667_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">aaduna at The Seward House Museum, First Friday Event, August 5, 2022</td></tr></tbody></table><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">aaduna</span></i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> returned to a public space in the
unique way that <i>aaduna</i> parties after forced time in “isolation”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On August 5, 2022, it happened. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">aaduna </span></i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">weaved its magic on the south porch
stage of the museum. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhy1y6MBMLgZDC8qqEagL4pCpqf8b3TaJzKdkstPJqrHy6rDevXSkfp_OrTlLo8ixAghDsP9pHyPoiU0dWhO4YcjL7Nliri9hRCF5z9TtEp0c-KMslEcRQvQgJ6SIEdyFjJz0IexU_2G4ven2BB7DkGc6eimggKrD6mzI0sCLyOcOvluDkyqQj3Sle6w/s960/297883482_10217111172369839_7476328067379035007_n.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhy1y6MBMLgZDC8qqEagL4pCpqf8b3TaJzKdkstPJqrHy6rDevXSkfp_OrTlLo8ixAghDsP9pHyPoiU0dWhO4YcjL7Nliri9hRCF5z9TtEp0c-KMslEcRQvQgJ6SIEdyFjJz0IexU_2G4ven2BB7DkGc6eimggKrD6mzI0sCLyOcOvluDkyqQj3Sle6w/w640-h480/297883482_10217111172369839_7476328067379035007_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Left to Right) Bernie Williford, Chris Jones, bill berry, jr. and <span style="text-align: justify;">Shawnté </span>Bliss Barr (featured poet)</div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw7ibWTI9oIPd8Daun3OEeHcy8n8u4ygDPuX9c17_Kix4nEmjaXO1viLXK2RpF6YHk1MLHIE51fQdFTCqioaQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>Bernie Williford</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> let his fingers set the groove as he
meticulously stroked keys and musically positioned his “chops” and in a sublime
manner, confirmed his reputation as a riveting and imaginative keyboardist.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chris Jones</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, not to be outdone, snapped his wrists
and maneuvered around his drum set driving the keyboardist’s music to heights
where foot stamping was the norm and not the exception.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Williford and Jones opened the Seward’s
August First Friday and set the ambiance for the coming words and phrases that
would float; drift throughout the garden; rip through but not harm flowers and
shrubs; laying still, resting softly on the shoulders and laps while <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>quietly permeating the mind of audience
members. And then…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Barr and Dafoe took the stage.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqm82VSOThO-4Povkdd3nmyUoCJlzonfGYthx1Z0boURte4fNFvSkVbsQ4BZXAFNYpaEinl0eRR5hbcn4FaP1_xKsYtVsM3Oa-OqWkl0cUEBMChJd2McIHRjgBWLO37Xs55ujEyD7gzCbcNFcKHsWIufdXg_tjoYZHVgYXEojIBxjz-JSjV3ZKsiXMw/s2048/297769434_10217109307203211_2345747051597082100_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqm82VSOThO-4Povkdd3nmyUoCJlzonfGYthx1Z0boURte4fNFvSkVbsQ4BZXAFNYpaEinl0eRR5hbcn4FaP1_xKsYtVsM3Oa-OqWkl0cUEBMChJd2McIHRjgBWLO37Xs55ujEyD7gzCbcNFcKHsWIufdXg_tjoYZHVgYXEojIBxjz-JSjV3ZKsiXMw/w640-h480/297769434_10217109307203211_2345747051597082100_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; text-align: justify;">Shawnté</span> Blyss Barr, aaduna featured poet, Seward House Museum, First Friday Event, August 5, 2022</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shawnté
Blyss Barr</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> weaved emotional words defining and reimaging
relationships. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCfRQ1YyJ2DJHyH9rGVpwSs9uyVOeou3FS-L30XFseqH_bIh_OraRM5fjO6AL7i68yviCP6ZZkiax3NvGoPiga4FGsEJQ5GgsYuaB7hHYGPD6mlw6FAs8jgLfntiwlhR1hrkPOFmU7lu1DzPTbAy9v_kicdh8H8raOoALHU7AfDNMwo8VZZ_3WfYDkg/s2048/297709579_10217109307803226_9110162660964965125_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCfRQ1YyJ2DJHyH9rGVpwSs9uyVOeou3FS-L30XFseqH_bIh_OraRM5fjO6AL7i68yviCP6ZZkiax3NvGoPiga4FGsEJQ5GgsYuaB7hHYGPD6mlw6FAs8jgLfntiwlhR1hrkPOFmU7lu1DzPTbAy9v_kicdh8H8raOoALHU7AfDNMwo8VZZ_3WfYDkg/w480-h640/297709579_10217109307803226_9110162660964965125_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nancy Avery Dafoe, aaduna featured poet, Seward House Museum, First Friday Event, August 5, 2022</td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">N</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ancy Avery Dafoe</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> poignantly led us to levels of
understanding and reflections that should mark our relationship with a world
that all too often we overlook or take for granted.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dafoe and Barr let their words out on a
journey to explore our being and then cascade thru our inner ear to rest
comfortably in the recesses of our mind so later we could retrieve their poetic
messaging and find sublime peace in what we learned from their creativity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With two rounds of Bernie, Chris, </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shawnté,
Nancy, and bill berry as emcee, audience members enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and
beverages prepared by museum staff. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And
in one unexpected moment, Williford took over drum and Jones sat at the
keyboard and the audience enjoyed his vocal capabilities. Keyboard to drums.
Drums to keyboard riveted by vocals. And in the second set, Bernie displayed
his vocal talents. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
evening was an exploration of the potency of words and music, music, and words.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBtetW6Y3NdYmpzTSTCXfS3NKhy3lEta2wRKFr-t9DdCvCEjNqeRZ4kV1N4yz2nXQUG2edJZIagQg8qILYQgn2DYX7FTO5YNU6JBNS_cmWILaUiVyUqdcEMEbaSqIGNnuhRqn1bediiqV5G88pNU3QV9cQJ1d7eEgKqkvpf1mtligj3LjaUAtzIYeNQ/s2048/297112249_10217111174169884_4942757276956506761_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBtetW6Y3NdYmpzTSTCXfS3NKhy3lEta2wRKFr-t9DdCvCEjNqeRZ4kV1N4yz2nXQUG2edJZIagQg8qILYQgn2DYX7FTO5YNU6JBNS_cmWILaUiVyUqdcEMEbaSqIGNnuhRqn1bediiqV5G88pNU3QV9cQJ1d7eEgKqkvpf1mtligj3LjaUAtzIYeNQ/w300-h400/297112249_10217111174169884_4942757276956506761_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGZyJ26r_cv7hD8uCKjIRW5gTw8YmCdfzKPiVchI89bNuiixChX8dU22B9w_9XZqPgFQuQHeltf4BGO41p8R4iPGHkHpe9nMlNH8YPEcfeWXeD8lSD1yR-JIELOcQQv1WNnmTWwerGAxf1DypV4-p64Rfeafgk3S8ldS2B0JjewuaTbyE-9sX_nbPCg/s1440/297520023_10217109243721624_3184953380793972520_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGZyJ26r_cv7hD8uCKjIRW5gTw8YmCdfzKPiVchI89bNuiixChX8dU22B9w_9XZqPgFQuQHeltf4BGO41p8R4iPGHkHpe9nMlNH8YPEcfeWXeD8lSD1yR-JIELOcQQv1WNnmTWwerGAxf1DypV4-p64Rfeafgk3S8ldS2B0JjewuaTbyE-9sX_nbPCg/w400-h225/297520023_10217109243721624_3184953380793972520_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mI8QY_Iw4bMQpTT8D-QLMyRJvmZDHF6EaXBKTMGLEiAL35xwX7NTNGa8FYjUIfozdguyRnhrGaGbWoDJQYm59QWZRbvNfj0SaHQJIXEYThEMVul7O56-mOU1eZOAogfFFSnlTIZbG3kv1aO60_x2pU7JwUMPqkD7N4W0QSyzIwF8LrgnlzW2yOBVZQ/s1440/297005768_10217109243801626_9089705788737242074_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mI8QY_Iw4bMQpTT8D-QLMyRJvmZDHF6EaXBKTMGLEiAL35xwX7NTNGa8FYjUIfozdguyRnhrGaGbWoDJQYm59QWZRbvNfj0SaHQJIXEYThEMVul7O56-mOU1eZOAogfFFSnlTIZbG3kv1aO60_x2pU7JwUMPqkD7N4W0QSyzIwF8LrgnlzW2yOBVZQ/w400-h225/297005768_10217109243801626_9089705788737242074_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fF2CEV9WCaAvaNNZ7Oz42iTMDOjHgSfDnWCQ5xu5LwODLXaDANLOefG75CqhKjizTe7t-1GzuckDptCWzn6d1z5xAMcHjaXLe1j36H_l_TYNElmX6rCkv9NUO4ETgu6HcblWfg-_3Br6MQDcp1frTy3KXmzf2xVrT_gWVyXTdhf1VyUeXEBnPN96pw/s1440/296686335_10217109243761625_1021559860141275469_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fF2CEV9WCaAvaNNZ7Oz42iTMDOjHgSfDnWCQ5xu5LwODLXaDANLOefG75CqhKjizTe7t-1GzuckDptCWzn6d1z5xAMcHjaXLe1j36H_l_TYNElmX6rCkv9NUO4ETgu6HcblWfg-_3Br6MQDcp1frTy3KXmzf2xVrT_gWVyXTdhf1VyUeXEBnPN96pw/w400-h225/296686335_10217109243761625_1021559860141275469_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUeA7siNiPnALAJ27UAHwxBBum5RRfyQzko9cJabTrI384qdIA61a3oNTwVCbLsk3FhcIrCysOBRxP5yHTOEI7W7BoS2xOZ97fVqG_mcvsI9CTelGBpPXLd92TKiFHsAxyoE133zz2cgt-KrHcoeV9o73FattJ0Dfj2xYRWs2Sdn8maR5Rel7yRPipQ/s960/297955627_10217111171769824_3815661666824137554_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUeA7siNiPnALAJ27UAHwxBBum5RRfyQzko9cJabTrI384qdIA61a3oNTwVCbLsk3FhcIrCysOBRxP5yHTOEI7W7BoS2xOZ97fVqG_mcvsI9CTelGBpPXLd92TKiFHsAxyoE133zz2cgt-KrHcoeV9o73FattJ0Dfj2xYRWs2Sdn8maR5Rel7yRPipQ/w300-h400/297955627_10217111171769824_3815661666824137554_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9BXam4Ygp6iWeOoMaOSe1GwZ6tkLYodv6A0k-vqITO22lvZuPdDIIQm13FCK6gpXQ3QCN7Fj5QjiFK1OTBHUHBHq2LJp1-eeiDyJcqWpdY-0wHZu6Sb_tPOOa0jQblw1wNTzB574Ps0WDZiSE4B8QkViLo5QxKTQp-18ZXUr1YU8SC6jqZOoRQV9Zg/s960/297965619_10217111172049831_768847548966632392_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9BXam4Ygp6iWeOoMaOSe1GwZ6tkLYodv6A0k-vqITO22lvZuPdDIIQm13FCK6gpXQ3QCN7Fj5QjiFK1OTBHUHBHq2LJp1-eeiDyJcqWpdY-0wHZu6Sb_tPOOa0jQblw1wNTzB574Ps0WDZiSE4B8QkViLo5QxKTQp-18ZXUr1YU8SC6jqZOoRQV9Zg/w400-h300/297965619_10217111172049831_768847548966632392_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And
with gracious thanks to and support from Billye Chabot, executive director of
The Seward House Museum and her staff, <i>aaduna</i> returned to its public
readings. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More
to come from <i>aaduna</i> in October 2022!</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PS
The “aftershock” took place after the audience drifted off to other First
Friday activities…Barr took to displaying her vocals. Williford and Jones laid
down the music following her rendition of Marvin Gaye’s classic “What’s Going
On,” and then Bernie and Chris improvised as they presented the musical
backdrop for a Blyss original song.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
a First Friday in August…2022.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">aaduna
</span></i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">at
Seward House Museum.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">[][][]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">PPS
I suspect the enchanting words of Dafoe…her exquisite and thoughtful articulation
and phrasing permeated how she presented her words…the arrangement…the
phrasing, and then, the unexpected interplay of music references intermingled
and fortified by words that skipped, jumped and playfully impacted me in one of
Barr’s poems, are uniquely the aftereffects of Nancy/Blyss, Blyss/Nancy.
Furthermore, my memory was uplifted by the diversity of rapid fired musical notes
that interplayed with and were masterfully intertwined with downbeats and
upbeats by Jones and Williford, Bernie and Chris. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
was reminded. I thought oops. I mis-stepped. I had to add to what I thought was
the final blog draft. It was not. I had to hold the platforming so I could
write more So… </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here
is background information of our August 2022 First Friday readers; <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shawnté
Blyss Barr</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> grew up in Auburn, New
York, and graduated from Auburn High School. She earned her Master of Science
in Psychology degree from Grand Canyon University, and her Bachelor of Arts in
Cultural Studies from SUNY Empire. She is a poet, writer, celibacy, and healthy
mindset coach, and a womanpreneur.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
addition to managing her own retail store, Neema Noire, Blyss manages a
coaching business, Amenya Journée, LLC, and a magazine, <i>Flyy Girl Zone</i>,
a magazine dedicated to Black women and mental health. In her spare time, Blyss
likes to make videos for social media, create art, making connections, and
watching “The Young & the Restless.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
April 2022, Blyss published her first poetry book, <i>Stained Glass
Windows for Butterflies</i>, a book of transformation and movement, which can
be purchased on Amazon. You can contact her at </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="mailto:shawnte@amenya.co" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #5b9bd5; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent5; padding: 0in;">shawnte@amenya.co</span></a></span><u><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: #5b9bd5; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: accent5;">.</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Nancy Avery Dafoe</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">,
author/poet/educator writes in multiple genres and has thirteen books through
independent publishers. Her poetry won the William Faulkner/Wisdom award in
2016, and her fiction won the short story award from New Century Writers. A
member of the Central New York (CNY) Branch of the National League of American
Pen Women, Nancy is currently serving as second vice president of the
organization.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Ms. Dafoe’s most recent work is <i>Unstuck
in Time, </i></span><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">A
Memoir and Mystery on Loss and Love</span></i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> (2021) and her pending publications are <i>Socrates
Is Dead Again</i> (available in September 2022) and <i>The House Was Quiet, But
the Mind Was Anxious </i>(pending for an October 2022 release.)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
contact Ms. Dafoe or for further information, please visit </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><a href="http://dafoewritingandconsulting.com/" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: blue; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">dafoewritingandconsulting.com</span></a></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: blue; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">or<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">nancydafoebooks.com<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">{}{}{}</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-align: left;">To reach the <i>aaduna </i>publisher,
e-mail </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"><a href="mailto:bill@aaduna.org"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">bill@aaduna.org</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More importantly</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,
support creative people. Go to readings, concerts, exhibitions, dance performances,
recitals, theatrical presentations, community events. Buy their books, musical
recordings, support the venues that provide the space for creatives, etc.!!!</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Creatives offer a lot to humanity and
local communities…embrace their creativity and support them in any way
that suits you. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">aaduna </span></i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">stands
with you…from our inception in 2010 as a NYS non-profit and IRS 501(c) 3 organization
to now...without doubt...without hesitancy…against all odds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Audience and creatives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Creatives and audiences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bringing them together in a joyous
party!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
<i>aaduna</i> way. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our
only way.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><><><></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="113" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/w200-h113/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; 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font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; 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float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; 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margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13.33px;"><img alt="aaduna-Inc" border="0" height="70" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dA-6jCKY-Vc/U4oWjMAt2uI/AAAAAAAABew/V4jcL9EncAU/s1600/LikeUsOnFacebook_Icon_000.jpg" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none; border-width: 0px; height: 72px; max-width: 810px;" width="200" /> <span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AadunaInc/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">aaduna-Inc</a> Visit regularly for updates !</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div></div></div></div>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-24128059792651785432022-06-05T13:22:00.002-04:002022-06-05T13:22:37.538-04:00Making the past relevant to the future<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7eRhUm5nFGR-_4JSojUOeUz_sCGqNIEuFPphc68ta-Zq2u0wI-WMyxWYqtjDl97UQsqpUr9Y0VTGwLXyJgeUqmD2ou_SaLevcvzJr3rL5dbTFQtNQaGAKnHYVGrkLPxVWoYgQJib0T0HzkaTYsTX5dgcRCMDSKfIZSGVjtMQTosSyU_GjcAucFcEgg/s474/past%20future%20images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="474" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7eRhUm5nFGR-_4JSojUOeUz_sCGqNIEuFPphc68ta-Zq2u0wI-WMyxWYqtjDl97UQsqpUr9Y0VTGwLXyJgeUqmD2ou_SaLevcvzJr3rL5dbTFQtNQaGAKnHYVGrkLPxVWoYgQJib0T0HzkaTYsTX5dgcRCMDSKfIZSGVjtMQTosSyU_GjcAucFcEgg/w640-h426/past%20future%20images.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">In March 2021, I communicated
with poet, writer, and creative influencer, </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2019/02/of-excerpts-interview-nomination-and.html" target="_blank"><b>Janet Mason</b></a></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> on the occasion of the publication of her 2020 novel, <i>The
Unicorn, The Mystery</i>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIBmzjLmyNq7y6Ook17ZxRb3lZyo5oyPF9ooL3h3zvNv-13VlOBcigwKgLZ0LF-XWf2CGqshZa0i5J0cQTiTajXvttOgw8pAtCYWbsTOG0xIzOwnWvweZ59znXoK2ahubR9PbhczF8F_wyCob5kejU-MoNEcN4df24egcIuiE6f06vKK2CV2R57_Qnw/s960/unicorn%20book%20cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIBmzjLmyNq7y6Ook17ZxRb3lZyo5oyPF9ooL3h3zvNv-13VlOBcigwKgLZ0LF-XWf2CGqshZa0i5J0cQTiTajXvttOgw8pAtCYWbsTOG0xIzOwnWvweZ59znXoK2ahubR9PbhczF8F_wyCob5kejU-MoNEcN4df24egcIuiE6f06vKK2CV2R57_Qnw/w300-h400/unicorn%20book%20cover.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">More to the point...</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Back then, I was road tripping to
support my wife’s business meetings and brought Janet’s book along to accompany
and nourish my mind while Lisa was engaged in her business activities. Intriguingly,
I finished <i>The Unicorn, The Mystery</i></span><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"> </span></i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">probably on the eve of St.
Patrick's Day. Afterwards, I thanked Janet for her novel’s creativity, and its imaginative
journey encompassing myriad imageries, and
subtle but endearing wisdoms that dotted each page of the story. I was grateful
for the read and savored every sentence and nuance that she put into this
work. </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">{Mason’s novel reminded me that
on many Saturday mornings, I “hung” at the Cloisters, a space that was so
welcoming and comforting. And the tapestries! My hidden treasure.} </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Back then, I thanked Ms. Mason for
bringing her gift of creativity to my consciousness. And voiced an intention…that
maybe, just maybe Lisa and I would get the chance to venture to Philadelphia,
where Janet and her partner lived so all of us to have the opportunity to break
bread!!!</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">In May 2022, that thought was
manifested.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Prior to visiting Philly to
actually meet Janet and Barbara, I re-read (in a broad sense) <i>The Unicorn</i>….
Needless to say, the novel still maintained its raw emotional power and below
the surface affects to embolden my spirit. Influential creativity does have the
power to stand the test of time and re-invoke the subtle emotional nuances that
were there on an initial read.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">I recommend you add this novel
to your summer reading list!</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Furthermore, Ms. Mason found
out this past week another novel, <i>Loving Artemis</i> will be published in
August by Thorned Heart Press. This piece was shopped around for more than
seven years and will be another welcome addition to her literary portfolio and
the public’s recognition of her literary work.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">And then there was the face to
face “manifestation” in May.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkYdVvuWFS9F5W6SvHIz6pdL_VS4BXx4on_vGu-RukuKddpe69SkRXtmt9spGcEIm8LeQCJpkMWjeu2AyLn642J9Ns9ayuJFfYrSix6a_3SRnDea3f9Yajb4jsO_R-qTY8KGaPxbirrjX9Ef2l-1TYj2707juc56EfVorHUpLlPqnfMBpZsZZJYKMXg/s2576/me%20and%20barbara%20and%20bill%20two.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="2576" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkYdVvuWFS9F5W6SvHIz6pdL_VS4BXx4on_vGu-RukuKddpe69SkRXtmt9spGcEIm8LeQCJpkMWjeu2AyLn642J9Ns9ayuJFfYrSix6a_3SRnDea3f9Yajb4jsO_R-qTY8KGaPxbirrjX9Ef2l-1TYj2707juc56EfVorHUpLlPqnfMBpZsZZJYKMXg/w640-h480/me%20and%20barbara%20and%20bill%20two.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janet Mason, bill berry, jr., Barbara McPherson, Philedelphia, PA, May 4, 2022</td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; padding: 0in;">Lisa and I finally met Janet
and Barbara McPherson in person and enjoyed an alfresco lunch at a specialty pizza
bistro in the cultural heart of Philly very close to the Barnes Foundation
Museum. {If you have been to Philly, think Ben Franklin Parkway area.}</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lJecXzLUA2u-qByID4Eu8BfItVMfWw3Fs53-xoElCzJTQbAH06qbDv2eSZz_wn1g7rssmoIbcJcA_ER3-eU1neVNZgvk3pMFYmurECUeKpcBc7elq3W2o0nHuJ3mG8AKsB0_pK7lVZnIB9e8s2wxfFuYJ0AtzeMBwWybRgFs051wDxmGrUF0E7OB6A/s2479/me%20and%20bill%20and%20lisa%20two.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1609" data-original-width="2479" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lJecXzLUA2u-qByID4Eu8BfItVMfWw3Fs53-xoElCzJTQbAH06qbDv2eSZz_wn1g7rssmoIbcJcA_ER3-eU1neVNZgvk3pMFYmurECUeKpcBc7elq3W2o0nHuJ3mG8AKsB0_pK7lVZnIB9e8s2wxfFuYJ0AtzeMBwWybRgFs051wDxmGrUF0E7OB6A/w400-h260/me%20and%20bill%20and%20lisa%20two.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bill berry, jr., Janet Mason, and Lisa Brennan, Philedelphia, PA (May 4, 2022)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; padding: 0in;">For a couple of hours, we
enjoyed talking through a wide range of topics; conversation marked by smiles
and laughter, as well as poignant story telling of shared and similar life
episodes. This meeting was an appropriate closure to a trip to “freedom’s city”
and its rich generational and contemporary heritages.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So,</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Thank
you Janet Mason and Barbara McPherson. Hopefully, the next get-together will be
in the northwest region of New York State marked by the picturesque Finger
Lakes. And the publication of yet another Mason novel or non-fiction piece.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><><><></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="76" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s200/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; 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font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; 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background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">aaduna-Inc</a> Visit regularly for updates !</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div></div></div></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-45153352167386437462022-04-15T15:17:00.004-04:002022-06-05T13:18:47.234-04:00Blessed magic happens when one renowned poet reviews the work of another poet whose voice and words are intriguing pathways to self-knowledge, understanding and reflection.<p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In this the
season of rebirth, renewal, and celebration, it is more than appropriate to share
creative work that can enhance our spirit and broaden our understanding of the
dynamics of life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Alleys are Filled with Future
Alphabets</span></i><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> by Gopal
Lahiri</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS47nxTud9DhevttDAF6W9RLPpjQQhfwVOnxkiQJieRn3hkaSvyNCOIlrPBJe_g1LYOdHowhXsiYHWJu1cAD7IbsI8NX0V1e7hgWRVQm8oVbhAMbqoQS4kBKCEtFAg_t_GIVg8e2GTJlJBY_EpuxSLiT5qJ4xU5t9rtSNZZQnjCrfavodUf1d4Izf7LA/s427/Picture1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="277" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS47nxTud9DhevttDAF6W9RLPpjQQhfwVOnxkiQJieRn3hkaSvyNCOIlrPBJe_g1LYOdHowhXsiYHWJu1cAD7IbsI8NX0V1e7hgWRVQm8oVbhAMbqoQS4kBKCEtFAg_t_GIVg8e2GTJlJBY_EpuxSLiT5qJ4xU5t9rtSNZZQnjCrfavodUf1d4Izf7LA/w416-h640/Picture1.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #4a4a4a; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISBN:</span></b><span style="color: #4a4a4a; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 97881945865<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #4a4a4a; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Publishers: Rubric
Publishing, Noida, UP, India</span></b><span style="color: #4a4a4a; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #4a4a4a; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Length: 137</span></b><span style="color: #4a4a4a; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #4a4a4a; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #4a4a4a; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Price:</span></b><span style="color: #4a4a4a; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b>Rs275/ $25</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bilingual
Bengali and English poet and writer, Gopal Lahiri’s latest book, <i>Alleys are
Filled with Future Alphabets </i>is a striking collection of 102 poems divided
in to seven sections. Each section is carefully crafted with poems that seem to
be walking towards the reader, urging one to engage with myriad possibilities,
filling the alleys with one’s own present and future alphabets, or holding the
hand of the author as he engages and negotiates through various spoken and
unspoken alleys. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Approaching
this review differently, I am sharing below some of the poems and lines therein
for the readers to savor the “alleys” in Lahiri’s poignant, sharp, at times
delicate, at times vociferous words. I present my interpretation of the lines.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Departure:
(5)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">“The
air plucks the unspent words of the universe/Evoke in me/ They ring the deepest
bell of the truth…”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>The
universality of this emotion is much appreciated. Humans are funny creatures.
They are mostly seeking change, competition, rest, sleep, love, and family,
confirming Abraham Maslow’s triangle of hierarchical needs. Reminds me also of
Hamlet’s words in Shakespeare’s play, “</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To be, or not to be, that is the question"
What is real? What is imagination? What are dreams? What endures in the
recesses of our inner makings? Who will determine absolute truth if there is
one? As a trained historian, I know there is none. However, we keep seeking in
circles of living and dying. And Lahiri’s words ring that clear.</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Summer
of Discontent (7)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">“My
own moon landing/in dream goes horribly wrong/my inside burns for reasons that
are unclear.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Again,
the juxtaposition of reality with the dreamworld comes through in this poem. It’s
almost like the poet is at struggle with these two worlds like most humans
thereby universalizing his poems.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Raindrops
(9)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">“All
night rain the rain weaves love and light”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Water
has a cleansing effect and is critical for survival, and rain is an epitome of
that cleansing and survival. Rain is needed to grow crops and for drinking.
Lahiri weaves these elements in his poem in a remarkable way especially towards
the end of the poem in the line quoted above. Love can be light, or love can
take away light. The reader is the best judge. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Forever
(15)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">“I
open my iron chest/Seeking the shapes, not sure of what/I leave some left-over
handshakes.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Loved
the words, “left-over handshakes”! For isn’t that what life can be… left over
handshakes… where folks clasp…lightly or strongly, but cannot let go, or can do
so very quickly, putting in place the possibilities of future handshakes or
memories of those gone past. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Discourse
(37)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">“The
moment of truth comes well after the dawn/without anybody’s knowledge”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Again,
hitting the nail on the head so to say, Lahiri hones on a simple yet oft not
accepted universal veracity in the above lines.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">New
Soliloquies (43)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Black
lives matter now-repeating bold stories/the message spreading across the
sea/call out new names, new soliloquies”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stressing
upon racism, Lahiri is clearly a poet that speaks to universal issues.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fireflies
(54)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">“Fallen
on pupil-less eyes in circle of fire/no tears left to cry/little hearts groan
and sigh in silence.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Fireflies
provide us much joy and interest, almost magical in a dark night. Many of us
tend to sigh at their beauty and temporary quality, just as that of loving,
living and surviving.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mother
Earth (85)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">“There
is drama all around/and you want to curve something/to save our planet.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This
poem, like many others in this special book, left a deep impact on me as we
humans are the ones creating drama on the only planet we know as home and this
poem alludes as such.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The
above several quoted lines are only a small representation of the macrocosm of
emotions spread by Lahiri on the pages of his heartfelt, at times very personal
poetry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that personal voice of the
poet comes through in lines that stress anguish, pain, and an urging for
deliberation and possible change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lahiri
employs several literary techniques in his poetry, such as, similes, metaphors,
hyperbole, and symbolism. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A
remarkable feature of Lahiri’s poetry is the connections he draws with visuals
and feelings that are just around the corner, or from our childhood, or from
some previous memory, or from daydreams about the future. Nostalgia is very
apparent in Lahiri’s poetry. While he addresses universal issues of life and
living, there is an element of an Indianness or India very clearly peeking
through windows and doors in his poems. For example, paper boats in monsoon
rains, beetle leaves, and tiny birds (sparrows). The reader is left with many
aha moments, sighing here and there, smiling, and nodding one’s head in
agreement. A collection that is a must read!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECWYOIw9mFh_S3rFp6s_eI1v9zKNmg14fweSD8UnejhVR-5Qy6vwzmORCV5huL8tyXsXX7txNKxkLh7YQcS6_zIa-Thh_hNeVQBdvogWjinvFiEFY6fV7bD-jF60eRkrAn6BVhcBCMrWP5Sk8uSm6htiTgRDddThHpHmY65PjBIg4O3gD2YoDgK7XNg/s267/Picture2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="262" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECWYOIw9mFh_S3rFp6s_eI1v9zKNmg14fweSD8UnejhVR-5Qy6vwzmORCV5huL8tyXsXX7txNKxkLh7YQcS6_zIa-Thh_hNeVQBdvogWjinvFiEFY6fV7bD-jF60eRkrAn6BVhcBCMrWP5Sk8uSm6htiTgRDddThHpHmY65PjBIg4O3gD2YoDgK7XNg/s1600/Picture2.jpg" width="262" /></a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span><br />Reviewer:</span></b><span> <o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>Anita
Nahal i<span style="color: black;">s an Indian American poet, flash
fictionist, children’s writer, and professor. She has three books of poetry,
one of flash fictions, four for children and four edited anthologies to her
credit. She teaches at the University of Columbia, Washington DC. More on her at: </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><a href="https://anitanahal.wixsite.com/anitanahal"><span style="color: blue;">https://anitanahal.wixsite.com/anitanahal</span></a><u><span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><><><></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="76" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s200/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.33px;"><span style="color: #001000;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 18.06px;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; 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float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; 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background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">aaduna-Inc</a> Visit regularly for updates !</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div></div></div></div>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-4185126510428677182022-03-30T08:44:00.002-04:002022-03-30T09:01:55.327-04:00aaduna in exile - Winter 2021-2022 - Conversations - Kristyn Elyse<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKfqydrGoDUubob4HQKDbMCJnZjpUr8FFhn_pQJCK7JTcCE6ObE1Afb5ejxVpWGtY3Bh8DfjXZvur6I7gPeyeuzPQDo7CPyyABjCnGodRzukZiWLgA4K3BpE4zFhqCjYuCU_J2g_AZ72-CLJbIf1b2U72ZyRrXc_tM50CYLwZ5AdoBYzt-veHy18d9g/s1497/Conversation%20with%20Krystin%20Elyse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1497" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKfqydrGoDUubob4HQKDbMCJnZjpUr8FFhn_pQJCK7JTcCE6ObE1Afb5ejxVpWGtY3Bh8DfjXZvur6I7gPeyeuzPQDo7CPyyABjCnGodRzukZiWLgA4K3BpE4zFhqCjYuCU_J2g_AZ72-CLJbIf1b2U72ZyRrXc_tM50CYLwZ5AdoBYzt-veHy18d9g/s16000/Conversation%20with%20Krystin%20Elyse.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><h1 style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Conversation</span></span></h1>
<h3 style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">bill berry, jr.’s chat
with Kristyn Elyse</span></span></h3>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Barcelona
is situated on the northeastern coast of Spain. “It is the capital and largest
city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most
populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within city
limits, its urban area extends to numerous neighboring municipalities within
the Province of Barcelona and is home to around 4.8 million people, making it
the fifth most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, the Ruhr
area, Madrid, and Milan. It is one of the largest metropolises on the
Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers
Llobregat and Besòs, and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola
mountain range, the tallest peak of which is 512 meters high.”</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">A
vibrant city with significant amenities for its residents and visitors, there
are many areas and sites to discover. Here are sites that define the vitality
and scope of this world-class enclave:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Parc Güell is a public park system composed of gardens and
architectural elements located on Carmel Hill, in Barcelona. The Basílica de la
Sagrada Família, also known as the Sagrada Família, is a large unfinished Roman
Catholic minor basilica in the Eixample district of Barcelona., Designed by
Spanish/Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, his modernist style work on the
building is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of Barcelona’s most
famous and important landmarks.. Casa Batlló is a building in the center of
Barcelona designed by Antoni Gaudí and is considered one of his
masterpieces. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, often simply
referred to as La Boqueria, is a large public market in the Ciudad Vieja
district of Barcelona and one of the city's foremost tourist landmarks, with an
entrance from La Rambla, not far from the Liceo, Barcelona's opera house. The
market has a very diverse selection of goods.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Rest assured,<b> “</b></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Barcelona is a city
of history, art, and architecture. Located on the northeastern coast of Spain,
the city is a Mediterranean port, a seaside destination and a cosmopolitan city
that calls attention to its history. Barcelona is the capital city of
Catalonia, a Spanish region with its own language and character. The city is
filled with famous places to visit that reflect both the Catalonian and Spanish
cultures.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">“Barcelona's most famous street is La Rambla. It connects
Placa de Catalunya, the busiest plaza in Barcelona, to Monument a Colom, a
monument to Christopher Columbus. One section of the street closed to traffic
is a pedestrian area with flower shops, kiosks and street artists that attract
both locals and tourists. </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">“Poble Espanyol was built for the 1929 International
Exhibition. It is a Spanish village with 116 buildings, each representing
different architectural styles of Spain's regions. Some of the buildings are
replicas of existing structures, while others are representations of
architectural styles. Visitors will find bars, restaurants, and shops as well as
artisans in workshops in the village. </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">“The Picasso Museum in Barcelona houses many of Picasso
early art works, completed when he was a teenager. The Miro Museum contains a
large collection of Miro's works including paintings, sculptures, and sketches.
The National Museum of Art of Catalunya is housed in a large facility of
impressive architecture that overlooks the city. There are a few of Picasso's
works on display as well as temporary exhibits of the works of such painters as
Van Gogh and Gaugin. A collection of frescoes and Medieval art are in the
permanent collection.”</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">An appreciation for the Barcelona’s dynamism and vitality
is important to know as we chat with one of its influencers. </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">Kristyn Elyse is a model a writer who represents the
overall ambiance of beauty, intellect, and graciousness that permeates
Barcelona.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">bb: </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">Hi Kristyn. Can you share what propelled you to seek a
career in the demanding world of modeling and more importantly, describe your
childhood that may provide the initial glimpse of circumstances that would
propel you towards an eventual career built around sharing one’s physicality,
personality, and intellect with the public. </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">KE: </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">Hi Bill, thank you for your kind words. I started modeling
much later than most girls- when I turned 25. Throughout my life a lot of
people told me I should try it due to my height and slim figure, but I was way
too self-conscious. I went through a bad break up on my way out of Berlin, and
my ex started dating some Instagram model. She was really short and not that
pretty, so I thought, well if they’re gonna pay her, they’re gonna fucking pay
me. So, I started working. I had an agency in Barcelona, and they got me a few
good jobs. I walked in Barcelona Fashion Week for Emma Picanyol, an amazing
designer. After that I was obsessed. I decided to move to Manhattan, where all
the “real” models and real jobs were. </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">I don’t think my childhood had anything to do with
modeling. It was really just about that breakup and trying to kind of piss him
off.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">bb: </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">Well, retribution is the ultimate “revenge” and I surmise
the former boyfriend may regret his decision when he left your life. But that
is water or piss under the bridge! You mentioned Berlin, is that the city where
you were born and grew up in and are there precious moments from your childhood
that have left an impression on you? And now that you are in NYC, how long have
you been living in “The City “and are there professional challenges, obstacles,
and social issues that you did not expect? How are those issue affecting you
career-wise and your overall well-being?</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">KE:</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;"> I grew up in
Connecticut. I left home when I was 18 and started traveling. After a few years
I ended up in Berlin working as an au pair. I stayed for about 5 years, working
different jobs, and going out to the clubs like every night. Berlin is one of
my favorite cities in the world, it has an amazing nightlife scene, like it
sets the bar for the whole world in my opinion. The techno scene is insane. But
it’s way too cold and dark, so quality of life in terms of happiness and
general wellbeing, is totally shit. That’s why you have to party so much.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">So, after Berlin I was in Spain, started modeling, and
about a year later moved to NYC. I was there for one year. Quality of life
doesn’t even exist there, all you do is work, hustle, make money, spend money,
try to prove to people you hate that you’re doing better than them, and avoid
jobs that are actually porn. That’s a very fine line. </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">It’s really hard to relax in New York, and that tends to
show up on your face. So, it was a real struggle to maintain peace within
myself, and to go to sleep at night peacefully, despite how loud the city is,
and how much you have on your mind, everything that’s stressing you out,
knowing people are doing better than you, and feeling like a fraud. One time
the city repaved my road at 1AM. Two times actually. They tore the road up one
night and then a few nights later they repaved it. They really waited until 1AM
to do it. And no one in my neighborhood even gave a fuck. Everyone was just
inside doing whatever. A few people looked out their window but otherwise they
just completely ignored the situation.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%;">bb:</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">What part of CT did you grow up in, and when
you left home was it due to a “push” or a “pull?” And where did your wanderings
take you before ending in Berlin. While I have been to Munich< I missed the
craziness of Berlin. And at a certain point in my life, techno deejays defined
contemporary music. But, back to you.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I grew up in the Bronx and spent my share
of time in Manhattan (less so in Brooklyn; but lived in Queens and only
occasionally visited Staten Island mainly to ride the ferry!) So, where did you
live in NYC and were you able to have your own place or were you part of the
roommate scene? After being a world traveler and resident, the overriding
question is where have you now put down roots, and more importantly, how do you
assess your life at this point in your development?</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">KE:</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Before Berlin I lived in San Antonio,
Texas for almost two years, and I spent a lot of time traveling in South
America and throughout the United States.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I lived in Manhattan, first in a
neighborhood called Inwood, and then in Washington Heights. I had roommates
both times. I didn’t know how long I would be staying there so I just rented a
room.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I don’t feel like I have roots right now.
I just have a lot of clothes in one place. I have my dog, too. I think she has
roots, like she will probably stay in Barcelona for the rest of her life. And I
will spend as much time here with her as possible. But I still want to pursue a
career in modeling and entertainment, so that involves a lot of travel, and
trial and error in new cities, and trying out new agencies in different
locations. </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I like my life. Think it’s more
interesting than anything else, and sometimes I’m in a lot of pain from the
decisions I make, but I’m not really trying to be comfortable. I’m trying to do
everything possible.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">bb:</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It sounds like you still have wanderlust
and a focused penchant for fulfilling your life goals and aspirations. And that
takes a strong character and perseverance; good for you! So, you have a
dog…what is her breed, age, and name? Now, back to you. As you look ahead into
your future, where do you think you will
be five years from now as far as your personal growth, as well as your
professional career?</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">KE:</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thank you, I am trying to stay focused,
but these boys are killing me. I have a dog; her name is Anja. She is a mix,
part husky, part German Shephard, part Greyhound. She is 6 years old. She is my
best friend.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In five years, I see myself living in a
wonderful city, signed to a great agency, modeling, and acting, and continuing
to work with great brands on Instagram, continuing to not give a fuck what
others’ opinions are, and have a book published. Personal growth, I hope my
hair is down to my ass.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">bb:</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I suspect with your determination it is
just a matter of time to achieve those goals. So, as we settle our chat, I was
wondering if there are any final words of wisdom or advice that you want to share with our readers. And
thank you for our conversation.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">KE:</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: justify;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Anything that you want, and work hard to
get, will come to you. Work hard and set big goals for yourself. You can have
anything in this life that you want.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><div><div style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: center;"><div><><><></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="76" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s200/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; 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background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">aaduna-Inac</a> Visit regularly for updates !</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" /></div></span></div><div style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div></div>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-5673506336335246412022-03-26T14:52:00.002-04:002022-03-26T15:08:23.140-04:00aaduna in exile - Winter 2021-2022 Issue - Fiction, Creative NonFiction - Shin, Sweet, Uckfield<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLym6O15SgPGnpCcbgBI3jDLgA3QhTw6Aj6SnIGViS6Dy37mWy7Pl0wZ8OG0LR9BVpJHrbthcz9RTJr4LDTwzwhM2PoZPgRSLYN4p_O6FoD20cx0TuI305eeQm75wiwR6FrD23trsHuoBU8DzKTbhwMnPzWQe2YoE0fvqoCA8NGAaRusQU4nZ-N5fciw/s1495/winter%202022%20Fiction%20Roster%20shin%20sweet%20uckfield.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1495" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLym6O15SgPGnpCcbgBI3jDLgA3QhTw6Aj6SnIGViS6Dy37mWy7Pl0wZ8OG0LR9BVpJHrbthcz9RTJr4LDTwzwhM2PoZPgRSLYN4p_O6FoD20cx0TuI305eeQm75wiwR6FrD23trsHuoBU8DzKTbhwMnPzWQe2YoE0fvqoCA8NGAaRusQU4nZ-N5fciw/s16000/winter%202022%20Fiction%20Roster%20shin%20sweet%20uckfield.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><h2><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Click Author's Name to read their work:</span></span></h2><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022-issue.html" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: justify;" target="_blank"><b>Jen Shin</b></a></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Native Tongue"</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: verdana;">"<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">Three
Motels"</span></span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></span><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><br /></div><div><h1 style="line-height: 48px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022-issue_26.html" target="_blank">Se'lika Maria Sweet, M.D. FAAFP</a></span></span></h1><span style="font-family: verdana;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>GUARD MAN</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>RUN WHITE GIRL RUN</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>OUTBACK RANKIN COUNTY</li></ul></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><br /></div><div><h1 style="line-height: 36px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022-issue_22.html" target="_blank">Clive Uckfield</a></span></span></h1><span style="font-family: verdana;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>RASTA JESUS</li></ul></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="76" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s200/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-size: 12px; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-53210181573389821452022-03-26T14:50:00.005-04:002022-03-26T15:00:34.865-04:00aaduna in exile - Winter 2021-2022 Issue - Clive Uckfield<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrHePbGwQ1OyiWbwzPBW_JPM3RyhCONGuJ0fEEHs7kTcAOnYJVq7nfAjQ8lX4HMySm-8TzduvVPG3CqCrRxkBcbuDlJM4ZDDWxJVc6Y9k-tXJalHge1HlnBJLDLoueNjVeiMK21tfBMv6i5qKzWTfFFjRYm6QHeV9C-t9RARxjUKl3WEC11hhCYv4mA/s316/Clive%20Uckfield%20Paul%20King%20photo%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="301" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrHePbGwQ1OyiWbwzPBW_JPM3RyhCONGuJ0fEEHs7kTcAOnYJVq7nfAjQ8lX4HMySm-8TzduvVPG3CqCrRxkBcbuDlJM4ZDDWxJVc6Y9k-tXJalHge1HlnBJLDLoueNjVeiMK21tfBMv6i5qKzWTfFFjRYm6QHeV9C-t9RARxjUKl3WEC11hhCYv4mA/w381-h400/Clive%20Uckfield%20Paul%20King%20photo%20(2).jpg" width="381" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: verdana;"><b>Clive Uckfield (photo provided)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">RASTA
JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">It
had been a quiet</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> COVID working from home sort of
morning when the mail crashed through my letterbox like waves breaking on a
beach. Mesmerised by my computer screen I had been woken from a seemingly
hypnotic trance, relieved only by the chance of a change of scene. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>What had caught my eye
most of all about ‘the’ letter was that it was postmarked 4th March 2020
exactly a year to the day before its arrival. Its battered state providing
enough evidence for a conviction in any decent Court of law. I remember sitting
down in my spacious dining room looking out across the fields which surrounded
my house. My life on the surface looked like a rural idyllic existence yet it
hid like a plaster a frustrated lonely carbuncle of a life. My grandfather
clock stealing away the hours left of my three score years and ten. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The
letter was post marked New York. New York, the city of dreams, hopes, capturing
my imagination like a film score over a catacomb of poverty. A glamourous
actress walking in dirty shoes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was then that my mobile buzzed. I
abandoned the letter, frantically in search of my twenty first century opium.
‘My mobile’ was hidden somewhere amongst a pile of papers on Ethiopian history
that I had been researching recently. The text message was stark and to the
point. “Clive I am the King of Kings the Conquering Lion of the tribe of
Judah”. It had sounded freaky yet deep within ones spirt I felt a peace after
so many years of searching. Searching yes, for something which I could never
quite fathom. For I knew I was here for a special purpose, a calling yet in my
early 50s I had begun to believe that my life was passing away without meaning.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I had texted back waiting for a
reply but there was none. Instead I returned to the letter before me. Its
ramblings revealed a revelation from a guy in trouble. It revealed that I was
to be the next oracle the one chosen to lead this change in history. I remember
laughing out loud. I was a 52-year-old Civil Servant exiled to rural
Lincolnshire, probably the most obscure county in the United Kingdom! I was a
conservative Monarchist working for the Military in RAF Lincolnshire as they
called it. A beautiful county steeped in history but small in population &
significance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My phone had buzzed again. This time
pointing me to the story that a guy called David had sent to a magazine in New
York. I Googled its strange title ‘Empire of the White Rastas’ by Clive
Uckfield. Cuckfield, the village where I had been born in Sussex and where my
grandparents lived at what used to be called ‘Belle Vue House’. I realised that
he had obviously taken the C and added a name in order to create a pseudonym
for me! But how could he have known! Feeling in a state of shock I remember it
took me some time to comprehend what was really happening. It was then that my wife
appeared. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I must have looked guilty as she
began to question me intensely. This time I managed to fob her off. My work was
sometimes of a secretive nature and took me abroad frequently, so I pinned the
blame on this. I could see she was not convinced but for now the secret was
secure. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Googling the story was to be the
first piece of the jigsaw that lay ahead of me. My many questions began to be
answered as I had started to push open each door.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>According to David the author of the
letter & ‘Empire of the White Rastas’ story, (although you will come to see
this as the first chapter in this mystic Trilogy) he had been receiving text
messages from the former Emperor of Ethiopia His Imperial Majesty ‘Haile
Selassie’ the Messiah of the Rastafarian movement. These messages had led him
to discovering a piece of history, a fragment of the Cross of Jesus. This
precious relic hidden now in Central Park New York would prove to be the key to
the opening of this mystery & perhaps history itself. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>During my initial confusion &
doubt I must admit that like Jonah of the Bible, I tried to hide from this
calling. Throwing everything I had into my work & home life to avoid having
to deal with it. I even sought help from a psychiatrist as mental illness had
been present in my extended family & I even sought this as an excuse. In
fact, I had been drowning in doubt. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then to my surprise while casually
using You-tube some weeks later I was contacted by an African Rastafarian
Actor/Writer living in the north of England. He loved the story and instantly
felt a connection to me. After numerous chats on the phone & without any
mention of money he set about creating a feature length film script for me. For
we agreed that this media was the perfect way to share the message with the
World. Almost in parallel with St Paul transforming a small Jewish Sect into
the new World faith ‘Christianity’ we set about an achieving a seemingly
impossible task. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Frantically, I set about promoting
both the story and film idea through social media. Contacting hundreds or
organisations and posting comments on You-tube videos but with moderate
success. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The opposition came swiftly as David
said it would. After all some had even laid down their lives already and my
increased use of social media annihilated any privacy previously enjoyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The original magazine had been maliciously
taken off- line once Empire was published, and similarly numerous attempts were
made to silence me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My conversations with my script
writer became long and intense and promises were made but like a magician he
disappeared without explanation. Only later did I discover that the mysterious
hacker had already discovered him. Someone or some organisation was trying to
eliminate us from history. Just like the Ethiopian communists had tried to
eradicate the memory of HIM Haile Selassie. Only the Rastafarians (Who take
their name from ‘Ras’ (Duke) Tafari the birth name of Haile S<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>elassie) had been able to keep his memory
alive. The Royal family being dispersed across the globe with little financial
provision. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>By now I had begun to despair with
the situation. Only to be guided by HIM to LinkedIn. It proved to be a
revelation. Within weeks I found myself connecting with those who could help me
in both film and Ethiopian émigré communities. The diversity of people who
responded was incredible, but His Majesties guidance was to focus my support
towards the most marginalised group in society ‘Black women’ & especially
‘Black single mothers’. Many from all walks of life, classes of society,
religions, politics seemed to be brought together by my posts and
encouragement. Using my pseudonym Clive Uckfield or ‘Papa Clive’ as I would
soon become to be known. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Despite having no previous knowledge
of LinkedIn, I had quickly learnt its intricacies networking with a host of
film makers and organisations across the globe. Some relationships proved to be
time wasting sucking me like an orange, yet others unlocked a labyrinth of
communications. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In my naivety I had imaged a
treasure of support from the Reggae community. In the stark reality in the
light of day my mentoring in fact crept out of the old émigré community of
Ethiopia. With more than a few relations from the Imperial days this pushed my
goals closer to a conclusion. Discussions were made and contracts drawn up to
hand over my rights in return for a credit for myself and ‘Aaduna’ Literary
Magazine. It had been my time to decrease and His Majesties time to increase. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Produced on a low budget in Africa
with a famous Ethiopian director /lead actress with just a few scenes in New
York. It was hard to trust this child with others, but my role now was largely
immaterial. Banned in Ethiopia (although flooded with pirate DVDs) The film
opened in Kingston Jamaica where I was able to finally declare that the story
& messages were true. New York was slow to follow suite but a showing on
late night television soon drew a following amongst the student fraternity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To be honest the pressure was full
on and it slowly began to affect my work & mental state of health. The
responses to the film were overwhelming and after all I was just a lone outfit.
But as work signed me off as long term sick due to stress, I became more
creative in gathering a support network of volunteers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Strangely it was only then that the
‘messages’ returned pointing me to New York. Registering myself as a formal
charity/mansion within ‘Rastafarianism’ the ‘Empire Rastas’ was born. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Flying into the big city I had
lacked the funds at ‘David’s’ disposal to stay in any up- town hotel. Instead,
I slept on the settees of student supporters in the poorest ‘black’ areas of
the city who treated me as an object of fascination & reverence. Just like
the Emperor had been treated on previous trips to Harlem. It was my way of
showing solidarity with those who had been oppressed for so long. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In
gratitude to his fatherly support and encouragement, I also paid a surprise
visit to the editor at aaduna who invited me to preview the film at their
winter event. We laughed about my ‘rough diamond’ of a story as he had called
it, and he and Lisa Berryman’s warm welcome into the ‘aaduna’ family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Cocooned
in this blanket I barely noticed the car following me. With its shaded windows
it appeared at times out of the corner of my eye. Always there, always
menacing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On the night of the ‘aaduna’ event I
had clambered to escape from a barrage of journalists looking rather theatrical
in my HIM Haile Selassie 1930s outfit. Bill Berry my editor pushed on ahead of
me to clear the way when a photographer in sunglasses leaped forward with a
gun. Unconcerned for his own safety Bill pushed me to the floor taking a bullet
to his shoulder in the process. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Obviously, this turned what had been
a low-key Auburn event into a sensation. As social media took up the batten. In
the aftermath of which crowds began to gather in Central park. My student
friends gained a licence and tapered candles were handed out for a Meskel
bonfire was to finally take place. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Although on the night we were not
aware of where the glass box holding a tiny piece of the ‘true cross’ had been
buried by Liya in the ‘Empire of the White Rastas’ story but with more media
than followers present it was worth taking a chance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For an unknown reason we decided to
use some ‘Taizé community’ chants to begin the event as a mysterious Priest had
brought some boxes of them. Overseen by the curious eyes of the New York Fire
Service we lit the Meskel bonfire (smaller version than normally used)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ethiopian carpet borrowed from a local
Orthodox Church was laid out and I was able to communicate to the crowd via a
loud speaker system lent to me by some Rastas. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It had been an awesome sight looking
across the vast expanse of the park with what seemed like hundreds of fairly
lights glittering in the darkness. Yet at the same time I had felt nervous, for
although Bill was recovering in a hospital bed my attempted assassin had
managed to escape the crowd. Was he or she here tonight? The site of a dozen or
so Policemen & women did not comfort me. The night dragged on with some
Rastafarian music and chanting being heard in the background. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Falling on my knees I then had
called for a ten- minute silence. A silence that was painful to the ears then
engulfed the meeting. Faces gasped in bewilderment at what would happen next
and the flames of the meskel jumped high. He then revealed himself to me, his
face so loving and father like that it transfigured my own. Through a
combination of tears and I shared the message audibly with the audience through
the mike I was holding. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We have chosen you to be my Oracle
for this generation, for you must reveal me to those who will believe. Yes, I
will appear myself soon but in the form of my Son. But first you must enter the
Omega age. Learning slowly like babies taking milk as ones not yet ready for
solid food. For no one has seen God face to face and lived. I have had many
names down the ages many of which you will recognise across this little earth.
In this form yes, I was the Emperor Haile Selassie but in this later age I will
come with my Son for we are one. He whose name is ‘Rasta Jesus’ will become
precious to you. My own hidden name is ‘Melchizedek’ King of Salem and priest
of the most- high God who is without beginning or end. I first appealed to
Abram in Genesis 14:18-20 but to others I am know as Buddha, Muhammed,
Zoroaster, Guru Nanak and many others. In this Omega age you will see many
colours and creeds coming together. I have not come to found another religion,
but to call you into a Rasta community where all will work together as one for
the benefit of the planet. And the female race who have been like slaves will
soon become the head and not the tail. They will take up their rightful place
as the mothers leading the community & enjoying ‘polyandry’ taking many
husbands to enhance their lives. And when the Meskel the celebration is held
over the exact place of the true Cross we will return to rule the World”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After this as you can image the
crowds became ecstatic and soon the Police had to be brought in to calm them.
But even before the media could get to me, I was escorted into a police van and
extradited back to the UK. Banned by malicious forces from entering the USA
again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My return home proved to be a tough
time both at work and with my relationships which largely floundered. I found
myself being signed off on long term sick with stress and finally medically
retired. A good pension and the sale of half of my property and another enabled
me to relocate to Jamaica. Here I was welcomed as a missionary and now own a
large property for our HQ in the hills near pinnacle the former Rastafarian
settlement. Our first marriage has just taken place between a female follower
and 3 husbands and countless ‘disciples’ are now coming in. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In fact, I had started to feel
settled when a buzz from my mobile came. Flicking the message, I found myself
being able to read just one word and that was ‘Ethiopia’.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">About
the Author</span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Clive
Uckfield</b></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> is married with two wonderful sons. He
has travelled to many places around the world and lived all over the UK. While
working out of the RAF College at Cranwell Lincolnshire, Clive enjoys bringing
happiness to others through his stories, poems and photography. His
photographic work has appeared in <i>Country Life</i> magazine and can be seen
in the Café of an International Air Museum. His previous story ‘Empire of the
White Rastas’ published in <i>aaduna </i>2020 with its beautiful Ethiopian
female hero and universal message of hope is being adapted into a full-length
feature film, with its script written by a famous African Rastafarian writer. “Rasta
Jesus” is the second part of his ‘Rasta Empire Trilogy’ which he hopes to
publish as a book. He is extremely grateful to be part of the <i>aaduna</i>
family and expresses thanks for their support and has included the staff in his
latest story!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022-issue_31.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1503" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyHZqfhHwuT3Wx_W4ZKNMznS7jR0W-jL8K4_BS_xH9187eeWYql0pDsNXF4HlO4oJqfkuID9zLHpKfApr2Q8n8Bf-aBpU_Fz9T3NsxOCOPGmXZ9Jf0KQmbIwX2biJmj4D6wkZG-kOQ_-QbY6SiqYYlxA5NKFbpQ2N1Ywk3v-_frMd9H0JiFxWmEYZjw/w320-h162/winter%202022%20Fiction%20Roster%20shin%20sweet%20uckfield.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022-issue_31.html" target="_blank">CLICK to return to Fiction/NonFiction Authors</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><><><></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; 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height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; 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line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; 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background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">aaduna-Inac</a> Visit regularly for updates !</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-6044777905723211172022-03-26T14:49:00.003-04:002022-03-26T15:06:24.252-04:00aaduna in exile - Winter 2021-2022 Issue - Se'lika Maria Sweet<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPA2HbfuT6poI8FqZ9e456GFLJl3yDOlYoijBnl7xOESC7mBNsIqVcHrrQ7dGrHEHWMep6wGFd6h1qj3BVFi0ZX9d4xKy12agndZm2Lx02gKyvysbUbjwZN4JCiwIJDUhBRA9byz6AsHjytScVrQcqnvdndzjqZczEayIo3QwMZJyvF_slr_fFb82mfA/s1000/Sweet%202Jackson%20V.A..jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: verdana;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPA2HbfuT6poI8FqZ9e456GFLJl3yDOlYoijBnl7xOESC7mBNsIqVcHrrQ7dGrHEHWMep6wGFd6h1qj3BVFi0ZX9d4xKy12agndZm2Lx02gKyvysbUbjwZN4JCiwIJDUhBRA9byz6AsHjytScVrQcqnvdndzjqZczEayIo3QwMZJyvF_slr_fFb82mfA/w320-h400/Sweet%202Jackson%20V.A..jpg" width="320" /></b></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Se'lika Maria Sweet, M.D. FAAFP</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">GUARD MAN<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I
started at Dillard University</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> the summer prior to the fall school
year. I knew no one at the historically black university. I was just seventeen
years old and starting college early by attending the June session. The dialect
was different from my Jackson, Mississippi home, which is three hours away. It
seemed to me that people were speaking French and English at the same time.
They often answered themselves when talking to you. I missed cornbread which
was not on the menu of the cafeteria cooks. The pecan candy sold by elderly
black ladies on corners throughout the Crescent City is distinctive to the
area.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The bus was my transportation
through the Seventh Ward. It raveled down Broad, Canal and circled back through
Vieux Carre, the central square of the city. It was 1718 when Frenchman Jean-Baptiste
Le Moyne de Bienville found New Orleans, with its center being the French
Quarters. The Ursuline Convent, white stucco buildings, remains from the days
when the French governed the city prior to the Spanish takeover. It lies around
the corner from the St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest cathedral that seats a
bishop that is open presently for mass in the United States with architecture
resembling the home of its sister facility in France dedicated the edifice to
their King Louis IX of France. You can often hear jazz bands playing Joe
Avery’s Tune Second Lines while tourists pass. There is the aroma of the white
powdered donuts, beignets, from Café du Monde.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My new home had huge white buildings
surrounded by oak trees and one of the prettiest college campuses in the world
on Gentilly Boulevard.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Veterans Day November 11 brings me
memories of the Guard Man who worked at the front of the campus by the black
iron gate. His job was to allow entrance to the school by bike, foot or motor
vehicle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I had been in New Orleans two days
and already was hanging out in the historic place on the Mississippi River in
southern Louisiana. The weather was hot and humid. I wore shorts, tube tops,
flip flops and half-dressed like most people in the Crescent City. I got off
the bus, which stopped in front of the campus, that June evening after touring
the French Quarters with my roommate. I walked onto the campus, and it started.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">"In
here quick," the Guard</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Man said as he popped up looking out
the window. “It’s going to be all right.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We ran into the white guardhouse,
thinking we were in danger. After we entered, he nervously locked the door. It
seemed he was hiding us. He was an average-looking light brown-skinned man, 6'
and mid afro that looked like he had not seen a barber in years. His eyes were
big, wide and he seldom blinked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Get and stay low!" he
said to the two of us as he brushed about one hundred cigarette butts to the
side with his foot. The concrete looked like it had layers. He started his
lecture.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"We don't know which ones are the enemy
no. They dig tunnels and they will come right up through this floor. Baby, they
have these machine guns that will get all of us in a second yeah. I fixed it so
they can’t come through,” he said as he pointed at the floor. “We’ll be all
right.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He would run out of the guard house
always unlocking and locking the door with about fifty keys on a ring that you
could hear dangling from his shaking. After opening the gate, he darted back to
us quickly. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"These Viet Cong they’ll steal
from us yeah. They get on our boat and take everything even the toilet. We were
on their side, and it didn’t matter, no. I didn’t know who the enemy was,"
he said as he smoked a Newport cigarette with his right-hand trembling. “I’d
never been away from here, and they sent me over there,” he said while
constantly surveying the surroundings. “You have to watch those trees and
bushes. They can hide behind them.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He would change from present to past
tense thinking at times we were in the jungle clear across the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Direct United States involvement in
Vietnam ended in 1973, and it had been at least six years since he had returned
from across the ocean. He still had vivid memories of the conflict between the
North and South country in Southeast Asia.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After supper, it became a habit that
I walked from the back of the campus at the dining hall through the Avenue of
the Oaks and spent the evenings in the guard house listening to a traumatized
Vietnam veteran. He was always appropriate with me. I would camp out, often
falling asleep on the hard gray concrete floor listening until the early
morning hours to details of his tour in combat in the country that shared
borders with Cambodia, China and Laos. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I
took the Trailways bus</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> home after summer session and got a taxi
from the station. I arrived at an empty house. My parents stayed true to their
promise to each other that their relationship was over when the youngest child
which was me graduated the senior year. They were living their best lives with
newfound significant others. My siblings are eight and nine years older and
were married and had their spouses and children. The family dog, my beloved
cocker spaniel, Apollo, was not there to greet me and the nosey neighbor who
was watching me as I looked outside in the front and backyard came to the fence
and told me he had died. I was anxious to return to the Crescent City, my new
friends and the Guard Man. I stayed home three weeks and decided to return to
school early due to the emptiness and loneliness from an empty house. I was
ready for the fall session. I took a train to New Orleans and a city bus to
school. I got off at the gate and smiled with my luggage as I looked at the
guardhouse, the white building about one hundred square feet and ten feet tall.
I excitedly ran the fifty feet from the bus to my old hangout from summer and
there stood a new Guard Man, and he said before a word could come out my mouth:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"He's not here anymore. That's
all I can say.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had that look for me
to get lost.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
wondered if someone reported college girls spending time with him in the guard
house or his paranoid delusional behavior. I figured he must have been in a
psych ward or the unimaginable. My friend, a Vietnam veteran had a tough time
adjusting after the war; however, he made it easy for me to adapt to a new
city, school, and environment. He gave me a sense of belonging, love and
safety. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tears came to my deep-set brown eyes
when I realized I would never see him again. I looked at the beautiful school
ahead of me with the white buildings and oak trees on Gentilly Boulevard and
hurried to find my roommate, friends and unpack so we could get the bus and
head to the French Quarter to get beignets and sit and look at the mighty
Mississippi River. The Guard Man had done his job. He gave me the tools to
adapt, adjust and thrive in an unfamiliar environment. Despite it all,
everything was going to be all right.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I never knew his name. I just called
him Guard Man.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><><><><><><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">RUN
WHITE GIRL RUN<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I
took a night business</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> entrepreneurship class at one of the
community colleges that is known as the Harvard of The South. I bought 1.09
acres of land in downtown Jackson, Mississippi at the tallest point in the
city. My plans are to open an event center, Tiger Hill, in honor of the
Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Jackson State University
Tigers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There were five of us in the class.
I was the only African American. The instructor, a classic southern good ole
boy, prided himself on being a conservative Republican. He told us about all
his business investments and profits. He bragged on being a consultant to up
and coming business owners. We pitched our business project to him, and he gave
us feedback. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My goal is to open a banquet hall
for retirements, weddings, reunions. Part of the Civil War, The Siege of
Jackson in the summer of 1863, took place on this historic land. It lies
between Jackson State University and downtown Jackson. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Selika, you know I want to
tell you some things and don't know quite how without coming off as...",
he said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Look let's get something
straight. You can say whatever you want, and however. I will not hold you or
the school responsible, you have my word. It's okay," I told him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Well
alright. Look there is a saying in the business community that you don't buy
property anywhere unless there is a white girl running. The property value goes
up tremendously when<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you see her.
Investors will not invest unless--" <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I get it. I thought it was a
white girl walking a dog," I said with a laugh. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"A white girl running with a
dog is a bonus. It really increases then," he says." The five of us
giggle. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The place you bought the land is in
the middle of a homeless community. They sleep under the train track. It used
to be a nice industrial area but now, you couldn’t pay me all the tea in China
to go there. It’s like being in an armpit.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well, I go down there all the time.
I like it,” .<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You would.” he says and then we all
get quiet, “I mean I’m only trying to help. We just don’t go down there. You
asked. I don’t think it’s a good investment now there it is.” <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">It is a year later,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">
and I think of him as I often drive around town; talk to people, and then I
cruise down Gallatin street which is lined up with abandoned business,
overgrown grass and the windows are lined with bars. There are homeless
shelters lining the streets and on the corner is the parole office. The police
station and jail are one mile away. I circle up around Pascagoula. I cannot
believe my eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I see a figure with blond hair and
shorts running up and down the inner-city street and she circled the hill
around the closed hotel which borders my land. I hurried to get a closer look
and there was a white girl jogging with her a Blue Tick Beagle. I decided to
check my phone messages as I took a break and stared at her with disbelief. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Dr. Sweet, we are interested
in buying your property on Pascagoula and Clifton Street." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I returned the phone call and left a
message, "Thank you for the offer. I am not interested in selling." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I looked at the blond figure and
thought, “Keep running white girl. Keep running.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><><><><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">OUTBACK
RANKIN COUNTY<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Dr.
Gracie Lou was working</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> in Pelahatchie, Mississippi in Rankin
County which traditionally has been known as Good Ole Boy Country. The county
was 85% Caucasian, 15% African American and 5% Other. You crossed the Pearl
River Bridge to Hinds County; and it was 85% African American, 15% Caucasian
and 5% Other. The races were polarized. The most segregated day of the week was
Sunday. Gracie Lou chose to live and work in Rankin County because of the
weather and location. She had access for travel on I-20 to Atlanta and Dallas;
I-55 to New Orleans and Memphis and Highway-49 to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the
land of casinos, deep sea fishing, sunshine and north of Highway 49 to the
Mississippi Delta’s cotton country, catfish and the Blues. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She entered the room, and
immediately saw the next patients were different. They made the Beverly
Hillbillies look sophisticated. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I want you to be all of my
family's doctor,” the elderly white man said. "I ain't never had too much
to do with colored folks. It’s just us outback in those woods. Most of us
kinfolk anyway. Thought I’d take my chances with you. You know we done had a
colored president and all; I thought I'd give you a try." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His wife quickly interrupted.
"They now call themselves Negroes. Doc, Daddy meant no harm. We just plain
country folks," she explained.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"No harm done," she said
smiling. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m offended by being called girl
unless it's someone your age.” She had connected. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They looked at her with a twinkle in
their crystal blue eyes. He was tall, slender with big ears that protruding
from under the hat which stated on the front, ‘Make America Great Again’. She
was three times his size with a tent dress. The butterfly blue glasses
surrounded her round face. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She couldn’t help but notice the
stasis ulcers on both legs. She wanted to know more about them and after the
initial medical visit on both of them, she walked them to the front doors of
the clinic and looked out as they loaded in the pickup truck with the
Confederate Flag that completely covered the back window. She became their
family doctor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When they could not make it to the
clinic, she drove deep in the woods in what was called Out Back Rankin County
to make house calls. They grew to refer her as their daughter. She diagnosed
the heart attack; called in the cold medicine, and made sure they all had their
immunizations. On one of the house calls that turned out to be an all-night
Vigil for Mrs. Barcan’s mother who died from pancreatic cancer, she noticed the
Confederate Flag on the back of the truck was gone. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">One
day, their oldest child</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> of the twelve, Barbie Barchan known as
B.B. came to the clinic to see her. Gracie Lou couldn’t help but notice the
crystal blue eyes like her mother and the wavy dark brown hair. She asked to
talk to her. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Doctor Gracie Lou, there is
something you need to know bout my father. We’d have told you sooner, but we
thought you’d been run off by now," she said with a giggle. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Yes?" <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The reason Dad came to see you was
that he was put out of the white doctor’s offices, and well—uh—um-you were the
only one left. My parents aren’t educated and never left the county. Dad don't
even drive. Mom does all the driving and she's half blind. That’s the real
reason they come. I want to thank you; the whole office is so nice. If you ever
left, he'd have nowhere to go for his sicknesses but to the ER." <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I’m pleased. I enjoy them,”
she told her. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Well Doc, you need to know why
he was put out the white doctor’s clinic." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Yes." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"My dad, he'll kill your dog if
you make him mad. Well, no one has ever proved he kills the dog, but the dog
either comes up missing or dead. He swears he ain’t got nothing to do with it.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Yeah, he and Dr. John Smith
had an argument, and the next morning, Doc went outside to feed his dog Beauregard,
and he was dead as a doorknob. He still ain’t got over it. That dog wasn’t just
any dog. It was a registered German Shephard, beautiful. His mother raised them
and it was his last earthly tie to his momma. Dad swore the dog just died. They
charged him with trespassing. It even went to the courthouse. The law had no
proof. When they called Momma up on the stand, she had a seizure flat out in
the floor and when she stopped shaking she was spread eagle in front of the
judge’s bench, all 300 pounds of her.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You can’t be serious,” Gracie Lou
said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah. He just dismissed the case.
Nary a doc will see him, and their friends told them about you. The word in the
area is he even killed the preacher’s dogs. I like to think my dad ain’t that
bad. Mom said Dad kidnapped them dogs and they in the woods running wild. They
got an electric fence out there so they can’t come out. It’s down by the creek.
No one really knows but them what’s up and they don’t discuss it with no one
else, not even their youngins, great youngins or great great youngins.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You can’t be serious,” Gracie Lou
said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Doc, my dad got a mean streak. Just
don’t cross him. Dad can be like what they called that domestic violence. They
said on TV the most time at risk of a partner is when she leaves. They really
can’t go back to the white doctors. Dad said he’d show them." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Gracie Lou thought of her two blue
tick beagles given to her by one of her patients who raised them. They even
gave her the registered papers showing they were pure-bred dogs. She smiled as
she thought how she could hear the bark a mile away if anyone came near the
house or her. They were literally her best friends. She had no family. She felt
fortunate to have the Barcans as her patients whom she considered her friends.
She felt she and her dogs were safe. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">The
next morning, the Barcans</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> came for a clinic visit. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Doctor Gracie Lou, I just want
you to know we love you like a daughter, and well, you can be buried with my
wife and me. I got connections. I told my the preacher at church, you'll be the
first colored buried in our cemetery."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I appreciate your gesture but I
don't plan on leaving here for a long time. The practice is going well thanks
to you. I even got a bonus for productivity.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Doc, you know I ain’t got no
education but look at yourself. You got those dark marks around your neck and
those skin tags hanging, you know like when you get sugar. How much insulin you
take?" <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I don't take any
insulin." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Well, you need to," he
said with a chuckle. “I ain't got no medical degree. Shit, I didn’t finish
third grade, and I can look at you and tell you need at least one shot a day
and look at all that weight on those hips and butt, when you get to the change,
the fat's going up to your heart. You'll be dead in ten years. Look at this
place. They’re no windows. This used to be a bowling alley before they redid it
and made a doctoring place. A plant needs sun and water to live. I ain't seen
you drink water, and you don't get no sunlight. We pass by here, and it's
nighttime, and your car is still parked." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His wife interrupted, "Dr.
Gracie Lou, daddy don't mean no harm. We just want you buried with us. We know
you don't have a husband and you like kin. All you got are them dogs. You drink
sodas. We saw all that chocolate candy in your drawer when you got your
prescription pad last visit. The word is all the docs sit and eat that buffet
at the hospital. The cook even brings food here, and it's grease, and with the
death of Dr. Gernigan, we just thought you'd be next.” Then she bear hugged
her. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I can’t ever lose you,” she
exclaimed. That night, after she showered and brushed her teeth as she prepared
for bed, she looked in the mirror and saw the Acanthosis Nigracans which the
Barcans referred to as the dark neck and hanging skin tags. She thought of the
recent waking up to urinate at night, the increased thirst, and the skin
rashes. The next day, she handed in her two <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>week notice for resignation due to a concern
for diabetes mellitus. She took a job on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and made a
contract with herself she would walk the 3.8 mile loop Bay Saint Louis-Pass
Christian bridge every day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"We'll pay you more
money," the CEO said at the bowling alley clinic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"No, it's like live or die. With
all respect, you don't have any windows in the clinic. I'm just not healthy,”
Gracie Lou said as she packed her belongings. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She looked at her puzzled and said,
"No windows?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Yeah, no windows. You know a
plant needs sunlight-Vitamin D, exercise, water. I get here at 6:00 a.m. and
leave at 10:00 p.m. There's a universal God and it's not work." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The staff had a party for her. She
said her goodbyes. She went outside, and patients had circled the clinic. They
had lots of gifts. Her favorite was a caricature of her smiling face. She
hugged and kissed all the patients.. The Barcans were not there, and she
thought that was strange. She went home and finished packing the U-Haul as she
thought about runs on the beach, sunlight and fishing. She called for the
beagles. They didn’t come. She searched the neighborhood and house for hours
and realized her dogs were gone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><><><><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">About
the Author</span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Se’lika Maria Sweet</b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>,
M.D. FAAFP</b> is a family physician and writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her work has been published by <i>The Bitter Southerner</i>, <i>Kings
River Life</i>, <i>TimBookTu</i>, <i>Clarion Ledger</i>, <i>Jackson Advocate</i>
and <i>Jackson Free Press</i>. Dr. Sweet is an eighth generation Mississippian.
She enjoys writing about the history of her native land and is presently
writing a book on Flint Goodridge Hospital. This hospital for many years was
located in uptown New Orleans and from 1896-1983 served predominately
African-American patients. Dr. Sweet’s interest in Flint Goodridge derives from
the fact that her alma mater, Dillard University, a historically Black
university also located in New Orleans, Louisiana, owned and operated the
facility.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202122; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202122; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></b></p>
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text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p><div><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #202122; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-54340741211414922602022-03-26T14:47:00.003-04:002022-03-26T15:07:46.197-04:00aaduna in exile - Winter 2021-2022 Issue - Jen Shin<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRs764npMV3GaakcwvmwFBBm4l_kwIvezHdowAsq9TO-IN1hp-CDp8FEb_ozorS4luubm41KwLYmnSx8r96nzTdQ_9tj86eLRQNQUT53tniEebSkmyLIQFbKO02a7sTbM57Evgi1K8c9qiWTSrcVtrJSLvwqagH5fdyvsC8zSbF4Q0tdX1vUbdplyNHQ/s1280/Jen%20Shin%20Cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1026" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRs764npMV3GaakcwvmwFBBm4l_kwIvezHdowAsq9TO-IN1hp-CDp8FEb_ozorS4luubm41KwLYmnSx8r96nzTdQ_9tj86eLRQNQUT53tniEebSkmyLIQFbKO02a7sTbM57Evgi1K8c9qiWTSrcVtrJSLvwqagH5fdyvsC8zSbF4Q0tdX1vUbdplyNHQ/w321-h400/Jen%20Shin%20Cropped.jpg" width="321" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: verdana;"><b>Jen Shin (photo provided)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">“Native
Tongue”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">In
August, I visit my</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
parents in the suburbs of Atlanta to spend two and a half weeks with them. It’s
a trip that I feel called to make, one where I hope to learn more about my
parents’ stories and to prove to them my own maturity as a thirty-one-year old.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Upon
picking me up from the airport, my dad and I grab a bite to eat at Longhorn
Steakhouse, my parent’s favorite restaurant. Against the towering, puffy booth
behind him, my dad stares at his menu when he gives his order, avoiding eye
contact with our server Cindy. His words fall out like the runny yolk of an egg
and Cindy keeps looking at me when she asks questions. What kind of side do you
want with that? she asks. My father looks at me with confusion, as if Cindy is
speaking in her own runny yolk language, and I point to the menu, showing him
where the crispy brussels sprouts, elbow mac and cheese and loaded baked
potatoes sit. He scans the options and decides upon sweet potato sprinkled with
brown sugar, stating his choice with downcast eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My father’s
been in the States for about 40 years. He knows English, uses it on a daily
basis at the glass business that he runs. And yet, in this situation with a
white woman named Cindy, he is reduced to an immigrant who barely knows how to
read. And I am his American daughter, his translator. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">A few days
later, my father and I go to a Korean restaurant with my grandmother to eat
soondubu. My father says the customary “chogiyo” to get our server’s attention
and then spits out a fast, strong string of Korean. He is commanding the orchestra
of his native tongue, of his native people. Sitting across from my grandmother,
who speaks very little English, I ask her what my father was like as a boy. I
form the sentence in Korean, which ends up sounding like this: young father,
how was he? My grandmother’s mouth flounders and I tug on my father’s shirt for
assistance. He bounds in with the question that both me and my grandmother can
understand. He is so different from the man I saw at Longhorn, where he was
dwarfed by the colonizer in a Western-themed restaurant that paid homage to the
pioneering and claiming of Native land without acknowledging the lives that
were captured, diminished, and killed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">II.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">While
in Ha Noi, Vietnam</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
three summers ago to complete a capstone project for graduate school, an Indian
tourist tells me that Vietnamese women are so coquettish and shy. This after a
salsa class, where we sit on black leather banquettes in a small, curved room,
where coffees and juices are being served to us in beveled glass cups. We are
the only fluent English speakers amongst a group of Vietnamese people and we
sit next to one another, as if by accident. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I want to
laugh in his face at the absurdity of the comment, which quickly turns into a
quiet rage. How would he speak if he wasn’t well-versed in Vietnamese? Would it
be with such confidence and bravado? I stew on this as we make small talk. He
tells me he’s here for a business project. I ask him how he knows the women
he’s with. He says he’s just met them. I don’t know anything else about this
man. I don’t know his culture or his history, what the shape of his oppression
is or isn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Instead
of diving into his life experience, I think about all the times I have heard
these assumptions. Asian women who don’t speak at all must be quiet and shy. I
remember a moment as the only Asian girl in the classroom, a yellow dot on a
whiteboard. Our teacher asks us where the comma should go in the sentence she
has written. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The weather today is nice
she said.</i> The answer pops in my head and my arm tingles as my palms get
sweaty. Will I be the first person to respond today? Am I willing to take up
that space? What if I get it wrong? I wrestle with these questions for too
long. The blonde boy in the back takes my answer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
wish this tourist could pause to witness these Vietnamese women within their
community, maybe he could then see how their mouths expand to fit the sounds
that pour out, how their tongues wrap themselves so artfully around the words
that neither I nor he can speak. And yet, we have forced upon them the language
of English because English means power and opportunity. It is in this way that
their mouths contort into silence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uDcuagBWmjunaPoZqtmwBKKkaIhe_zB0mXP14gw2YrsYNyUL-t7IiiObTPW6MEDjKUBYefRxyykLqxpUoKYFFw8pj4a1hRYci5SeJFHjB3KBg-utAvH2Ko9eZZJd_CN3Rti4SknUPVZexbJPQ1aMAyIzDUeyM-C6wMpfrrtApx9WiZUMLDxuMUZo2Q/s1421/Jen%20Picture1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="1421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uDcuagBWmjunaPoZqtmwBKKkaIhe_zB0mXP14gw2YrsYNyUL-t7IiiObTPW6MEDjKUBYefRxyykLqxpUoKYFFw8pj4a1hRYci5SeJFHjB3KBg-utAvH2Ko9eZZJd_CN3Rti4SknUPVZexbJPQ1aMAyIzDUeyM-C6wMpfrrtApx9WiZUMLDxuMUZo2Q/s16000/Jen%20Picture1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">III.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">After
eating soondubu with my</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
dad in Atlanta, we drop my grandmother off at a house she is staying in. I bow my
head to the woman who is taking care of her as she speaks Korean to me. I guess
that she is telling me how nice my grandmother is; I also think I hear her tell
me to hug my grandmother. So I do, reaching down for my tiny halmoni whose
stature has shrunken to at least 4’10. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My halmoni’s
hands lift from her walker as she embraces me; I feel her bones underneath the
sheer vest she wears. It feels like hugging air. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I nod my head
a few more times as the woman speaks to me, trying to think of a response other
than neh. Neh is a word I grew up saying to my parents. When they called my
name, I’d respond with neh. If they asked me if I was hungry, I’d say neh. When
they told me to do something, I’d sometimes say neh. Neh isn’t simply yes or
what or okay, neh is so much more than that encompassed into one. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">And yet, neh
is the only word that can come out of my mouth when surrounded by native Korean
speakers. It’s my shield to avoid embarrassment and shame. If I say this word
adeptly, maybe they’ll never know how much of a fraud I am, how lacking in
language I am. Maybe I could pass for a Korean Korean. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">IV. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">In
that same summer in</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
Vietnam, I am at the Noi Bai airport in Ha Noi, waiting patiently to check in
for my flight to Cambodia. Out of the corner of my eye I see quick, aggressive
movements and flickers of white skin and blond hair. Moments later I hear the
tornado behind me assert, Are you open? After a few minutes, she darts to the
empty priority counter, where a lone Vietnamese check-in officer sits behind
it. The traveler’s voice sings out, slicing into the air. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Hello, why
isn’t there a line? This is the VIP line, I am VIP but there’s no line.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The check-in
officer moves the “closed” sign to the middle of the desk. The traveler
continues her rampage. There is no sign and there is no line. Where’s the line?
Why wouldn’t you check people in when you’re just sitting there doing nothing? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">She uses her
command of English as a weapon, with her tone and volume sharpening each blade
with every word, a stronger opponent to the quiet and broken English of the
Vietnamese.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My initial
reaction is rage. I quickly pull up my phone’s camera to record this atrocious
behavior, trying to quell the fire that is building. How could she speak to
people so rudely? Why couldn’t she just wait the five minutes to get her
boarding pass like the rest of us? Who does she think she is?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">But I also
remember how I have been in situations like these. I have spoken rudely to many
customer representatives. I have lost my temper at strangers because I was
tired, hungry, emotionally wrecked, or just straight up triggered. And yet,
watching it, watching the power dynamics of language takes me back to an
experience that belongs to my parents. I hadn’t yet been born when they owned
the gas station in Atlanta but I can see my mother, eight months pregnant with
my sister, working the cash register. A man drops a six-pack of Bud Light on
the counter and she tells him the total. $5.25. He passes her a five across the
scratched linoleum counter. She accepts the bill and asks for the remainder.
Twenty-five cents, please. He looks at her as if the words she’s speaking are
her own mother tongue, not his. I don’t understand, he annunciates into the
air. You said five, so here’s five. My mother glares at him and feels that deep
well rising within her. Another white person who asks her to prove her worth,
to prove her citizenship, her American-ness. She clenches her jaw, silently
nodding her head for the man to leave. The moment stays with her, seeping into
her bloodstream, passing through the umbilical cord to my sister and then, a
few years later, to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzH5HuNsW047oE2WYbXpW-9D_zAYeJIfCK8bfOQklHRwd-jyj1u925iIpwXTuv5ys1zkbE96FNHhb_1RXak_H29fIHL6Fx3PySz-yJDcwBGOpxcCWfPllMWDvM2ke-uW_aOy93SqSADi5HuKBm4O0gMOHODNWOwYSp1wvP-oXmtI6jVz4F7-4SPEvvw/s466/Jen%20Picture2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="466" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzH5HuNsW047oE2WYbXpW-9D_zAYeJIfCK8bfOQklHRwd-jyj1u925iIpwXTuv5ys1zkbE96FNHhb_1RXak_H29fIHL6Fx3PySz-yJDcwBGOpxcCWfPllMWDvM2ke-uW_aOy93SqSADi5HuKBm4O0gMOHODNWOwYSp1wvP-oXmtI6jVz4F7-4SPEvvw/w640-h341/Jen%20Picture2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">V.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">One
day, in the midst</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> of a
fight with my mother in middle school, I tell her that no one can understand
her. She looks at me blankly, a shield for the river of sadness that courses
through her body. She doesn’t respond to the comment. Instead, she circumvents
it, returning to the very thing we were fighting about in the first place: my
grades.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">To this day, I
think about how hurtful that must’ve been to hear. I imagine my own
non-existent child telling me that the language that I speak, which isn’t my
own native tongue, isn’t good enough. If I was a Korean child born in Korea,
such realities might have never been achieved. I imagine a world where my
mother and I would understand each other with a fluidity that I have only
experienced with English speakers. I imagine her as a white woman and me as a
white daughter, the picture-perfect duo as seen in “Gilmore Girls” or “The
Brady Bunch.” But what is the use of imagining when my reality sits in front of
me so starkly? I will never know these experiences because my parents and I
will never speak the same native tongue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">VI.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">About
two months into my</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
time in Ha Noi, I meet a Korean woman who is there with a cohort of start-up
entrepreneurs. They are all Korean, ranging from their 20s to mid-40s. We click
instantly because of our shared blood. Come over and have dinner with us, she
says. I put on a linen dress and meet up with a group of Korean Koreans over a
meal of galbi, banchan and soju. They joke and converse over the sizzling meat,
pouring one another rounds of soju. I smile and laugh, generally understanding
every second or third word. The woman who invited me translates from time to
time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
man to my right, who has spent decades in America, asks about what I’m doing in
Vietnam. I turn my body towards him as my tongue prepares for my English
response. I see the man sitting across from me glance over as I talk about the
project I am working on, his head juts up and down as his gaze returns to the
sizzling meat. I wonder if this isolated movement serves as a furtive signal to
the others that I am a Korean American, a gyopo, not a Korean Korean. I try to
bat the idea away, to shred it and blow it upwards into the vent that sucks up
our meat smoke. I want this moment to end.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">But it
doesn’t. I spend four hours with them that evening as we move from the
restaurant to an Airbnb. I watch their faces flush red as they down the third,
fourth, fifth Corona. Their curiosity and courage increase as the hops absorb
into their bloodstreams and I can see the unspoken question in their gaze. How
much does this gyopo know? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The moment
comes after the second case of Coronas is ripped open. They ask me if I speak
Korean. I respond with neh. Say something, they exclaim. I pause, leafing
through the rolodex of Korean phrases I know.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Neo,
joogeullae? I say with the best accent I can muster.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">They look at
me stunned and then roar in laughter. The empty beer bottles dance on the table
as their fists slam down. What better way to signal your Korean-ness than to
ask a table of strangers if they want to die.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEQgMSHN2yX3NqaowZSdmpy_sfFId1L7VTaPABmhSoeiAlcJgyVfeBdCzjj1B6bkBI-qR_2cRBMqmNPTlrlaAOQpG1zCXKXMFrCqH9h0VqV5YBsuvZiiLWJprav6ZE3VCpW7UwszwD9zvKA8k7j2ska882LPH_VVhN8F29yoAK_zgmWPqk0-HAYqxGQ/s466/Jen%20Picture3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="466" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEQgMSHN2yX3NqaowZSdmpy_sfFId1L7VTaPABmhSoeiAlcJgyVfeBdCzjj1B6bkBI-qR_2cRBMqmNPTlrlaAOQpG1zCXKXMFrCqH9h0VqV5YBsuvZiiLWJprav6ZE3VCpW7UwszwD9zvKA8k7j2ska882LPH_VVhN8F29yoAK_zgmWPqk0-HAYqxGQ/w640-h228/Jen%20Picture3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">VII.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">A
few weeks ago, I</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> head
to my local Korean grocery store for the usual stocking up of essential
ingredients: gochugaru, gim, tteok, kimchi. The last thing on my list is pork
belly. As I walk by the counter, I see a Korean man preparing items behind the
cold case of meat strips. The first time I pass, I say nothing. The second time
I pass, I wonder if I should speak to him in Korean. I consider the words I
would say, stacking blocks together in the same way I used to write wobbly
English letters as a child. I become confused about the sentence structure and
release the effort, convincing myself that I don’t really need the pork belly
right now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">When I check
out without the pork belly, another native Korean speaker greets me. She tells
me the total and I try to process the numbers without looking at the screen to
test my Korean. Baek, chil. 107. I nod my head with a neh to signal my
understanding of the numbers as I put my card into the machine. The chip isn’t
taking and the woman explains to me in Korean why, as she plucks the card back
out. I continue nodding, understanding her through a combination of words and
actions. I want her to think I know the language, that we are the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Eventually the
card works and I thank her in Korean, wheeling my cart out and releasing my
bound tongue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">VIII. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Throughout<b>
</b>my time in Vietnam</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">,
I try to learn the language. At night, I pull out my Duolingo app to guide me
in learning new words. I pick up a few phrases but none that really allow me to
communicate effectively. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Towards the
end of my trip, I join a group of university students for an education program.
They are able to practice their English as they speak to me and other American
students. The days are long and packed as we ride buses from one site to
another, learning about shrimp farming in the Mekong Delta to sustainability
practices in a non-governmental organization. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">On one bus
ride, a young girl sits next to me. Her English is probably the best of all her
friends who peer at me from behind the seats. She tells me about how her mother
advised her to not eat much because of the time her hips blossomed in her
sophomore year of college. She holds onto the foreign shape of English as it
clings to her mouth and I listen to the familiar halting of non-native English
speakers. My own brain feels too tired to grasp onto anything, much less
formulate another sentence of the most basic English I can conjure. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I rest my head
back and look out the window, willing silence, willing reprieve. I feel bad for
shutting her out and I know how hard she is trying. I am learning how hard it
must’ve been for my parents, to try and understand a language that wasn’t
theirs to begin with. I imagine them, in their mid-20s, roaming around America
in the 1980s. Receiving quizzical stares as they annunciated the words for
“fuh-ried-uh cheek-een-uh.” Collecting long pauses as they searched for the
English word that was on the tip of their brain. Calculating the numbers – all
those numbers – translating them from English to Korean and back to English to
do the math.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I wonder if my
parents’ lives would’ve been easier if they had stayed in Korea. Maybe they
opened up more doors for their children here, but was it really worth it in the
end? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_7RyNw77YJNLcGk_YUdu1tQBfPqLEMVK9DbTwyD2en66ZBsAXtuH-CSrMCstbOfRqKPgdjTyJNcru3SfbaD-Bbf1gRi6liHugUExNLWKgWhmHWfx_HDR66SoV4t60rsN3_3LnICqWnMfQGiv_NrXR4xHm0pOBgLLbCnKhm707ARQUzZXljOYk5E3Tg/s466/Jen%20Picture4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="466" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_7RyNw77YJNLcGk_YUdu1tQBfPqLEMVK9DbTwyD2en66ZBsAXtuH-CSrMCstbOfRqKPgdjTyJNcru3SfbaD-Bbf1gRi6liHugUExNLWKgWhmHWfx_HDR66SoV4t60rsN3_3LnICqWnMfQGiv_NrXR4xHm0pOBgLLbCnKhm707ARQUzZXljOYk5E3Tg/w640-h317/Jen%20Picture4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">IX.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Last
week, I see two</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
friends who are fluent in Korean. I ask one of them how my mother tongue
sounds. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">She doesn’t
say yes or no, just that my intonation is off. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I know as
much. When I say Korean words, instead of hearing the sounds that roll so
naturally out of my parents’ mouths, I hear a white person trying to speak a
language that isn’t theirs. I see this in the way Korean eyebrows furrow as I
drop a Korean word amidst a string of English. Oh you mean bbang, they’ll say,
pronouncing the two Bs with a sharper bing! than I could muster in the moment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I have to
really try to speak my parents’ language. I want so badly for it to be mine, as
well. I want so badly to no longer be an imposter in Korean and in English. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I think about
this. Is it very American of me to try to claim something? To want to achieve
ownership of a culture that will never – and should never – fully be mine to
claim? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">To belong is a
verb. But belonging can be a noun. In English, we talk about belongings as
property. We also talk about belonging as acceptance. In this way, do we
conflate ownership with acceptance? Perhaps. Perhaps I am striving for
belonging in the American sense. Instead of trying to claim my Korean parts,
what about embracing them and accepting them for where they are now? Instead of
lamenting a bond that my parents and I will never know, what if I understood
that this is how we were meant to be and that language isn’t the only thing
that is keeping us apart?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">A few days
later, my brother texts to tell me that my grandmother’s birthday is today. I
promise myself I will call her. He makes a joke that he has his Google
Translate app ready to go when he calls. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The hours pass
quickly through the day, and I miss the window of opportunity and don’t want to
call her too late. I promise I will call her the next day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The next day
comes and I push the task out of my mind. I’m running away from discomfort,
disappointment, awkward silences, fractured Korean. I’ve never spoken to my
grandmother alone on the phone, without my father or mother nearby to hand the
receiver back to. I think about how I would have to tell her who I am, because
she doesn’t have my phone number saved. I think about how I don’t even know my
grandmother’s favorite color or food, or even how old she’s turning. And then I
think of all the times before this, when my grandmother would speak to me in
her strong Korean voice and how all I could do was nod my head and say neh. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I tell myself
that next year I will call, when my Korean is better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><><><><><><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">“Three
Motels”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">A
few years ago, I</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
visited my family over Christmas break. My father and I went out to dinner one
evening, just the two of us. We picked a local restaurant in downtown
Chattanooga, Tennessee, where the servers wore plaid button downs and couldn’t
wait to tell us about the IPAs on tap. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Over plates of medium-rare steak
and grilled fish, I asked my dad about my keun samchon, a term we used for my
father’s middle brother. How is he? What is he doing? When did you last talk to
him? My father responded in the manner I am used to – evasive, sparse, winding.
So I dug deeper. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Remember that time keun samchon
crashed our minivan?” I asked through a mouthful of mashed potatoes, refraining
from discussing the possible DUI. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My dad nodded, his head bowed over
his seared meat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Why don’t we see keun samchon
anymore?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“He’s busy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">His answer hung in the air as the
noise of the restaurant swirled around us. I fluffed my mashed potatoes in a
repetitive motion, willing momentum in my words. The waiter stopped by and
broke the silence. I smile at him and told him everything was “Great!” I could
feel my words beginning to catalyze.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Remember when you gave keun
samchon money a few years ago? You were so angry with him. Why were you
so…angry?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">With this question, my dad paused.
I could feel the sigh his body wanted to expel. It was the same sigh he
embodied when I probed about our family’s secrets. But when he looked up at me,
I saw something different this time. Instead of the glass wall I was used to, I
saw a lifetime’s worth of exasperation in his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Your uncle…he just likes to have
fun all the time. Ever since we were young. He just wants to have fun. He
doesn’t take care of his family. He gambles all his money, he drinks too much.
He just wants to have good time.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">By the time he finished talking, my
wheels were squealing in overdrive. Like an engine that’s been brought back to
life, my brain was moving forward and backward in time at the speed of light.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">In
the late 1980s, around</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
the time I was born, my father, along with his father and two brothers, would
broker several motel deals that would set the course of our lives. Through a
series of handshakes, broken English and signed franchise contracts, they
eventually secured three motels for all three brothers. The motels – both new
and old – were close to one another, as in right next door. The Hampton Inn, my
father’s, sat proud and tall as the newest, two-story building. Across the
bustling street of Lee Highway, my dad’s youngest brother had his Econo Lodge,
which was only a few years old. The middle brother managed the motel right
behind my father’s – a Ramada Inn that was the oldest building and was barely
visible from the road, eclipsed by my father’s Hampton Inn.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My father is the eldest son of
three. He was born in 1955 and maintains the title of filial son. When my
grandfather died in 2016, my father made all the funeral plans and greeted all
the guests. He and my mother moved to Atlanta a few years later, right before
my grandmother underwent chemo to ward off cancer last year. He visited her
every day, slogging through rush-hour traffic in the outskirts of Atlanta,
where the Google Maps view is a cluster of angry red veins more often than not.
He made the 45-minute drive there and back after a long 10-hour work day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The youngest son is my jag-eun
samchon. He came to the United States at the tender age of 19, following his
parents and older brothers. After a few years, he went back to Korea to find a
wife, where he met my aunt and swiftly brought her over. Together, they have
three children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our grandmother lived
with him and my aunt for a brief period, moving in after successfully fighting
off the cancer. She continued to dote on him, even though her body could not
care for him. “How will he survive if you don’t prepare him dinner?” she asked
my aunt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Our middle uncle, keun samchon,
raised two sons with his wife, who he met through my father. He came to America
after serving his mandatory military service in Korea. My dad shares the same
birthday with him, just two years apart. I don’t know much else about my keun
samchon. Where my father is sharp features, my uncle is soft. I remember how
jolly my uncle would get at our family get-togethers. The brothers would play
Go Stop with their father, the tiny rectangular cards peppering the table with
empty cans of beer and flecks of dried squid. My uncle would stumble and we
would laugh. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">At these gatherings, before the
booze and the games, the three brothers would walk off together to smoke
cigarettes and talk business and family. Once my keun samchon stopped coming,
it’d just be my dad and his youngest brother, swapping $20, $50, $100-dollar
bills so they could dole out the proper New Year’s Day amounts to me and my
cousins and consulting each other on their respective business plans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">My
keun samchon was the</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
uncle with the Ramada Inn. From Lee Highway, a paved road wound back to the
motel, whose exterior looked dingy and dusty compared to the crisp angular
corners of my father’s Hampton Inn. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Compared to my memories of the
indoor pool at the Econo Lodge and the tiled hallways and expansive pantry of
the Hampton Inn, I don’t remember spending much time at the Ramada. The only
memory I have is walking into the office one day, which sat on the first floor,
looking suspiciously like a former motel room with its desk and striped couch.
Upon entering, I found my dad sitting on the couch with his two brothers
drinking beer. He ushered my four-year-old self to sit on his lap. As I made my
way there, I remember watching a gruesome scene unfold on the small television
box in front of them: a man had been trapped with aliens who held his eyes open
with metal wire contraptions, pouring milk into his eyes and stuffing brain
parts into his mouth. Later in high school, when I’m still thinking about that
movie scene occasionally, shuddering at how scary it was, I’ll watch <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Clockwork Orange</i> and wonder if the milk
and eye scene is what I actually saw. I’ll convince myself that it must be it
as I watch the certainty of that former memory disintegrate like sand. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">While diving into nostalgic
conversations to patch together my family’s history, I asked my cousin, the
eldest daughter of my youngest uncle, about the minivans after learning from my
father that we actually had two. “Do you remember the silver one? The one that
keun samchon crashed?” She paused over the phone and I imagined her eyes
rolling back into her head as she flipped through her rolodex of memories. “I
thought we had a burgundy one, but I don’t remember the silver one,” she said
with slight uncertainty. She then revealed that her own father had gotten in a
car crash, with the burgundy minivan. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I asked my dad later about the burgundy
minivans to see if he remembered that crash. He said no. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Like the scary movie scene, I
wondered if I would ever find answers sifting through these delicate memories
that crumbled and morphed with every conversation. It felt like recounting a
dream that, while so vivid upon waking, turned to dust as soon as I tried to
bring it back to life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">As confirmation that maybe I would
never know the true answers, I sent a version of this essay to my cousin only
to have her gently correct me like the nicest body check ever received. Her
father owned the Ramada Inn, the one who’s presence was hidden from view. Which
meant my keun samchon, my middle uncle, ran the Econo Lodge, the motel I
remembered the most fondly. How convenient that my memory would assign the lesser-than
motel to my keun samchon; was I reaching for metaphors that never existed?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">In
the early 2000s, the</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
Ramada Inn was the first to go under. And then the Econo Lodge folded after
that. My father’s motel was the only one of the three that remained.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My jag-eun samchon moved his family
to the suburbs of Nashville when I was 12 years old. They rebuilt their life
there, opening up a gas station and then a car wash. They bought a used
Escalade and sent their kids to a well-esteemed public school. They lived among
privileged white people, reaping the benefits within reach.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My upbringing wasn’t much
different. My siblings and I were sent to prestigious private schools and my
parents drove us around in their secondhand Lincoln Navigator and Mercedes
Benz. We were given everything we wanted and needed, and yet I saw the limits
of our finances through the girls who wore designer clothes I could never
afford and went on trips that I could only dream of. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My keun samchon’s story was
different – it had always been different. He sent his kids to a
less-prestigious private school and lived in a smaller, older house. After the
crashed minivan, I’m not sure what kind of car my keun samchon drove. When his
motel went under, he moved to Atlanta with his family, where rumors swirled
about divorce and my aunt’s job at a retail store. Even today, they remain
unconfirmed and unspoken of.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">His eldest son, my cousin, came to
a family gathering once without his family in tow. His glasses were cracked
and, when we asked him about it, he brushed it off. He was saving up money for
them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">It was in those moments that I saw
the differences in our lives. The middle son, my keun samchon, was not even
able to pay for his son’s glasses. Or maybe it was that his son didn’t want his
father’s help. Maybe his son had realized how unreliable his father was,
resenting him for his drinking, gambling, and unpredictability. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">No one talked about my keun
samchon. I’d hear bits and pieces in the forms of whispers and aigoos. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Five years ago, after my
grandfather died, I learned that my keun samchon had another business deal that
had gone awry, that his business partner had run away with his money. My
grandmother would learn of this and be beside herself, my mother and aunt
holding her hands to calm her down.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">When
my father told me</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> over
dinner in Chattanooga that my uncle just wanted to have fun, I thought of all
the times that I wanted to have fun and how it was all a disappearing act from
all the pain I felt. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Remember how I couldn’t stop
drinking or throwing up my food? Don’t you think it’s the same for keun
samchon?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“No, you were different. You got
better too.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I thought about all the times I
stole money from my dad, the various calls he got from either me or my
principal when I was in trouble, the lies he caught me in. I thought of how
long it took to explain to him how sick I was, how with each therapist or treatment
program I went to, I had to clarify why I was doing this. “I am sick, I need
help,” I would say to him in the most basic words I could find. At one point,
my father asked why I couldn’t try harder, as if I just needed to access some <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">discipline</i>. I told him it didn’t work
like that, that my story was not his.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My father came to the States when
he was 23. He caught onto business quickly and stepped into his role as eldest
son. He made plans and continued to pave the path that his own father had
started. He is the only brother with a college degree from Korea. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">When I was 23, I was celebrating a
year of sobriety and a shaky four months in recovery from my bulimia. I was
still in college, racing to finish my bachelor’s degree because I felt like a
failure graduating a year late when all of my peers were decorated with grad
school acceptance letters and jobs that sounded important. At 23, I was still
reliant on my father for money, working at my parents’ small hibachi restaurant
on the weekends. At the end of my shift, I’d take $60 from the register even
though the tips only amounted to $20. My mom furtively nodded in approval, all
but whispering “Good job” in Korean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I wasn’t an adult at 23. I was an
infant reborn, learning how to do many things for the first time. The year
leading up to my 23<sup>rd</sup> was trying to survive nights without the
crutch of booze and throwing up my food, learning how to handle stress
appropriately, understanding the meaning of naps and what it meant to go to
sleep without substances, making friends based on a shared interest other than
getting fucked up, examining my relationship with my mother and all the ways it
defined me, and reuniting with my childhood dog, Spike. I spent evenings alone
with him, swaddling him in blankets and singing him lullabies – things I wished
my mother had done with me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">When my father was 23, he also
experienced firsts. But different from mine, perhaps more serious than mine. He
navigated a language that he had only studied. He signed contracts and built a
business in a culture he barely knew. He married and raised children with a
woman he had been dating for three years in Korea. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">But my father survived with a
tenacity that I still fail to understand. My father is stoic and generous. He
works hard without complaining and still lavishes us virtually with exclamation
points. My father has always been that man, the one who wanders off at the mall
with his hands clasped behind his back to busy himself, while his wife and two
daughters spend hours browsing the sales racks. He never complains, never says
that he is tired or hungry. My father just is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Just as my father’s and my stories
are not the same, my uncle’s story is not my father’s. As a middle child
myself, I feel my keun samchon’s pain. The middle child, the one that evades
the responsibility that saddles the oldest, sinking further and further into
the shadows as the youngest is born. I recognize my own positionality within my
family. How, to a certain extent, my acts of self-harm were a cry for help
while my brother, the one and only golden son, eclipsed me in importance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Growing
up, I watched my mother shower my brother in hugs and kisses. He clung onto her
like the mama’s boy he still is today. I taunted him and mocked him, but only
in retaliation for the cool and critical feedback I received from my mother. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
learned about an experiment on attachment recently, one where a baby monkey is
given a stuffed cloth toy and the other is given a metal rod. The former monkey
grew up feeling more nurtured from the warmth and softness of the toy, while
the latter monkey received none of that. I resonated with that story, as the
shirked middle child who had an iceberg for a mother rather than a stuffed
bear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">W</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">hile
growing up, my cousins</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">
and I were close. We lived within minutes of one another as children, our
fathers buying homes the same way they bought property for their businesses.
We’d gather at one another’s houses and stampede up and down the carpeted
stairs in a game of tag, sounding like a herd of elephants. My uncle’s Econo
Lodge had an indoor pool that we spent many birthdays at, running around like
little Tasmanian devils with Styrofoam noodles squished in between our legs and
screaming into the echo chamber of chlorine water and stone walls. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My
cousins represented Korean Americans before I knew the word. We grew up with
our parents who represented a country we knew nothing of. But we learned many
things from them. Like how to accept money with two hands, how to sniff out
perfectly ripe kimchi, how to roll our bap into sheets of gim or lettuce. We
also learned how to say hello and thank you in Korean and how to bow low to our
grandparents on New Year’s Day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">We
also learned the deeper feelings of what it meant to be Korean. We learned how
to sweep things under the rug and avoid talking about the very thing that was
asked about. We learned about shame through the way our mother’s sucked in air
through their teeth, the way they shook their heads or slapped us. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">But
we are were taught different things because no two cousins or siblings are ever
alike. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Each
of our families boasts an eldest child who inherently carries that legacy and
responsibility, whether it’s pitching in the most money for a present or
feeling the unshakeable sense of duty to care for our aging parents. But our
families only have one other middle child besides me and my uncle: my younger
cousin, the son of my dad’s youngest brother. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Growing
up, my younger cousin and I shared a similar mischief in our blood. I saw it in
the way we laughed about a joke we made at our sibling’s expense and rebelled
against authority. I felt it in the way we’d occasionally side with one another
in a game of tag, as if it was us against the world. I heard it when,
eventually, I lived with him at the age of 23. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
spent my first few years of recovery in Knoxville, Tennessee. After fleeing the
South for more cosmopolitan opportunities in New York only to hit rock bottom,
I had landed back in my home state with a new, sober outlook on life. My cousin
was in the same city, attending the same university. He needed a roommate and I
remembered our kinship as children and accepted eagerly, forgetting the battle
royals we had engaged in before: the time I yelled at him for not coming to New
Year’s Day because he was too hungover to come and all the times I fiercely
defended his younger sister when his sadistic ridicule became too much.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
forgot all of that and unwittingly signed myself up for sleepless nights of
Adderall and drunken stumbling at 2am. In my newly sober state, I began to
watch what felt like a documentary about my life, delivered in horrifying
familiarity by my cousin – the constant drug use, the non-stop partying, the
shunning of responsibilities, and the anger. The anger. My cousin and I fought
like middle children, screaming “fuck off” to one another through our
paper-thin walls. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Are
you fucking kidding me?” my cousin yelled through the phone. This was after he
learned that I was going to keep his security deposit because he had refused to
clean the house on our last day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“I
hope you learn a lesson and grow the fuck up,” I retorted, feeling like my
blood was going to spew chunks of lava out of my skull.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">We
hung up on each other, each of us simmering in anger and resentments – a lifetime’s
worth of trying to make sense of our emotions and feeling ignored,
misunderstood, and antagonized by our families. In that moment, it was hard for
me to see my cousin’s suffering in my newly-born state. I was a baby foal,
learning how to walk for the first time, my long, bony legs shaking underneath
me. I was reactive and blind; I was trying to survive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Only
now can I understand how my cousin may have also been caught in a game of
survival, doggie paddling in a sea of drugs and alcohol as a means of feeling
okay. I wonder if he saw me as the enemy in the same the way we had pitted the
world against us as children. My own healing as a middle child had been
dismantling that narrative, the one that tells me that the world is out to get
me – that my mother is out to get me. I wonder if he felt the same way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">It’s
been almost nine years since that fallout and my cousin and I have never talked
about this period in time. Despite seeing him at various family gatherings over
the years, our past remains a memory that feels like it’s meant to be
forgotten. Like the hundreds of stories that our parents refuse to bring back
to life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I
never saw my dad and uncles fight in this explosive way. But sometimes it takes
two middle children to tango. I wonder what my keun samchon would be like as a
fellow cousin. I wonder if we would lock arms and engage in a battle, only to
come to a divisive standstill.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">T</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">hese
days, I want to</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> reach
out to my keun samchon, to tell him that I get it, that being a middle child
sucks and that our families and society have a way of really messing us up. I
want to tell him that he is not alone, that sometimes we need more than just <i>discipline</i>
to battle our inner demons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">And
yet here is my reality: even if I could see my keun samchon today, he and I
still have a language barrier that seems impossible to penetrate. He speaks to
me with hand gestures and the shuffling of his feet. I speak to him with smiles
and small bows of my head.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">This
past Christmas I found myself on Zoom with my cousins. I hadn’t seen some of
them in a long time, years maybe. But there we were at the end of 2020,
connecting despite – and maybe because of – the challenging year. We were six
consecutive squares that linked the eight of us together, each of us peppered
across the United States in all three time zones.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Looking
at my cousins’ faces on the small Zoom squares, I thought about how different
we all were and I felt sadness that some of our burdens are heavier than
others. I wanted to ask the sons of my keun samchon if they resented me because
of the life they had to lead, the hardship they had to endure. I wanted to ask
my fellow middle child cousin if things were okay between us, if he had forgiven
me because I had long forgiven him. But I felt afraid. Afraid that resentments
would come to life and unlock centuries of unspoken realities that our parents
and ancestors had long since buried.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Instead
of sharing all of this, I smiled and waved. We asked each other for life
updates and gave tours of our respective living spaces. My dad and jag-eun
samchon made brief appearances and seemed less interested in making the
connection over a screen, showing either only half of their faces or waving
like a small moving statue in the distance. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">My
middle child cousin left the call halfway through. He was tired and wanted to
take a nap, he said. We watched him disappear from the screen, his siblings
looking at us with a simple shrug. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; tab-stops: 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Even
though my keun samchon was absent, I still subtly searched for him in
conversation. “How are your parents doing?” I asked my cousins. They both
responded the same: “My mom is good, she’s still in Atlanta doing her thing.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: .5in 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Nothing
more, nothing less. And to honor our generations-old tradition, I refrained
from asking further about my keun samchon. I watched him shuffle back into my
memory, disappearing into the abyss of unnamed secrets I have yet to uncover.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: .5in 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: .5in 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><><><><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1 style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">About
the Author</span></b></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><b>Jen Shin</b> is a Korean American based in Portland, Oregon. Jen’s writing
focuses on addiction, exploring the impacts of identity, race, and
intergenerational trauma. A participant in the Pacific University’s Residency
Conference, she has a website up and running at </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.jen-shin.com/"><span style="color: black;">www.jen-shin.com</span></a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">With ten years in recovery from alcoholism and bulimia, through her writing and mental health advocacy, Jen hopes to reach communities of color to destigmatize the stigmatized, decolonize shame, and encourage healing. She’s an Anaphora Arts Fellow and has been published in <i>Beyond the Margins and with zines + things</i>. She is an essayist and author of <i>Have You Received Previous Psychotherapy or Counseling?</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Segoe UI",sans-serif" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022-issue_31.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1503" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyHZqfhHwuT3Wx_W4ZKNMznS7jR0W-jL8K4_BS_xH9187eeWYql0pDsNXF4HlO4oJqfkuID9zLHpKfApr2Q8n8Bf-aBpU_Fz9T3NsxOCOPGmXZ9Jf0KQmbIwX2biJmj4D6wkZG-kOQ_-QbY6SiqYYlxA5NKFbpQ2N1Ywk3v-_frMd9H0JiFxWmEYZjw/w320-h162/winter%202022%20Fiction%20Roster%20shin%20sweet%20uckfield.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022-issue_31.html" target="_blank">CLICK to return to Fiction/NonFiction Authors</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><><><></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><p></p>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-59337025797015405822022-03-25T09:30:00.004-04:002022-03-26T10:49:18.744-04:00aaduna in exile - Winter 2021-2022 - Daniel Ross Goodman<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDw8zHytk7qFK0XzzpvU7B7-2b1DnUTBJwZg4-ZYuRvg9xt-Vop45O9BABdJ6pspqTJyMF8k0v7EH8L_hFeslGQnlpJGrc1H3uhB1oCnaZdt-_rTYe4_Qvew5UAA5dRPiOti-JcI3-C1WH7nlDbTIWqhMmb1BzybCxtXM6ZL8dNN8Mq4NxCzpxl9Elg/s400/Daniel%20Goodman%20photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="400" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDw8zHytk7qFK0XzzpvU7B7-2b1DnUTBJwZg4-ZYuRvg9xt-Vop45O9BABdJ6pspqTJyMF8k0v7EH8L_hFeslGQnlpJGrc1H3uhB1oCnaZdt-_rTYe4_Qvew5UAA5dRPiOti-JcI3-C1WH7nlDbTIWqhMmb1BzybCxtXM6ZL8dNN8Mq4NxCzpxl9Elg/w400-h394/Daniel%20Goodman%20photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: verdana;">Daniel Ross Goodman, Ph.D. (photo provided)<br /><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> The Fellowship</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">It had been seven long,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> arduous years, but I had finally done it—I had finally completed my dissertation! The aim of all my endeavors, the fruit of my most arduous labors—my cherished doctorate, the golden chalice that I had been striving for since early adolescence—was in my hands at last. Now, there was only final thing that remained to be done—the small matter of actually getting a job.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> With the guidance of my professors and doctoral advisors, I set about applying to just about every opening that I could find: assistant professorships in northern Minnesota; tenure-track faculty positions in eastern Oklahoma; even adjunct teaching jobs in southern Arizona. One particular position, however, intrigued me the most—a postdoctoral fellowship at a prestigious college in central New Hampshire. I thought it would be perfect for me for so many reasons: the college had rich and storied humanities departments; it valued interdisciplinary approaches to learning—one of my specialties—very highly; and I knew that completing a postdoctoral fellowship at such an esteemed college would set me up for a far better professorship than I would ever be able to obtain than if I would end up having done only doctoral work alone. And, best of all, the college was located in New England, not very far from my native western Massachusetts. What could be better than that? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> After seeing what the submission requirements were for the fellowship, I wrote a cover letter, a personal statement, a CV, a sample syllabus, and a statement of pedagogic philosophy. I also obtained a copy of my official transcript, as well as a letter signed by the dean of my graduate school certifying the completion of my doctoral studies. My dissertation advisor worked with me on all of the written documents that I would need to submit, especially on my CV, which he said I needed to redo because the articles that I had published during the previous seven years were not arranged in the correct order—they were supposed to be listed, he said, by “most recently published” to “least recently published,” instead of by subject matter, as I had had it organized previously. He also said that I needed to make a separate section for “reviews,” and that I needed, in my languages section, to not just list what languages I am proficient in but to specify how I am proficient in them (e.g., “German: reading, writing, some speaking; French: reading, writing; Greek: reading”). I even consulted with him to make sure that my three letters of recommendation would come from three professors whom the fellowship’s selection committee would be likely to look most favorably upon. For instance, he told me that even though all three of the professors on my dissertation committee were men, I should make sure to have one of my recommenders be a woman. So I asked Dr. Edna Mann—with whom I had taken a course and who had administered one of my comprehensive exams—to be one of my three recommenders. Once she agreed, I sent in all of my application materials and went back to doing research for two articles I was working on while I waited to hear back from the college.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Six weeks later I received an email from the college that read:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> Dear Mr. Addison,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">We have received your application for the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship. After a careful review of your application materials, we are pleased to inform you that we would like to invite you to campus to interview for the fellowship. Please let us know if we will be able to schedule you for an interview here on campus sometime in the next three weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> Best wishes,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> Patricia Conroy, Professor and Chair, McCreary Center for the Humanities<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Judith Smith, Professor and Chair, Department of Classics; Provost and <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Associate Dean, Albert A. Kekst Graduate Schools of Arts & Sciences<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> Arvind N. Thatamanil, Associate Professor of Theology & World Religions<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> A week later, I made the hour-and-a-half cross-state trip from western Massachusetts to Boston and caught an early afternoon train up to central New Hampshire. It was a bitterly cold, foggy, snowy February New England day, but during the entire trip I was sweating; I wanted this fellowship more than I wanted anything I’d ever wanted before—even more than when I had used to crave chips and salsa for my afternoon snack upon returning home from school—and even though being invited for an on-campus interview was a very good sign, it was still no guarantee that I would get the fellowship. I was confident in my credentials and in my record as a doctoral student—I truly believed that my work spoke for itself—but the problem was that I had always been terrible at speaking for myself. I was awful at interviews, and even worse at making that kind of witty, light-hearted office and hallway chitchat I had always seemed to hear whenever I had spent time in the faculty lounge at my doctoral program. I was confident that if I could just get them to evaluate me by what I had actually accomplished rather than by how I presented myself, I would be a top contender for the fellowship—and perhaps even get it. But how to make them focus on the former rather than the latter?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> To take my mind off of these distressing thoughts, I had brought some reading material with me, and during the train ride from Boston to New Hampshire I took the books out of my faded forest-green book bag and placed them on my lap. There was no heat inside of the train, so even though I was already wearing five layers—two undershirts, a long-sleeve thermal shirt, a button-down flannel shirt, and a sweater—I zipped up my winter jacket and wrapped my scarf around my neck. But then I started sweating, so I unzipped my winter jacket and took it off and left it on the unoccupied seat next to me. But then I got cold so I put it back on, this time without zipping it. I propped up my large red Spanish-language version of <i>Don Quijote </i>on my left leg, and placed my large blue English-language version of <i>Don Quixote </i>on my right leg. I had been trying to read it in the original Spanish, but because I was finding the novel’s Spanish somewhat different from the modern Spanish that I had learned in graduate school, I was discovering that I needed to look at the English translation when I encountered words and phrases that I didn’t understand in the original Spanish version. I was up to the part where the narrator explains the story behind the discovery of the manuscript about Don Quijote of La Mancha. Something about how the narrator had actually come upon the story of Don Quijote in some Arabic writings—that it was first written in Arabic and he needed a translator to translate it into Spanish. Or something like that. I can’t remember exactly. I was too focused on the upcoming interview to be able to get much out of the book that day. Besides, it wasn’t that long of a train ride, and I was also constantly shifting the position of the books on my legs, never—in the absence of a back-seat tray in front of me with which to place them on—quite able to find a suitable position for them that would have permitted me to read them with even a minimal degree of comfort.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> When I arrived at the college, it took me some time to find the address of the building in which my interview was supposed to be held. Sweating even more now because my inability to quickly find the building was threatening to make me late for the interview, when I finally located the building—a small, Georgian-style colonial structure with the words “Robert G. McCreary III Center for the Humanities” engraved in capital letters on the top of the portico—I was surprised at how much it looked like one of the houses in my hometown neighborhood. I took that as a good sign, and, breathing a relaxed sigh, I walked through the double-door entrance and stepped into a long, narrow, dark and dusty corridor that smelled of rotten watermelon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> I coughed a few times, trying to clear the dust motes out of my throat, and tried as best as I could to not inhale the suffocating stench. I groped my way along the wall until my eyes adjusted to the lack of light. After several minutes I at last grasped what felt like a doorknob. I twisted it open and had to protect my face from a broom that nearly fell directly onto my skull; I had opened the door of a closet. Holding my nose and trying to not breathe in too deeply, I ambled along the corridor for a few more paces, coughed again, and when I felt another doorknob, I twisted it open; it was a bathroom. The toilet was running—it sounded as if someone had just flushed it—and a few damp, wrinkled hand towels lay strewn across the floor. I closed the door, walked a few more paces, and opened the next door I came upon. It was a study, it looked like—or at least it may have at one point have been a study. There were wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves—all of which were empty—and by the window, there was a wooden desk with several scraps of paper and a few coins scattered upon it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “Hello?” I shouted, as I stepped out of the study and wobbled back toward the front door, feeling as if I was about to faint. “Is anybody here?... “<i>Hello?</i>...<i>Anybody?...</i>I’m here for the interview! Alvin Addison! Here for the fellowship interview! Is anybody here?!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> I waited for about thirty seconds, and when no one answered, I pulled open the front door, gulping the fresh air outside as if I it was a spring of water in the Sahara desert.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “Mr. Addison?” I heard someone say, as I was about to walk out of the house. It was a faint male voice, coming from somewhere above me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “Mr. Addison? Is that you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “Uh…yes…yes, that’s me. I’m here for the fellowship interview…”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “Yes, of course. I’m so glad you came. Please come upstairs.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> <i>Upstairs</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> I turned around and looked back into the corridor through which I had been moving moments before, and, to my great surprise, there was a staircase immediately to my left. How had I not seen it? It was practically staring me right in the face. On the other hand, though, I reminded myself that when I had first entered the house, it had been so dark that I had barely able to see anything at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> I closed the front door—imbibing one last big mouthful of fresh, clean air before doing so, hoping that it would last me for the rest of my stay, however long or brief, inside the putrid-smelling house—and made my way up a long, wide flight of stairs, which creaked like an old man’s bones with each step I took.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> When I reached the top of the stairs, the faint male voice—now slightly louder—called out to me again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “Over here, Mr. Addison,” he said, in a gentle, welcoming tone. I turned my head toward the direction of the voice and noticed a man standing at the end of a short, narrow, dimly lit hallway in front of an open door. “Please, would you come inside, Mr. Addison.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “Yes,” I murmured, walking relaxedly toward the man and breathing more easily, especially since it smelled so much better upstairs than it did downstairs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> At the end of the hallway, I turned left and entered a windowless, well-lit, low-ceilinged room furnished with a round wooden coffee table, a couple of red armchairs, and nothing else. I inhaled deeply, pleasantly surprised to be breathing so easily—and to be breathing such clean, unpolluted, well-ventilated air inside of a space that was no larger than the size of three Ping-Pong tables.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “Please, sit down, Mr. Addison.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> I turned around and almost jumped when I noticed the man standing directly behind me—though, in his defense, there wasn’t really any other area in the room he could stand in without being mere inches away from me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> I smiled, lowered my bag to the carpeted floor, and sat down in one of the two deep-seated armchairs. He sat down across from me, crossed his legs, and reciprocated my smile. He was a clean-shaven, well-groomed, amiable-looking man of average height and weight—he looked to be perhaps in his late forties or early fifties—with receding, slicked-back gray hair, big brown eyes framed by golden wire-framed glasses, and glowing almond-colored skin.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Addison,” he said, smiling again and cupping his hands together. He was wearing a navy blue V-neck sweater over a white button-down shirt, khaki pants, and white tennis sneakers; for a moment I felt overdressed in my suit and tie, but I tried to ease my mind by remembering that it was always better to be overdressed than underdressed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “I’m Arvind Thatamanil. I’ve been a professor here in the religious studies department for six years now. It’s really a terrific place to work. The way the school supports young scholars is truly admirable, in my opinion. That’s why the Mellon fellowship is so desirable, as I’m sure you know.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> I nodded gingerly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “And that’s why we are so selective with the candidates we interview for the fellowship.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> I nodded again, even more gingerly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “So, I have your application materials here,” he said, picking up the beige folder on top of the coffee table and placing it on his knees. “Let me get your CV out so that I…”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> He trailed off when he noticed that I was glancing over his shoulder at a door behind him which had been left slightly ajar and upon which the words “Office of the Provost” were stenciled in thick black ink. In the space between the door and the doorframe, I had noticed two sets of eyes peering out through the narrow opening. It looked as if their two heads had been placed sideways on top of one another, so that if I were to have drawn a three-inch vertical line with my finger, it would have bisected all four eyes in one quick swoop. But I could only see the eyes, and not the faces to which they belonged.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “Mr. Addison,” he said, clearing his throat and sitting upright in his chair. “You are truly a most impressive candidate. One of the most impressive candidates we’ve ever had here to interview for this fellowship. Certainly one of the most impressive that I’ve seen in my time here in the college. You are—”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> As I glanced behind him again at the pairs of eyes that were peering out at us from behind the door, I made eye contact with one of them and the door suddenly slammed shut. My head jolted backwards briefly but I quickly resettled myself, reminding myself to stay calm and focused on the professor who was interviewing me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> The professor raised his head from the file folder and laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “Oh, don’t mind them,” he said, shooting me a disarming smile and shaking his head. “That’s just Pat and Judy behind there. Nothing to worry about…”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> I raised my eyebrows and shifted slightly in my seat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> “They didn’t think it would be appropriate for them to be here at this interview,” he continued, recrossing his legs and leafing through a few other pieces of paper inside the folder. “But I guess they still wanted to have a look in at what was happening…”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> I nodded, pretending as if I had understood his explanation and resolving to put what I had just seen out of my mind as quickly as possible so that I could better focus on the task at hand.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“Anyway,” he went on, taking two sheets of paper out of the folder and adjusting his glasses. “As I was saying, your credentials are very, very impressive, Mr. Addison. Two published books by the time you completed your dissertation, when most freshly-minted PhDs do not even have one…four book chapters—and two of them in peer-reviewed volumes…an edited book….let’s see, what else…nine peer-reviewed articles, including one in the top journal in your field…fourteen reviews…reading proficiency in thirteen languages….six academic awards…experience as a teaching assistant for four different professors…completion of all three of your comprehensive exams with distinction…a 4.0 GPA in your graduate coursework—and a 4.<i>3</i> GPA in your final year of graduate coursework, a mark which I did not even think was possible to achieve…all evidence of the rich, fertile, highly promising mind of a young, rising scholar…”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I smiled, almost blushing, and cupped my hands and crossed my legs. I had read in an “interview tips” guide that one of the ways to be more likable and to make better first impressions was to mirror the body language of the person with whom you’re speaking. I didn’t know if that was something that had actually been tested and had been proven to work; all I knew, given my history of failing to make friends from kindergarten through graduate school, was that if I could just come across in this interview as even a marginally tolerable human being, with my actual academic credentials alone I should have no issue at all in getting this fellowship.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“But there’s just one issue, Mr. Addison…well, several, in fact. You see this here, Mr. Addison? There’s a typo here on your CV,” he said, placing the sheet of paper in front of me on the coffee table and pointing to the title of one of my articles. “And another one here,” he said, pointing to the title of one of my reviews, which I could now see had been circled in red ink. “And here,” he continued, pointing to another line in my CV that had also been marked in red ink. “And here,” he went on, pointing to yet another line in my CV that had been circled in red ink. “We counted eight typos in all.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I picked up the CV and brought it closer to my face. <i>Yes, </i>I realized, as I looked at the first page. <i>That really </i>is<i> a typo…I should have written “</i>toward<i> a revaluation of Neo-Platonic hypostatization,” not “</i>towards <i>a revaluation of Neo-Platonic hypostatization”! How could I have been so careless?! And there…I had included the title of my book review that had appeared in </i>Philosophy Today <i>but had completely neglected to mention that the title of the book that I had reviewed was </i>Theotropic Motifs in Post-Structuralist Epistemology<i>! And there, another one…and another one…and another!...what a disaster!...But I don’t understand! How could I have done this?! I reviewed my CV six, seven, eight, probably a dozen times before I submitted it! How could I really have missed all of these?!...Oh no…</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“With this many mistakes in your CV, Mr. Addison,” said the professor, adjusting his glasses again and closing the folder, “my colleagues over there behind the door felt that they had no choice but to deny your application for the fellowship. I disagreed with them, of course. I had tried to tell them that, given your otherwise outstanding credentials, your remarkable productivity, and your extraordinary potential—at least in my eyes—to become one of the more accomplished scholars of this generation, we should overlook the errors in your CV and consider you for this fellowship based upon your actual accomplishments as well as the potential you have to be a major asset for us here at the McCreary Center for the Humanities for the duration of your postdoctoral fellowship. My colleagues, however, did not see it the same way…their position was that a truly accomplished and promising young scholar would not make so many obvious errors in his CV. I want to assure you, Mr. Addison, that I argued quite strenuously against their position—and did so for many hours—but to no avail, given that I’m still only an associate professor, and Pat and Judy are full professors, so in the end I really did not have much of a say…I’m sorry, Mr. Addison.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I lowered my head and nodded slowly and glumly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“I do hope, though,” he said, getting up from his chair—which I took as a signal that the interview was over and that I should do the same—and throwing me a sympathetic glance, “that you enjoyed your time here at the college and got a chance to take a look around. It’s really quite a lovely campus. Even in the winter…or, especially in the winter, I’d say, with all the snow we get and the way it covers the old buildings and the green lawns in this pristine sheet of whiteness…”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I picked up my bag, slung it over my shoulder, and walked out of the room.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“Take care, Mr. Addison,” he said, as he closed the door behind me. “And I do hope our paths cross again in the future.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I lumbered across the hallway and trudged down the stairs, hanging my head like a defeated prizefighter. <i>How could I have been so careless? I’m so much better than that…I </i>know <i>I’m so much better than that…to have committed not one, not two, not three—but eight—</i>EIGHT!<i>—glaring errors on my CV!...How will I ever forgive myself for this?! How will I ever be able to forgive myself for blowing this opportunity?! It was sitting there for me…and I blew it!...all because of eight stupid, miserable, easily preventable errors!…UCCCHHH!!!<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As I reached the bottom of the stairs and stepped toward the front door, I once again had to hold my breath and pinch my nose to prevent inhaling a trace of the asphyxiating stench. When I made it to the door and pushed it open, almost as soon as I exhaled and was able to once again breath in fresh, clean, life-giving air, a tall man wearing jeans, a blue t-shirt, a black ski mask and carrying two long, empty gray sacks bumped into me, knocking my thick black-rimmed glasses off of my face.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“Sorry, there, buddy,” he said, bending down to pick up my glasses from the pile of snow they had fallen into and handing them back to me. “Didn’t mean to do that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“It’s okay,” I said dolefully, shaking the snow off my glasses and trying to regain my bearings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“Is this the McCreary Center?” he asked, peering into the dark, dank, dusty corridor out of which I had just emerged.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“Yeah…why?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“I’m here to rob the place.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“Oh…okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“You’re sure this is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“Yes,” I said, my head still hung low, trying to dry my glasses with my shirt tail. “I was just in there.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“Alright,” he said, stepping into the house and unfurling the long gray sacks. “Thanks, buddy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“Sure. No problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I plodded away from the house and trekked into the snow-covered sidewalks, wrapping my scarf around my neck and preparing for the long, cold, restless journey home.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Auburn the Author</span></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><b>Daniel Ross Goodman</b></span><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> holds a Ph.D. in Jewish Thought from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTS) and studied English & Comparative Literature at Columbia University. He is a <i>Washington Examiner </i>contributing writer and the author of numerous articles, essays, and reviews on Jewish Theology, Literature, Art, Film, Religion and Culture, as well as over a dozen short stories. He is also the author of two books, the novel <i>A Single Life </i>and <i>Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Wonder and Religion in American Cinema. </i>His next book, <i>Soloveitchik's Children: Irving Greenberg, David Hartman, Jonathan Sacks, and the Future of Jewish Theology in America, </i>is under contract with the University of Alabama Press. This year he is a research scholar in the Department of Systematic Theology at the University of Salzburg.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1501" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_jDK2Juj4xGRX-tuDgbIJpc-vZHuSAbK_ZM8T2lHD9LcXncZ5EBoRuPN_fO6YfZmFr5gui8Luzc6fOKbCm21SChU3oZBKNMomzwF03lmmCub5xXKbj7dmH1AkMvdhqPokgVGXZBSNaHRgkQ7DMxPMI4JmKVv_oChSrImlzTJKRNG052VmDNwqbzwUg/s320/winter%202022%20Fiction%20Roster%20Part%20I.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022.html" target="_blank">CLICK</a> to Return to Fiction/NonFiction Authors</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022.html">https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022.html</a></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><><><></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-40859727308436201092022-03-25T09:30:00.003-04:002022-03-26T10:48:25.807-04:00aaduna in exile - Winter 2021-2022 - Mario Duarte<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoODBvAcp5qqCliosFV5PO79c0e7_aikFSytFmKb5wG2ryYHdz_4mWCzoVWGJNeDG7MAxOxkJF_rII4tCmK24E1WB-FOy9Hb5ebY5jVRSc57l3Pywi4xBTSxGJdKs_szXyhD2kfLB1_aUNVQDUzGuBS6Kaec36-1A7ovdu6Zz_x8mxL2VEgDTtwLpWCw/s264/Mario%20Duarte%20Photo%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="215" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoODBvAcp5qqCliosFV5PO79c0e7_aikFSytFmKb5wG2ryYHdz_4mWCzoVWGJNeDG7MAxOxkJF_rII4tCmK24E1WB-FOy9Hb5ebY5jVRSc57l3Pywi4xBTSxGJdKs_szXyhD2kfLB1_aUNVQDUzGuBS6Kaec36-1A7ovdu6Zz_x8mxL2VEgDTtwLpWCw/w326-h400/Mario%20Duarte%20Photo%20(2).JPG" width="326" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: verdana;"><b>Mario Duarte (photo provided)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Cassandra and<i> Las Brujas<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px; mso-ansi-language: EN;">¡</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Pinche pendejo!</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"> <i>Las bujas</i>, nasty</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> witches, old busybodies, who police the streets with their morality, hit me on the head knocking me out, and then stripped and gagged me, and tied my hands and feet to the bedposts. Next, they took a long string, tied a knot around my p<i>ene</i> (my stupid dick), and tied the other end to a doorknob, and left the door ajar. I feel groggy, barely able to move, terrified of the slightest breeze from the open window. Fuck me if one of those crazy<i> brujas </i>returns and slams the goddamn door!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Why did this happen you ask? Over nothing, just a piece of <i>cola, </i>you know what I mean, some tail. I’m an <i>hombre</i>, right, and a man has to do what he’s gottta do. I know one thing, I’m sure not to blame, no, Cassandra is. Blame it on her beauty. I couldn’t help myself. There she was one day crossing the street, her short red dress fluttering over her long legs, hips swaying, long dark hair cascading down her milky shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I followed her into <i>Rips </i>tavern. She was seated alone at the counter. I smiled at her with my eyes. She smiled back. I swear that I felt as if we had met before, that somehow we were destined to meet again. I ordered us drinks. Ah, what a wonderful deep throaty laugh Cassandra has after a few drinks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“I can tell the future,” she told me. A little drunk, I laughed and nearly slid off the barstool. She didn’t laugh or smile, though. Her face grew taut—she was serious.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“What’s the future hold? For you, or for me? What the hell, for the world?” I asked waving a hand across the empty air. My body pulsed with excitement, my mind intrigued, and both exhilarated by the chase.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">She touched her brooch, a gold snake with ruby eyes, pinned over her left breast. Her head moved aside as if she heard a voice. “The future is always in flux. It can change from moment to moment. It depends on how we act, or react to things, events and to each other, but for you I see a woman, no a group of women, angry, and I see devastating pain.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I ordered a whiskey. “I can tell the future too, Casandra. I see a man kissing a beautiful woman. I see them entwined together, like the coils of your snake.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">She bit her lip. Her eyes sad. “Yes, I see this too, but I also see me alone, sitting on a porch swing, listening to the cicadas, gazing up at the tear-stained stars, wishing you were sitting next to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“Maybe if you listen hard enough you just might hear my boot steps coming down your street some evening, a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a bouquet of roses, red, pink or yellow, whatever color you like best, in the other.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“Our time together will be brief,” she said her face turned down, “but <i>passionate</i>.” Her pale cheeks flushed. When I touch her high cheekbones, my body flared into flames.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The next thing I remember was holding her in my arms, after making love, in her brass bed, feeling content, satisfied. The phone began ringing in the living room downstairs and for the first time that night I thought about my wife, a good woman who deserved better. I thought she must be worried about me, how my supper, probably beans in a black iron skillet and tortillas wrapped with a hand towel in a basket had gone cold. I felt beads of cold sweat on my forehead and temples and my eyes ached. It felt like there was something horrible in my mouth, something bitter and gritty that I needed to spit out but had to swallow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Cassandra twisted and pulled on the ends of her hair and then said, “After what has happened between us, I see it now just as plainly as I see you. I know what’s to become of us, of everyone. The city, no, the world will burn when the sun suddenly flares out and there is nothing you or I or anyone can do to stop it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I started to laugh but caught myself. “I think the future is what we make of it. Cassandra, didn’t you said so yourself that the future is in flux?” I squeezed her hands. They felt soft, but sweaty. I looked into her eyes until she looked at me. She let the twisted ends of hair drop over her breasts. “Maybe it’s not too late to change things, Cassandra? There has to be more time.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“Is there?” she said. ”What if there is no tomorrow?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Cassandra kissed me, and I never felt more alive, when all of the sudden <i>mi esposa</i>, my wife Adelita, who I realized I no longer love, and a coven of <i>las</i> <i>brujas</i> stormed into the room. Most of them carried brooms or mops, some baseball bats. They beat us without mercy but Cassandra never screamed. The look on her face was one of defiance and something else—acceptance. I felt a hard blow on my head and the all the light of the world slanted into half-darkness, followed by a plunge into nothingness.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">When I opened my eyes everyone was gone. No wife or <i>brujas.</i> I can imagine what <i>las brujas</i> did to Cassandra, what they do to all women they call <i>fallen, wayward</i>. No doubt, they bound her hands, gagged her, shaved her head, dressed her in a nun’s habit, and paraded her around the town square with a plaque around her neck, with one word: <i>Puta, </i>whor<i>e,</i> in red letters<i>.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I ached all over, even my eyelids were sore. My head hurts worse than ever and I have never felt more confused, or more scared. I didn’t know where I was at first or how I got here. I just wanted to go home. Slowly, oh so slowly I remembered. I remembered Cassandra—her lips, her breasts, her sky-blue eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Now you’ve heard my story, our story. It ends with me unable to avoid seeing myself in the ceiling mirror. I am such a stupid <i><span style="color: #333333;">cabrón! </span></i><span style="color: #333333;">All I can do is lie here, staring at myself<i>, my pito </i>swelling<i>, </i>holding my breath,<i> </i>waiting for a sudden gust to blow the door shut and rip me up. I can’t make the slightest twitch. What’s that I hear?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Snakes are hissing, somewhere out of sight on the floor, and I am wondering if I will ever see Cassandra again, and if Adelita will finally divorce me. Then, this funny feeling comes back, that this has all happened before and will happen again. I shout for help but the gag muffles my voice. I feel Casandra’s prophecy is coming true. There’s a taste of ash in my mouth, and my body is surrounded by orange flames with rising blue hearts rolling through a big hole in the ceiling into a smoky gray sky with unbearable heat, searing everything away, all thought, all feeling, all memory, except for Cassandra, only her behind my eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e;"> </span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e;"> </span></p><h1 style="background: white; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">About the Author</span></span></h1><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Mario Duarte</b></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e;"> is a Mexican-American writer born, raised and living in the Midwest. He is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the University of New Hampshire. His poems and short stories have appeared in <i>2River Review</i>, <i>Abstract Elephant</i>, <i>American Writers Review</i>, <i>Bilingual/Borderless</i>, <i>Digging Through the Fat</i>, <i>Lunch Ticket</i>, <i>Pank</i>, <i>Rigorous</i>, <i>Sky Island Journal</i>, <i>Plainsongs</i>, <i>Write Launch</i>, <i>Typishly</i>, and previously in <i>aaduna</i>. New work is forthcoming.</span></p><p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022.html" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1501" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_jDK2Juj4xGRX-tuDgbIJpc-vZHuSAbK_ZM8T2lHD9LcXncZ5EBoRuPN_fO6YfZmFr5gui8Luzc6fOKbCm21SChU3oZBKNMomzwF03lmmCub5xXKbj7dmH1AkMvdhqPokgVGXZBSNaHRgkQ7DMxPMI4JmKVv_oChSrImlzTJKRNG052VmDNwqbzwUg/s320/winter%202022%20Fiction%20Roster%20Part%20I.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022.html" target="_blank">CLICK</a> to Return to Fiction/NonFiction Authors</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022.html">https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022.html<br /></a></span></p><div><br style="text-align: center;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><><><></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="76" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s200/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.33px;"><span style="color: #001000;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 18.06px;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div><p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #201f1e;"> in <i>Emerald City</i>, and <i>Zone 3</i>.</span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></p>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-81565868847863444792022-03-25T09:29:00.001-04:002022-03-26T10:46:31.845-04:00aaduna in exile - Winter 2021-2022 - Stephen L. Ball <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIW-_3yIi2P3W4A1INxsh0skapcNDTpkTDcMGKShyAE3XbhTVUdpijVNpBcZ226p72XNvK59NX6Eb6t4WGjQvLUjRdLjrXGR14saqcyyu-A9_ZTZqX-n8XWJyM7WsSCl7BddNUMITwSe-1XOLG42lsNujtYjcsH5o-z22osfCc2f0J3mOLKx68mlCeNQ/s372/stephen%20ball%20bio%20photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="256" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIW-_3yIi2P3W4A1INxsh0skapcNDTpkTDcMGKShyAE3XbhTVUdpijVNpBcZ226p72XNvK59NX6Eb6t4WGjQvLUjRdLjrXGR14saqcyyu-A9_ZTZqX-n8XWJyM7WsSCl7BddNUMITwSe-1XOLG42lsNujtYjcsH5o-z22osfCc2f0J3mOLKx68mlCeNQ/w275-h400/stephen%20ball%20bio%20photo.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: verdana;"><b>Stephen L. Ball (photo provided)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">Epilogue: The Joy of Mentoring - From Thousands of Miles Away"</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">(creative non-fiction)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">One chilly morning, I clicked</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> <i>send</i> on an email that signaled the start of one era and the end of another. My hand trembled with unease. In a flash, I switched careers and coasts, trading my job as an attorney at a big law firm in New York City for an entirely different role at an insurance company in Walnut Creek, California, about 30 minutes outside of San Francisco. New role, new industry, and a vastly new location. All at once. Given the sea change geographically and professionally, the move brought both excitement and angst. Excitement because I was embarking on an adventure, moving somewhere unfamiliar to pursue a fresh career path. Angst because of all that I was giving up. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">At the time, the West Coast was largely foreign to me. I’d visited San Francisco and Los Angeles, but I had only ever <i>lived</i> in the Midwest and Northeast. Now I sought a new experience. A departure from the immutable, teleological, career-focused track I’d followed since middle school. The enticing exoticism of California emerged on my radar, beckoning seductively. And I responded with the eagerness of a young newlywed on their wedding night. No longer could I suppress the dogged wanderlust within me. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Especially given my stationary existence in the preceding five years. Life as an associate at a big law firm is not for the faint of heart. Nor for those who prize autonomy in how they spend their time. While I’d braved the rigors of law firm employment with generally strong results, I was profoundly ready for a career change. Somewhere within the cauldron of late nights, billable hours, and expected deportment, cornerstone pieces of me were lost. I wanted them back, posthaste. No matter the cost. The generous bounty of elite legal practice, while attractive, failed to inspire continued desire to endure the increasingly steep, sacrifice-laden climb up the hierarchy. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Instead, fulfillment took primacy. Putting aside my disillusionment with the associate grind, I also wanted more personal satisfaction from my work. And that meant doing something other than representing moneyed clients in disputes over more money. In fact, I yearned for a departure from dispute-related advocacy altogether. Collaboration, not conflict. This made government relations, my new field, especially appealing. But since litigation was all I’d ever known professionally, no employers in the New York Metro Area had been willing to take a chance on me. I’d applied for various positions over the years, never garnering interest. Then, on somewhat of a lark, I shifted my strategy and applied to roles in California, ultimately finding welcoming arms from the insurance company in Walnut Creek. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">So, armed with a mix of inexperience and optimism, I ventured west like a 21<sup>st</sup> century settler – energized by the prospect of all that I could gain. I relished the career fulfillment, work-life balance, and personal (re)growth I thought the move would bring. Not to mention the better weather. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">But, I also couldn’t ignore the downsides (and hence, the aforementioned angst). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">First, leaving New York meant leaving <i>New York</i>—an incomparable city, with an endless list of things to offer. I’d dreamed of living and working there ever since childhood. As such, even as I groused about the trials of my law firm life, I always cherished the enviable surroundings in which it occurred. Toiling in the idyllic quiet of Walnut Creek would be very different from working in the cacophonic symphony of Manhattan. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Second, leaving New York meant saying goodbye to treasured friends and familiar comforts. My mom, a lifelong Michigander, cried when I told her the news of my move. With New York already a great distance from Michigan, I suspect she considered California to be impossibly far, and that she’d hardly ever see me again. A vast, impassable abyss separated the two locations, in her mind. Not a four-hour flight. Naturally, of course, her tears made me sad. Who ever wants to make their sweet mother cry? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Add to that, the fact that New York-based friends with whom I’d shared lasting memories—including some of the best nights of my adult youth—would no longer be in close proximity. Nor would the Hudson Valley. Nor, for that matter, would some of the country’s best pizza, 24/7 diners, and even 24/7 car washes(!). Nor the one-of-a-kind New York cultural milieu. These were undeniable drawbacks of the move, not easily glossed over despite my overall excitement.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">And yet, I also realized that they could be readily overcome. In today’s digital world, I could keep in touch with my parents and friends across a vast distance. I’d done it before while in law school, and in the time since. Surely, I could do it again. And similarly, while I’d miss the Hudson Valley, New York’s pizza, 24/7 conveniences, and unique culture, I could manage without them, too. I’d already lived without them for over two decades. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">So why the angst? Well, alongside the obvious disadvantages, I grappled with a deeper sacrifice and concomitant guilt. The kind of guilt that could only come from relinquishing something that couldn’t be readily regained. The guilt of leaving behind Michael, a high school junior whom I had recently begun mentoring.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I met Michael through Mount Vernon Star Scholars (“MVSS”), a nonprofit organization created to benefit promising high school students in Mount Vernon, New York. Mount Vernon, a city of four square miles, sits just outside New York City. It boasts beautiful homes, ethnic diversity, and an enviably commutable locale. But, like many other inner ring suburbs, Mount Vernon is also fraught with certain socioeconomic challenges—challenges which can be most apparent among its schoolchildren. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">MVSS meets these challenges head-on by providing crucial resources for Mount Vernon’s high-achieving students. The organization pairs promising high school juniors with adult mentors who must have an undergraduate degree, professional success, ties to the Mount Vernon community, and an understanding of college admissions. Mentors are expected to meet with mentees regularly, take them to visit colleges, and above all, help them navigate the college application process. Michael and I met in the late summer, shortly after I signed up to be a mentor. Then, just when we had begun to develop a rapport, I moved to California for the government relations job the following January. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Mount Vernon and Walnut Creek are nearly 3,000 miles apart, separated by three time zones. Even so, Michael and I maintained our relationship. We spoke regularly via FaceTime video calls and sent frequent text messages. Also, when spring came, I traveled back to the Northeast to visit several colleges with Michael and his parent. This non-traditional approach, combined with Michael’s flexibility, allowed me to experience the joy of mentoring, even from thousands of miles away. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> These days, Michael is a recent college graduate. He finished his bachelor’s degree in May 2021. Ready to change the world as a newly minted sociology scholar. I couldn’t attend his graduation ceremony, though I’m sure he must’ve beamed with pride. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As a stroke of good fortune, Michael narrowly avoided the pandemic-driven “virtual commencement” trend of 2020. Lucky him! But, as with countless other students, the COVID-19 pandemic still upended the richness of his experience. He spent much of his last two years receiving remote classroom instruction. Traditional campus activities were suspended. Classmates couldn’t gather to study or just hang out. Many suffered mentally from the isolation and other afflictions of the pandemic. Panic and uncertainty struck the world beyond. Through it all, though, Michael persevered and ultimately thrived. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">His four years of college, in fact, proved transformational. Once bashful and softspoken, Michael became much more confident and outgoing. He attributed the evolution to a college course that required involuntary public speaking. Also, although the pandemic disrupted his final two years, Michael still made the most of his collegiate journey. Bearded and brawny, he studied hard, gained new friendships, achieved immense personal growth, and had fun. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">By itself, that would already be a satisfying college experience. But Michael went even further. In the spirit of MVSS, he also found ways to give back. During the academic year, not only did he work part-time for Mount Vernon city government, but he served as a mentor to other students, helping to ease their transition to college life. An impressive show of selflessness for a young man who was, himself, settling in and finding his way.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Given his collegiate success, for Michael, senior year of <i>high school</i> might as well be ancient history. A buried relic of his adolescence. Tucked far away. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">For me, on the other hand, not so much. The path that led to Michael’s storybook collegiate experience was, itself, a mini storybook. And so, although Michael has moved on, I find it worthwhile to recall not only the many lessons from his senior year of high school, but also the gripping sequence of events that transpired. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">For one thing, I became a New Yorker again. After thirteen months in California, I returned to New York through an intra-company transfer. And not just anywhere in New York, but back to Mount Vernon—less than a mile away from my previous home. A cry of joy echoed from a sweet woman in Michigan as I shared the news. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It was quite a turn of events for an erstwhile nomad like me, who, beginning in the latter half of his 20s, couldn’t seem to stay in one place for more than two years. Since moving to New York in the early 2010s, I’d lived in Queens, Manhattan, and Mount Vernon; then California (again, for a year) in the latter part of the decade. With the return to Mount Vernon, however, I presumed my game of zip code hopscotch would at last end. “For once,” I thought, “I can finally establish roots somewhere as an adult.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">But why Mount Vernon? Well, unlike anywhere else I’d lived since adulthood, Mount Vernon actually felt like home. I belonged. Living there, I felt that I wasn’t just a transient observer passing through like countless others, but instead, a <i>resident</i>, with a real stake in the city’s future. It was <i>my</i> city in a way that New York City—as much as I’ve always loved it—never quite was. Sure, as someone working in New York City and living nearby, I had an interest in New York City’s affairs and I wanted New York City to continue to thrive. But practically speaking, New York City had countless caretakers looking out for its interests. An infinite, global constellation of onlookers invested in its wellbeing. Mount Vernon had far fewer. As such, my presence mattered far more.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Plus, Mount Vernon stood apart even among suburban communities surrounding New York City, particularly in Westchester County. Whereas other cities boasted cookie cutter commercialization and manicured glitz, Mount Vernon offered unique character and grit. In Mount Vernon, tree-lined streets and beautiful neighborhoods sit minutes away from railroad tracks, warehouses, and factories. There’s an uncommon juxtaposition of upper middle-class suburbia with the enduring hardscrabble, socio-economic realities of the American story. A testament to the contradictions that continue to befuddle policymakers and activists alike. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As a native Detroiter, I welcomed this dichotomy. Part of me loved the comfort and aspirational element of living near the tony Tudors and comely colonials nestled handsomely along the streetscape. It showed what I could attain through continued hard work and career success. But I also liked being in a city where relics of America’s industrial past still linger, and where reminders of the fragility and elusiveness of economic success persist. For me, the factories and warehouses served as an homage not only to a national industrial heritage often ignored, but, more pointedly, to my family’s and former neighbors’ proud contribution to that heritage. And the palpable socio-economic disparities, in plain view in some areas, hearkened to my youthful experiences amid Metro Detroit’s comparable incongruities. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Looking back now, I can better understand why some in my circle—particularly in the Northeast—might’ve considered it strange to embrace such divergent qualities. They didn’t grow up in an environment that celebrated blue collar industry. Also, today’s mainstream culture so often encourages us to seek the “security” and “convenience” of a cocoon of encircling affluence. And nowhere is that message delivered more intensely than in New York City and its surrounding environs. Yet, as I pondered my relocation from the West Coast, it all made sense to me. Mount Vernon wasn’t perfect—indeed, far from it. But, like an old friend, its imperfections, in some sense, made it more endearing. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">And more inspiring. I came back to Mount Vernon to be a part of something bigger. To fulfill my commitment to Michael and MVSS. And to elevate my civic engagement, recognizing that cities benefit when concerned residents invest more of themselves, not less. The move to California had been so abrupt. Two years of deep community entrenchment cast aside in a heartbeat. After slaking my wanderlust, I suddenly longed for the familiar. Remaining in Mount Vernon—warts and all—positioned me to derive fulfillment and purpose from something other than my career or personal relationships. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Springtime in New York<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It was early March when I moved back, and by then, Michael was already well on his way to college. At that point, he had been admitted to three schools via “early action” applications. These are applications students submit early in the fall, which allows for colleges to provide decisions sooner. Animated by eagerness, Michael had submitted his early action applications mostly without my help. Did it make me nervous? Sure. But I couldn’t complain too much since they were for the least selective schools on his list. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As the news arrived, I shouted with excitement when I learned of Michael’s first few acceptances. A son of immigrant parents, he was the first in his family to gain admission to a U.S. college. The embodiment of his parents’ American dream. Recognizing that, Michael and I celebrated his acceptances over the phone while I was still in California. Even from afar, I wanted to ensure he understood the significance of his achievement. The lower selectivity of the schools didn’t make Michael’s accomplishment any less praiseworthy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Then, a few days after my return, Michael added several more acceptances to his tally. <i>Woo-hoo</i>! For those, I wanted to celebrate in person. No longer separated by thousands of miles, it was the least I could do. Especially given our mutual investment. I’d worked closely with him on all of his non-early action applications, so there was shared equity in the suspense about the outcomes. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sitting across from me at our local diner for our check-in meeting, Michael grinned with pride as he showed me his newest admission letters. I couldn’t help but feel proud as well. All along, I’d told him that his hard work would pay off with acceptances to multiple selective schools. Those letters proved that I wasn’t just blowing smoke. College was indeed happening—and soon. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This didn’t mean that our work was done, however. In fact, quite the contrary. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The critical part, I explained to Michael, would be next—choosing one school out of several good options. His first major adult decision. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sometimes students have a favorite college from the beginning. But that wasn’t the case for Michael. He liked several different universities fairly evenly, so his choice would require weighing multiple factors, winnowing down a list, and then deciding on a destination. Think: LeBron James’s 2010 “Decision” or even the TV show <i>The Bachelor</i>, on a much smaller scale, but no less important. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As Michael’s mentor, I absolutely wanted to help guide his decision-making by imparting wisdom from my own knowledge and experience. Yet, I also wanted the decision to be his, and not unduly influenced by what he thought I—or others—would want. So as Michael’s acceptances rolled in, I repeatedly stressed to him that while I’d do my best to advise him, <i>he</i> should be the decider in picking his college—not me or others. “Your family and I can give you our opinions,” I told him, “but ultimately the choice should be yours. It’s your life, and you’re the one who will attend the school—not any of us.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Alas. If only things would have been that simple. For Michael, weighing all of the input from “us” nearly led to a breakdown. Why? Because unlike most other MVSS students, Michael had actually received substantial college guidance from both of his parents. They hadn’t gone to college in the US, but they were knowledgeable about the experience and had developed informed views about how best to pursue it. For many high schoolers, this would be a great thing, however Michael faced a unique problem—the guidance diverged. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">One parent strongly encouraged Michael to pick a college away from home in order to develop more independence, while another urged—with equal conviction—that Michael remain as close to home as possible. This set the stage for constant tug of war on Michael’s conscience. And, as with any tug of war, one side was stronger. In Michael’s case, it was the appeal of being closer to home. He felt guilty even considering schools more than fifteen minutes from Mount Vernon. To venture beyond that, I sensed, meant betraying those closest to him and dislodging himself from certain inviolable cultural moorings. Practically speaking, it also meant he’d close himself off to educational opportunities at several excellent schools. Recognizing how limiting and detrimental that could be, I tried to push back and emphasize the benefits of going to school farther away. But to no avail. Michael preferred to spend his college years in Mount Vernon’s backyard. Period. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As a result, Fordham University, a mere fifteen minutes from Michael’s home, became both the frontrunner college choice and the first school that Michael visited through an admitted students program. On a blustery March morning, I joined him for the visit, along with one of his parents. Strolling around campus, all three of us freely acknowledged that Fordham was a terrific option. But it came with one glaring and unavoidable downside—cost. Michael’s family did not have the luxury of considering the various college options irrespective of their expense. Few families do, after all. And even with Michael planning to commute to campus from his parents’ home, Fordham’s cost far exceeded that of the other schools to which Michael had been admitted. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The reality of this proved hugely disappointing to Michael. During the admitted students program, he and his parent met with a Fordham financial aid advisor. Michael’s parent asked the advisor what could be done to make Fordham more affordable. Much to everyone’s dismay, though, few options existed. Because they were solidly middle class—neither wealthy enough to easily afford Fordham’s hefty price tag nor impecunious enough to qualify for large grants—attending Fordham would mean sizable student loans for Michael and/or his parents. Hearing this, Michael’s parent vocally objected to anyone in the family being saddled with significant debts. And understandably so. Many other parents, no doubt, have voiced the same objection when facing a similar dilemma. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">But, for all of its wisdom, the objection to incurring burdensome debt offered little solace for the psyche of a 17-year-old. Michael grew crestfallen and silent. His optimism toward attending Fordham dimmed sharply as the meeting progressed. Few things hurt more than having a big dream that’s on the precipice of realization suddenly disintegrate back into the realm of imagination. Or even worse—impossibility. Afterward I offered him words of encouragement, remembering myself in a similar situation years ago. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As a high school junior, I visited the University of Pennsylvania (“Penn”) with my parents. At the time, I loved everything about the school. The beautiful campus. The culture. Heck, even the unusual mascot (the Quakers). So I became similarly despondent when I learned what its financial impact would likely be for a middle-class family like ours. Two words: large loans. My dad, like Michael’s parent, balked at the cost. In the end, daunted by Penn’s price tag, and how it would affect me or my parents, I never even applied. Instead, I went to the University of Michigan as an in-state student with a full-tuition academic scholarship, and then on to Harvard Law School. There’s probably a bigger commentary to be made about the message of upward mobility through education, and how many middle-class dreams are dashed upon the reality of sticker shock from the cost of higher education. Or, those whose dreams aren’t dashed, but plunged into the depths of burdensome student loans, resulting in a panoply of downstream consequences. But that isn’t the focus here. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Remembering my good fortune, I reassured Michael that everything would be ok. Plenty of students from middle-class backgrounds obtain a college education through affordable means, maximize the experience, and go on to live happily ever after. His situation would be no different, I assured. As part of making his first big adult decision, he had to face one of the harsh truths of adult life—that everything comes at a cost. It’s rarely fun to confront that reality, but doing so is important, nonetheless. Right? <i>Right</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Still, deep down, part of me continued to wonder if everything actually would be ok. Given the unexpected geographic limitation placed on his college options, the intensity of Michael’s familial pressure still loomed as a major concern. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Enter, the Nutmeg State. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With Fordham in the rearview, Michael turned his attention to the University of Connecticut (“UConn”), where he’d also been admitted. UConn offered its own accepted students program, which Michael, his parent, and I attended together. From the start, the contrasts with Fordham were apparent. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">For one thing, Storrs, Connecticut is slightly over two hours from Mount Vernon, so commuting would not be an option at UConn. Michael would have to live on campus. <i>Independence development? Check.</i> Then there was the campus itself. UConn’s rolling hills and expansive, verdant environs were a far cry from the more compact, urban surroundings of Fordham’s campus in the Bronx. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">These different environments served to frame the different experiences each school promised its students. Fordham touted the appeal of being a college student in massive New York City, with its infinite enticements for students and non-students alike. UConn, on the other hand, emphasized the allure of being a college student in a quaint college town. In Storrs, scholastic pursuits would almost assuredly be Michael’s raison d’être, not a potential afterthought. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Additionally, the schools diverged greatly with regard to Michael’s second most important concern—cost. In a surprising turn, UConn, a public university, offered Michael, an out-of-state-student, a generous scholarship. So generous, in fact, that UConn, to that point, was far and away the most affordable of the several competitive schools to which Michael was admitted. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Michael, for his part, appeared to reciprocate the interest. Driving home that evening, it was as if his gloom had given way to glee. He spoke glowingly about UConn’s academics, campus, student life, and how much he enjoyed his visit. Also, UConn’s distance from home seemed to be a non-issue, which I considered a stunning breakthrough. The stubborn clouds of guilt that previously dampened his enthusiasm toward any school besides Fordham, had <i>finally</i> cleared. Michael not only understood that it would be ok to venture beyond Mount Vernon’s backyard for his education, but he actually <i>wanted</i> to. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Because I’d pushed Michael to open his mind to schools farther from home, I was delighted. It was a miracle! UConn, through its combination of academics, campus life, generous financial aid, and unlimited meals in campus dining halls(!), had sprung into first place in Michael’s book. A UConn Husky, he would soon be.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Or not.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The next two weeks were uneventful, besides a swell of rejections from Ivy League colleges. In a tough blow to Michael, they all seemed to come on the same day. I gave Michael some uplifting plaudits, but he didn’t need them. With a dash of Mount Vernon-bred grit, he took the rejection in stride, focusing instead on the doors opened to him, not the ones that had closed. By that time, in my estimation, his—and his family’s—decision was made. With no other school—besides Syracuse, which was too far—offering a comparable financial aid award, UConn was still the clear winner. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Then one afternoon I received a startling call from one of Michael’s parents. I learned that Michael had spoken with a counselor at school and became very distraught about his college decision. He was on the verge of a meltdown, although that wasn’t even the worst part. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Michael’s parent also explained that despite Michael’s enthusiasm for UConn, certain family members felt that it was too far away. <i>Gulp</i>.<i> </i>But not only that. Because Fordham was not affordable, the other family members—and to my shock, Michael himself!—settled on an inexpensive, but <i>far</i> less selective, local school. So no UConn. No Fordham. And no school befitting the caliber of student that Michael was. Instead, a school of much lesser caliber—one which no previous MVSS mentees had ever seriously considered. <i>Not one</i>. After nearly eighteen months of pushing Michael to believe in himself, dream big, and embrace a world beyond Mount Vernon, the news was a kick in the gut. The family’s opposition to UConn seemed entirely wrong. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Now, in fairness, I may have been a little hard on the local school, looking back. For many students, going there is an excellent opportunity. But it wasn’t the right fit for Michael. He didn’t require a program like MVSS to get in there. Just his parents’ credit card and the wherewithal to complete the application. As a strong performer academically, Michael needed to be challenged. Attending that school would be too growth-limiting, given its lack of rigor. And with the blessing of one of his parents, I would try my hardest to stop it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Later that week, Michael and I met at our local diner. Eating greasy food seemed like a good way to achieve a breakthrough. Or just bridge a divide. Sensing that this would be a tough conversation, I tried to disarm Michael with lighthearted small talk. <i>How ’bout those Knicks</i>? But contrary to my expectations, he didn’t take the bait. Or the greasy food. Instead, like a boss delivering a pink slip, Michael avoided eye contact and dove right in. He had suddenly had an “epiphany” that the local school was the best school for him. It offered him a substantial scholarship, essentially in the same ballpark as UConn’s. (Which, again, was nothing to sneeze at.) And that generous aid, combined with the money he’d save by commuting from his parents’ home, rendered the local school the best choice overall. In terms of finances, it would burden him the least.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">“Fair enough,” I acknowledged, trying to remain easygoing. These were valid points, and I couldn’t deny that he’d put forth a cogent, defensible rationale. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Internally, however, I bristled at the idea of not weighing other considerations besides cost. In life, the cheapest option often comes with severe drawbacks. I’d learned that the hard way over the years. Including by amassing a small graveyard of failed, off-brand electronic devices. But I wanted Michael to feel heard, and to make his strongest case for the local school before I pushed back. Objecting from the outset would only steel his resolve. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">So, after listening to Michael’s perspective a bit more, I calmly asked about the one area where I knew that UConn was head and shoulders above the local school—academics. In that regard, they didn’t compare. And like a wise sensei, I marveled silently at my turn of conversational jujitsu, patting myself on the back. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This was it. There was <i>no way</i> he’d have a good answer. Zero chance. “Here comes the breakthrough,” I snickered to myself. Assuming I’d fired the silver bullet, I smiled smugly as I waited for Michael’s reply. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">To my surprise, though, he was nonplussed. He admitted that the local school’s academics were not on par with UConn, but reasoned that the school offered certain specialized programs that would help nurture his talents. <i>Boom</i>! I wasn’t expecting such a clever response. And for once, I, the supposed font of wisdom, was momentarily speechless. <i>Take that, Mr. Harvard Law-educated Mentor.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sitting across from Michael, I tried to peer into his eyes to detect any glint of hesitation. I knew that he was merely parroting what certain family members pressed him to say, poker face and clever response notwithstanding. Yet as much as I searched patiently for any indication of ambivalence, I could find none. “Who is this kid?” I thought to myself. “What happened to Michael the overachiever? Michael the big dreamer?” After a year and a half of mentoring him, the most crucial part of the process—his college choice—was turning into a nightmare.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I’d been patient in hearing him out. Now it was my turn to attack and convince. I took a deep breath and proceeded to draw upon every persuasive and rhetorical technique I’d gleaned from law school, my years as a litigator, and my role as a corporate lobbyist. I threw the proverbial kitchen sink of considerations at him. The better college experience at UConn. A more fun campus. Greater freedom and independence. The bigger breadth of learning opportunities. More robust preparation for graduate school. The stronger alumni network. But none of it mattered. Michael’s mind, unfortunately, was made up. A UConn Husky or Fordham Ram, he would not be. And, in my most crucial mentoring moment, I had failed him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The Final Twist</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">A week or so went by. On a warm April evening, with the sun fading, I strolled to the front of the two-family house where I lived, eager to get inside after a long day. My landlord, a petite woman with an ever-friendly demeanor, stood nearby in the front yard, tending to her garden. “Have you heard from Michael?” She called out as I walked by. I paused. “No. What happened?” I said. She lifted her gaze from the garden and smiled. “Oh. Well, he should have received his updated award letter today. We were able to get him a lot more money. Hopefully it helps,” she added. “Really? That’s great,” I replied, silently trying to decipher what “a lot” meant in real dollars and cents. “Yeah, he can go to Fordham for practically nothing,” she explained. A flash of adrenaline shot through me as I thanked her profusely and opened the door to head inside. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Before I could reach my living room couch, my cell phone rang with an excited call from Michael’s parent. Just as my landlord mentioned, Fordham had come through—and in a huge way. They offered Michael an updated financial aid package that dwarfed their original offer <i>and</i> UConn’s. Fordham, the original frontrunner, was now reasonably affordable for Michael and his family. <i>Yes! <o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">With the news of the financial aid award, the family division dissolved immediately. Neither parent could object to Michael attending a school of Fordham’s caliber for a readily affordable cost. Mercifully, the tug of war ended with a win for both sides. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As soon as I finished chatting with his parent, my phone buzzed with a text message from Michael. He, too, was ecstatic. The distress from a couple of weeks ago was long gone, replaced with pure joy. Smiling at the thought of multiple champagne corks popping in Michael’s house, a sense of relief swept over me, too. “Phew! Disaster averted,” I thought to myself. A Fordham Ram, Michael would soon be.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">So how did it happen? On its face, a combination of simple luck, my landlord’s generosity, and civic selflessness—one Mount Vernonite looking out for another. On a deeper level, some might say it was fate. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Unknown to me initially, my landlord happened to be a Fordham employee. Around the time that I moved in, I casually mentioned to her that I was mentoring a local student in the MVSS program who really liked Fordham. I also explained that his family could not afford Fordham, even with the financial aid offer they received. From there, purely out of the goodness of her heart, my landlord took over. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">She arranged the on-campus meeting with Michael, Michael’s parent, and a financial aid advisor, who asked for additional information regarding the family’s financial need. This was the same meeting from which Michael emerged disappointed after hearing about the reality of Fordham’s cost. Following that meeting, nothing—not even a nominal increase in aid—was promised to Michael or his family. Submitting additional information only meant getting a “second look at the family’s situation,” not special treatment. So Fordham reviewed Michael’s family’s financial information just as exhaustively as they would have that of any other family who requested a second look. But my landlord made all the difference. By advocating for Michael, she was able to eke out a much larger financial aid award. And, in doing so, she helped open the door to a brighter future for him. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">So where does fate come in? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">For starters, this outcome probably never would have occurred had I moved back to Mount Vernon at any different time or to any different home. For example, if I’d moved even a month later, it’s doubtful that I would have ever met my current landlord, let alone had the casual conversation with her about Michael. Maybe he would have found another path to Fordham, but it likely would have been littered with loans. Also, consider that that Michael is the same young man who, as a toddler, cried inconsolably on the morning of 9/11 and made his dad miss a meeting on one of the upper floors of the World Trade Center—a meeting whose attendees all perished. With that in mind, it’s not too farfetched to think that some measure of cosmic intervention was at play. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">After the joyous April night, a month passed seemingly in the blink of an eye. June arrived, and on one overcast evening I attended Michael’s graduation ceremony. Although they received only four tickets, Michael’s family was kind enough to invite me. Sitting amid the packed audience, familial pride filled the cavernous auditorium. Then, as Michael strode across the stage to collect his diploma, I felt goosebumps form when the school administrator called his name. There he was, my mentee, finished with high school. With a few steps across the auditorium stage, he’d moved on to the next stage of life. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Things hadn’t been perfect, to be sure. Even after the tumultuous college selection saga, I mounted a last-minute effort to persuade Michael to live on campus at Fordham instead of commuting from his parents’ home. It didn’t work, and I would point to that failure as my biggest shortcoming as Michael’s mentor, besides not establishing agreement early on about the importance of attending college somewhere beyond a 15-minute radius from home. By living with his parents, he had a different college experience than I would’ve advised. But again, as a mentor, one can only do just that—advise. The mentee and their parents are the ultimate deciders. Accepting their choices can sometimes be tough, but it’s a necessary part of the mentoring endeavor. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Also, although it’s largely come to be a baseline expectation for the college experience at most selective schools, living on campus is still a privilege. One that comes at significant financial cost. I’d been privileged enough to enjoy four years on campus, but that’s not a realistic option for everyone. I was aware of this in a theoretical sense, but Michael’s experience revealed my own bias by reminding me that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to on-campus or off-campus residency. While I’d still argue that those who desire to live on campus ought to have that experience, I can now better appreciate that living with parents off campus is better for some students—for a host of reasons. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As for Michael, time will tell how Michael’s housing decision impacted his personal development and experience at Fordham, but I would venture that everything turned out fine. Especially considering that the COVID-19 pandemic probably would’ve forced him to live with his parents off campus for his last two years of college anyway. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">So, in hindsight, I can only respect his thought process. He concluded that—for a number of reasons—commuting from his parents’ home was best for him. I may have disagreed, but that’s precisely the type of confident, independent, critical thinking that I’d hoped to foster as Michael’s mentor—the thinking of a burgeoning adult. Growing up as the youngest of three children, a small part of me always imagined what it would’ve been like to have a younger brother to advise and encourage. I’d like to think that I have that in Michael now. And even as he grows older and more independent minded, I hope that he does, too. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The New Class<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Toward the middle of the summer after his senior year of high school, Michael went to Florida to visit relatives. A graduation gift from his parents, the trip gave him the chance to bond with family and enjoy a rejuvenating respite from academics. He needed it. The full brunt of Fordham’s Jesuit rigor awaited in the fall, after all. In the end, however, Michael was more than ready. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">And so were Michael’s classmates from MVSS. As Michael settled into Fordham’s Rose Hill campus, they headed off to Carnegie Mellon, Lehigh University, and Ithaca College – all with generous scholarships. As a testament to their scholastic achievements, though, they were actually accepted to many more colleges, including UC-Berkeley, Barnard, and UCLA. Like the MVSS students before them, they set the bar high for the students who followed. And their legacy of achievement continues to inspire subsequent MVSS students to not only dream big, but also believe that those big dreams can come true. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Finally, some may wonder what else awaited me in the years since my return to Mount Vernon. Well, given how rewarding it was to mentor Michael, I decided to step up my involvement in MVSS. Following my move back, I joined the board of directors, and I volunteered to mentor another MVSS student, a bright young man named Andre. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Like Michael’s journey, the saga with Andre was similarly feelgood in outcome. The son of Jamaican immigrants, Andre possessed a razor-sharp mind, exceptional academic ability, and an indefatigable work ethic. He combined these qualities with the resources made available to him and achieved outstanding results. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As one example, at the time that he joined MVSS, Andre had already exhibited strong standardized test performance. But that wasn’t enough. He used the SAT tutoring that MVSS provides to propel himself to another level, ultimately earning a score in a rarefied percentile. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">This elite standardized test performance put him on the radar of numerous elite colleges. Then, under my tutelage, he embarked upon an educational gauntlet which rendered him a virtually irresistible college applicant. During the summer between his junior and senior year of high school, he participated in four pre-college enrichment programs, all in STEM-related fields. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">The subjects included engineering, medicine, and coding. An academic murderer’s row for many people. But not for Andre. He excelled in each of them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Did he have a favorite? I’m not sure. Somehow the programs seemed to be uniformly enjoyable despite their disparate subject matter. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Still, one thing was undeniably clear. The medical program proved most meaningful. By far. It made sense, given Andre’s dream of becoming a doctor. He felt like it gave him a glimpse of his future. But there was also a funny dissonance to it all. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Brimming with confidence, Andre normally exuded the disaffected coolness of a consummate teenager. Rarely did he show strong emotion. Therefore, I couldn’t help but chuckle at his unbridled giddiness in recounting the medical procedures he performed on dummies. Or the conversations with physicians about their career journeys. The inspiration was palpable. Coolness be damned.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Yet Andre also felt equally at home in studying coding. He took to it like a fish in water. So much so that the coding program’s owner invited Andre back to continue his learning while also teaching other students how to code. This, too, only after Andre’s inaugural foray into the subject. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Receiving the news, I was thrilled. This would be an obvious double-whammy on the college application front. But the story gets even better. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">In a show of altruism, the coding camp’s owner also extended an invitation to Andre’s younger brother to join in the learning. Free of charge. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">A welcome surprise, and a towering gesture, considering the circumstances. Although run by a nonprofit, the coding program was costly. It primarily attracted students from Westchester County’s wealthier communities. Not many who looked like Andre or his brother. Nor were from Mount Vernon or areas nearby. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Funding wasn’t an issue for Andre because MVSS covered his participation. But Andre’s brother was not part of MVSS and his family didn’t have the means to pay. Which is where the camp’s owner stepped in. Recognizing the larger challenge of educational equity, he used his platform to make an enormous impact on Andre’s family. By waiving the fee, he waved Andre’s brother toward valuable knowledge. Completely of his own volition. And I have no doubt that it’ll pay off down the line.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> So, too, of course, will the wealth of new experiences to which Andre gained exposure that summer. Including commercial air travel and navigating the Midwest. One engineering program took place in Ohio, which enabled Andre to not only fly on an airplane for the first time, but also to explore a different part of the country and meet students from other areas. An experience unfamiliar to Andre, as well as many of his peers. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Sitting near the runway at LaGuardia Airport, Andre texted me with excitement as his hour-long flight awaited takeoff. Departing LaGuardia, after all, is always grounds for good cheer. (Just ask President Biden.) But, it’s even better when your first-ever flight is to somewhere that broadens your horizons. I thought back to my early days of flying, visiting my sister in Chicago. Although only a 45-minute flight from Detroit, the city seemed worlds away in comparative grandeur. And with knowing smile, I responded with equal enthusiasm to Andre’s text. Up, up, and away!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">In addition to cheering on his aeronautical adventures, I also applauded Andre’s enthusiasm for learning. As with Michael, he would be the first in his family to attend college in the U.S., and I knew the trip to Ohio was just a small step in a long academic journey toward medical school. To support Andre in his journey, I bought him a set of luggage to use, remembering what a useful gift that had been to me from my parents as I left for college. So useful, in fact, that I still travel with it today. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">A Smooth Landing<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">By the end of his summer gauntlet, awash in enrichment—and perhaps of skosh of mild sleep deprivation by teenage standards—Andre emerged ablaze with eagerness to complete his college applications. And apply we did. In total, Andre applied to roughly fifteen colleges. A lot, for sure. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Because of his family’s financial background, he qualified for application fee waivers. This enabled him to target a broader array of schools than I would ordinarily have advised. But it paid off. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Andre gained admission to a cornucopia of outstanding colleges, typically with full scholarships. Only the two of the most persnickety colleges—Brown University and Dartmouth—rejected him outright. Yet he’d been accepted to so many others that it hardly mattered. Denying him was their loss. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As the options solidified and he narrowed his choices, an undeniable leader emerged—Washington University in St. Louis, home of the Bears. A terrific school. In an affordable city. With a great pre-med program. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Once admitted, Andre visited and loved it. They also gave him enormous financial aid. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">For many reasons, it would’ve been a perfect fit. And had it not been for one other school on his list, he almost certainly would’ve gone there. But that one other school—Columbia University—happened to be Ivy League and the flagship institution in his extended hometown, if not the entire State of New York. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Columbia directed Andre through a circuitous process that featured additional interviews, a wait list, and the opportunity to submit an update essay. I ushered him through these procedures, coaching him relentlessly and providing other resources needed to stand out among elite competition. We met at a nearby Starbucks to prepare for interviews, practicing for hours. I also bought him a suit to wear to his interviews, along with a leather portfolio. Knowing firsthand how much appearances matter—particularly for young black men in environments of exclusivity—I wanted him to not only speak with polish, but to exude it in his sartorial choices and overall presentation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Fortunately, it all worked. Andre was admitted to Columbia’s School of Engineering with complete financial aid, and a swell of motherly elation that reached the heavens. Her baby would attend one of the most prestigious universities in the world, close to home, and with no debt in doing so. A dream scenario, unequivocally. Speaking on the phone after learning of Andre’s admission, she thanked me profusely. I smiled, recalling the celebratory phone call with Michael’s parents on a similarly warm, spring evening just a couple of years prior. The joy of mentoring, manifested yet again. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Final Reflections</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> I wish I could say that smiles and joy have infused the entirety of my mentoring experience. But that would be inaccurate and a disservice to the illuminating nuance of the endeavor. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">How so? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Well, on a surface level, I would point to examples of Michael’s family being at loggerheads as his college choice hung in the balance, or the times that Andre’s teenage flippancy reared its head. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> On a deeper level, I would highlight the many larger societal issues laid bare by mentoring—especially in an environment like Mount Vernon’s—and my inability to solve them. Among these issues, for instance, are things like racial economic disparities, educational inequity, rigid cultural norms, paternal absenteeism, the high cost of higher education, and even unforgiving immigration policy. The last example stemmed most directly from Stewart (using a pseudonym), a bright mentee whom I met immediately after Andre. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Although Stewart would’ve had a similarly bountiful academic future, he withdrew from the MVSS program due to his immigration status. Stewart had been brought to the US at a young age by older family members, and despite having superb standardized test scores and stellar grades, he recoiled from higher education because he worried about being deported. And while I was disappointed, I couldn’t blame him. Given the Trump Administration’s messaging about immigration, I might’ve made the same choice, had I been in his shoes. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> And yet, mentoring, for me, has been more than performing acts of benevolence amid surface-level hardship, or examining the manifold forces and challenges that circumscribe our lives. Instead, it’s been, in a sense, welding together new offshoots of my familial branch—all through the crucible of a painstaking, but ultimately rewarding journey through the college admissions process. If that sounds like sappy hyperbole, I get it. I may not have envisioned mentoring being that at the start, but I now realize that is what it’s become. And that realization has come as much through tragedy as through triumph. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Roughly six months after my return from California, I got married in a ceremony in—where else?—New York. Fresh off the triumphant move back, wedding in New York City seemed all too fitting. The happiest day of my life. In the same city where I’d met my wife. Consummating my adulthood at the epicenter of my childhood dreams. In fact, the wedding’s expense almost seemed a rightful penance for decamping for the mirage of greener pastures the year before. <i>Almost</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Admittedly, I don’t have a ton of specific memories of the reception that evening. My exuberance (not the bourbon-laden open bar) got the better of me. But I do recall greeting Andre, Michael, and their parents warmly. Over the past few years, they’d become almost as much apart of my of my life as my biological family. And I appreciated that they came. On the only day I assembled with a handpicked group of family and friends to celebrate my matrimony, it felt right having them (and my friendly landlord) there. We were a small group of Mount Vernonites, engorged with the ebullience of a much larger one. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> Then, about fifteen months later, I left Mount Vernon. This time, not for California, but for the neighboring state of New Jersey. And a city about an hour away. Far from the grit that had once drawn me back to Mount Vernon, and instead flush with the stunning vistas and lush peaks that recalled my stint in California. It was a drastic change, perhaps. But it hadn’t come without a scorched-earth effort to remain in Mount Vernon. As apartment life grew tiresome and we wanted more space, my wife and I crisscrossed Mount Vernon’s Fleetwood neighborhood in search of a house. Unfortunately, none were affordable for us—primarily because of the city’s high property taxes. New Jersey, by contrast, offered a wealth of budget-friendly options in areas that were holistically desirable. In the end, despite my reticence to leave my city, I couldn’t deny the sobering truths of the cost-benefit analysis. New Jersey made more sense, and off we went. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> Sharing the news with my Mount Vernon “family” proved difficult, as one might expect. I knew they’d be sad, just as I was. Moving to New Jersey and buying a house came with a sense of permanence that hadn’t been there with the California move. I wouldn’t be moving back in a year, if ever. But Michael, Andre, their families—and even my landlord—still provided words of encouragement. I wasn’t leaving their lives forever, after all. Just crossing the Hudson. We were still family, even over distance. A family which, it seemed, would soon expand.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> About a year and a half later, it was my turn to share exciting news with Michael, Andre, and their families: My wife and I were expecting! A precious baby boy due in early November. We hadn’t picked out a name yet but were leaning toward making him a junior. He would be a chip off the old block. And, to say that I was over the moon—. Well, that doesn’t even begin to describe my jubilance. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It had been a long, painful road to parenthood for my wife and me. She had an unfortunate medical history which complicated her fertility and led us to attempt invitro fertilization procedures multiple times—all ending in failure. Excruciating failure. Tears flowed aplenty. Hope nearly dried up. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">In the midst of the difficulty, we felt woefully disheartened. Desperate to scale a mountain whose peak we weren’t sure we’d ever reach. Every promising climb met with a corresponding tumble, plunging us further into despair. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Repeated failure to conceive is a peculiar beast. There’s an unusual isolation to the grief, as it’s typically only the aspiring “parents” who feel the loss. Few people talk about it openly as it occurs. Which breeds mild stigmatization and ostracism. Over time, I came to learn that the cycle of hope and despair that we experienced is actually common to many who’ve faced similar fertility challenges. But that didn’t make it any easier to abide. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Despite my unease, though, over the years, I’d alluded indirectly to the fertility challenges in conversations with Michael, Andre, and their parents. I wanted what they comprised – children and a family. Plus, part of me felt the need to deflect any unspoken curiosity as to why a healthy, married, mentoring man of my age didn’t have any offspring. Surely, they must’ve wondered. So, without divulging details, I hinted at the tough times that my wife and I had undergone. In response, Michael, Andre, and their parents expressed polite, hopeful sentiments as one only can in a situation like that. There wasn’t much else to say. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Against that backdrop, then, the news of our pregnancy was unquestionably a welcome revelation. A godsend, by every measure. Our son, who’d been conceived naturally, (despite doctors’ insistence upon the futility of trying) amounted to a miracle. A product of prayer. The gift of a groundswell of hope. Kicking away happily, he touched hearts before even having a full heart of his own. And I brimmed with pride and thankfulness for the long-awaited blessing. I couldn’t wait for him to meet his Mount Vernon family. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Sadly, though, he never would. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Tragedy struck just 2.5 weeks before my son’s due date. For reasons we’ll probably never uncover in our earthy lives, he passed away in my wife’s womb. There was no physical trauma that occurred. Nor any detectable genetic cause. Just an evening during which we noticed he wasn’t kicking, followed by a trip to an empty emergency room in the wee hours of the morning. I’ll never forget that awful moment I saw my beautiful son’s chest on ultrasound. His formerly strong, beating heart now motionless. Halted by an unknown malady. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Thinking about it still brings tears to my eyes. My heart broke. All of the dreams that I had for him, rendered moot in an instant. All of the love I’d yearned to pour into him, suddenly without an earthly vessel. My wife delivered him via C-section the next day and we buried him almost two weeks later. It wasn’t fair. If only I could’ve somehow breathed life into his adorable, lifeless body. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">As one might expect, I spent the ensuing months ensconced in inescapable grief. I questioned my faith and the efficacy of prayer. The tinge of optimism that had always colored my outlook on life suddenly shifted to an uncompromising pessimism. And I even withdrew from my biological family, as none of them—besides my mom, who wrote me a comforting, heartfelt letter—seemed to grasp both the enormity of the pain and how bothersome it was to suffer through platitudes about how I could have another baby, the commonality of perinatal loss, God’s fidelity to the faithful, or pushing through difficulty. Although I knew it came from good intentions, I didn’t want to hear any of that. None of it eased my pain. I just wanted my son back. More than anything.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">There was, however, a common thread of compassion which comforted me through the grief. A beacon in the darkness. Somewhat unexpectedly so. The compassion emanating from the Mount Vernon family which I’d built—in one way or another—through my mentoring. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">It was Michael’s dad sending me words of encouragement, telling me that God saw my commitment to the students, and that it would not be in vain. He didn’t use an appeal to God to make sense of what happened, but instead assured me that God hadn’t left me, even if what happened didn’t make sense. It was Michael himself sending warm messages of kindness, saying how much he’d looked forward to being an uncle to my little boy. It was Andre, the future doctor—a protector of life—lamenting its fragility and expressing his sorrow. It was my former landlord sending a thoughtful gift of a placard with my son’s name inscribed with the message “too beautiful for earth.” And, perhaps most movingly, it was my most recent mentee, David, whom I’d only known for a month, sending me frequent messages to express his sadness and check on my wellbeing. I can’t conceive of there being a more precociously compassionate, empathetic young man. Nor will I ever forget his kindness. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">But that kindness, in a sense, speaks to the familial welding to which I alluded earlier. Each of my mentees has experienced his own pain, which ultimately enabled them to empathize and circle around me in my time of tragedy. Just like a family. For Michael, it was likely the pain of his parents’ marital separation. For Andre, it was a biological father who wasn’t present, and a stepfather who passed from COVID-19. For David, it was multiple relatives dying from COVID-19. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Not to mention the immense sacrifices that all of them saw their parents make to provide for their family. Put simply, the end of their journey to college may have been storybook (or might be, for David), but that certainly wasn’t the case for the beginning or middle. All of them have confronted certain rigors of adulthood, even at a young age, and that engendered profound, prodigious understanding. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Which brings me, finally, to the present day. The pain of fall 2020 persists, albeit less acutely. But I miss my little boy as much as ever. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I also don’t know, for that matter, what the future holds in terms of whether I’ll ever be a biological parent of a living, breathing child outside the womb, the way I’d always imagined. Surely, I pray for it every night. Every single night. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Looking ahead, I haven’t given up hope. But somehow, even if it doesn’t bring total solace, I also realize that I’ve already experienced semblances of fatherhood. And not just for the eight months I spent with my baby boy. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I experienced it in those lunches with Michael, many moons ago. Telling him about the life that awaited beyond 11<sup>th</sup> grade. And I experienced it recently as Michael and I discussed his first foray into the business world and how it will prepare him for law school. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">I experienced it with Andre when I shopped for a suit for him to wear for his college interviews. Knowing that he needed to be sharp. And I experienced it recently when we discussed a summer pre-med program he did, along with the travails of Ivy League scholarship. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> I experienced it with David last fall as I encouraged him to buckle down for his junior year of high school. Reminding him that video games could wait until homework was done. And I experienced it recently, during our visits to the University of Albany and Union College, his eyes widened with excitement and appreciation as he walked about the campus, reminding himself that with a merely a little more work, college would soon be his reality, too. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> I experienced it in numerous other moments as well, zigzagging through the ups and downs of my peripatetic journey over the last six years. Restless with curiosity, I made my own worthwhile adventures again and again. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Now fully settled, I look forward to seeing how life continues to unfold for the several young men of Mount Vernon whom I’ve had the pleasure of mentoring. We’ve become a family. And I thank them, wholeheartedly, for allowing me into their lives. For being there for me in good times and bad. For enabling me to learn just as much as I’ve taught. For giving my life purpose beyond career success and other personal relationships. For humoring my unintentional dad jokes. For indulging my bald attempts at youthful relatability, even as I creep toward middle age. For the love they showed my son, however briefly he was here. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Above all, it’s through them that I’ve experienced small pieces of fatherhood through the joy of mentoring. No matter how many miles away. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">Dedicated to the memory of my son, “Steve, Jr.” Rest in peace, Baby Boy. Dad loves you.</span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></i></p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">About the Author</span></h1><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Stephen L. Ball</b></span> is Dean of Students at Harvard Law School. In this role, he promotes the well-being of students and works collaboratively to build and implement a strategic vision for how the office can most effectively support students. This starts with new student and transfer orientations and spans through commencement and the Bar application process.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">He previously served as a senior vice president at Wells Fargo, where he held several roles. These included chief of staff for the company’s Vice Chairman, head of state and local government relations for the Northeast region, and head of external engagement strategy. Among other things, his leadership at Wells Fargo resulted in the establishment a powerful, integrated strategy for partnership with historically Black colleges and universities.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Earlier in his career, Ball held the position of Eastern Region Public Policy Manager for Airbnb, as well as Eastern Region Government Affairs Counsel at CSAA Insurance Group. Ball began his career as a commercial litigation attorney at Baker & Hostetler, L.L.P in New York. While completing his graduate-level studies, he interned with the Clinton Foundation and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">An active civic engager, Ball currently serves on the board of directors of Mount Vernon Star Scholars in Mount Vernon, NY and Young People Travel Global Edge, a nonprofit in Detroit. He is also a regular mentor to students and young professionals.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Ball earned a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan. He received his JD from Harvard Law School. Ball is admitted to the New York State Bar.<o:p></o:p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">A sought-after speaker, Ball has served as a guest lecturer at various higher education institutions, including Harvard Law School and the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. He is also a recognized writer, with contributions that have appeared in Harvard Magazine, Black Enterprise, and the San Francisco Examiner.<o:p></o:p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1501" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_jDK2Juj4xGRX-tuDgbIJpc-vZHuSAbK_ZM8T2lHD9LcXncZ5EBoRuPN_fO6YfZmFr5gui8Luzc6fOKbCm21SChU3oZBKNMomzwF03lmmCub5xXKbj7dmH1AkMvdhqPokgVGXZBSNaHRgkQ7DMxPMI4JmKVv_oChSrImlzTJKRNG052VmDNwqbzwUg/s320/winter%202022%20Fiction%20Roster%20Part%20I.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022.html" target="_blank">CLICK</a> to Return to Fiction/NonFiction Authors</span></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022.html">https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022.html<br /></a><div><br /></div><div><><><></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 48px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></h1></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><p></p>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-70684195239754363322022-03-24T07:57:00.007-04:002022-03-26T10:52:43.700-04:00aaduna in exile winter 2021-2022 - Fiction Creative NonFiction - Ball, Duarte , Goodman<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7eKYDYqPX18oUFIyIPwCIuTKwA0mNKzMTrZzrvZy92iurn0CoANUEwdyWYW8_y6kQqAi1X1PfFLYHKuUVp6xL6G49Z6ypFYVljfvSjAhAfV6ADdY6EG231gLtbWB4xJRxyRJ6-vt-NZ-mys1ZyRHmTtmM6U3af_rVuL9-U6JPMizM6p3FqlJJndrgQ/s1501/winter%202022%20Fiction%20Roster%20Part%20I.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7eKYDYqPX18oUFIyIPwCIuTKwA0mNKzMTrZzrvZy92iurn0CoANUEwdyWYW8_y6kQqAi1X1PfFLYHKuUVp6xL6G49Z6ypFYVljfvSjAhAfV6ADdY6EG231gLtbWB4xJRxyRJ6-vt-NZ-mys1ZyRHmTtmM6U3af_rVuL9-U6JPMizM6p3FqlJJndrgQ/s16000/winter%202022%20Fiction%20Roster%20Part%20I.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;">Click Author's Name to read their work:</span></span></h2><div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022_25.html" target="_blank">Stephen L. Ball</a></span></span></h1><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Epilogue: The Joy of Mentoring - From Thousands of Miles Away"<br /><br />(creative non-fiction)</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><br /></div><div><h1 style="line-height: 48px;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022-mario.html" target="_blank">Mario Duarte</a></span></span></h1><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cassandra and Las Brujas</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* * *</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h1 style="line-height: 36px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://aadunanotes.blogspot.com/2022/03/aaduna-in-exile-winter-2021-2022-daniel.html" target="_blank">Daniel Ross Goodman, Ph.D.</a></span></span></h1><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Fellowship</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="76" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s200/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; 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font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-30757082652086276202022-03-21T21:59:00.019-04:002022-03-21T22:15:42.355-04:00aaduna in exile -winter 2021 2022 - Poetry<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN4wH3dFL6r5JFANxRqdZ0IwxqmyGCa3r29ztEkAvC8q6PKQDP4czZukWoCLJ46OkjtBiF5tT-f11jcGF7WzjkLO0-VnMeilt1JlJbHTGAUsR0VpZOSQvhkrkULr2cOaXQnnIc4UV0NGDD99Qf5UE21gO6Y7Pt9vQ4vrEbTaSeShko_kSj6V20eF_AQ/s1148/poetry%20roster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN4wH3dFL6r5JFANxRqdZ0IwxqmyGCa3r29ztEkAvC8q6PKQDP4czZukWoCLJ46OkjtBiF5tT-f11jcGF7WzjkLO0-VnMeilt1JlJbHTGAUsR0VpZOSQvhkrkULr2cOaXQnnIc4UV0NGDD99Qf5UE21gO6Y7Pt9vQ4vrEbTaSeShko_kSj6V20eF_AQ/s16000/poetry%20roster.jpg" /></a></div> <p></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b style="color: #666666; text-align: justify;">Luisa Aparisi-França, Poet</b></span></h1><p class="MsoTitle"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoTitle"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Light
Filtering Through the Golden Banana Leaves<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
often push myself past the point of breaking<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">surging
through surf<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">always
needing to be called back from the brink.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tell
me that it’s ok to stop straining.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Swimming
is such hungry work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
I don’t hold the reins in my hands<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
feel like a failure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
think of every place where I ever felt low<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">wandering
aimlessly through a plaza<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">trapped
in the bathroom at Churchill’s<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">or
stuck in my hometown<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">like
a drop of ink diffusing into water<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">blind
as the day is born<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">which
is why I now believe <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">that
the worst pain<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">comes
from standing still.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Take
my blood and make it new.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
don’t know why I bear so well<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">when
I never even wanted children.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
think of you in gold<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">like
beads of water clinging to a web<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">or
your rings resting on my nightstand<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">as
we spiral into a kiss.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mouths
parted<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am more myself under you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Something
about being taken care of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">has
always felt like a trap<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">where,
like a river<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
feel everything from you<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">flowing
into me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sometimes,
when I’m not feeling well<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
make sure that my hands don’t rest on my partner.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
is so much contagion already.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
want to go back to joy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s
so hard to be let in. To let others in.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
see a bird’s nest tucked away <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">in
the letter C of the Lucky Nail salon sign <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
remember all of my troubles with intimacy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
want to unmoor you<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">build
like a wave<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
watch every single one of your lives<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">—Paris,
Brazil, Milan—<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">your
friend craning his neck <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to
look back at you over his shoulder <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">with
gilded eyes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">standing
in a water filled doorway<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">you
are living in a past life<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
already moving past it<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">in
a city that looks like a warehouse<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">where
your fingers undo the basting stitches on my suit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
teach me the word for hat making.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You
wear me well<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the
way I feel sitting <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">in
front of that Rothko painting<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">with
its layers of rust red and buttery yellow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">not
wanting to think about how he died.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You
tell me about experiential art<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">van
living, try to take a picture <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">of
a car speeding down the road<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">with
a fake tail light made out of cloth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">because
there is beauty in choosing your resilience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fingers
stained with tannin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
want them in my mouth<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">because
I crave queer communion<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">where
our bodies are our own<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
our stars need not be linear <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">or
near to matter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Standing
outside in the morning<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am moved by the light filtering <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">through
the golden banana leaves<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">how
it holds its own as it travels the air.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Because
I only understand service<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">as
an extension of someone else<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
reach out for the ghost of you<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">curled
up next to me<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
am surprised to find <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">that
I am holding myself.</span><br clear="all" style="break-before: page; mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoTitle"><a name="_1v1196cq1h4l"></a><br /></p><p class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: center;">* * *</p><p class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoTitle"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whale
Fall<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The other
day I learned about whale falls<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">which is
when a whale dies and sinks down<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to the ocean
floor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's an
elegant turn of phrase<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the way you
might say someone is sleeping<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">rather than
dead.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are
times when I feel as if every room I walk into<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">is a small
death<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the crushing
weight of having to justify why<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I should be
paid enough or even<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">treated with
some semblance of respect <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">after
letting slip a kindness.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I wipe down
the counters in a coffee shop <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">feeling for
the ribs of the whale<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">its giving
carcass.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I feel its
pulse, the steady rise and fall.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It could
feed a village, if only it cared to.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How did Jonah
feel inside the belly of the whale<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">having been
thrown overboard <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">after
refusing to be god’s prophet?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why do we
think that circumstance can force love?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I remember
seeing the movie <i>Whale Rider.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How that
little girl dug her heels into the whale's sides<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">so much
trust placed in gentleness.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How it
carried her deeper and deeper<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">'til she
almost died<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">bringing her
back blue and hospitalized.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is that what
it takes? a small death to change us?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don't want
to turn bitter under this clear sky<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">because
wherever a whale falls<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">it's
supposed to bloom.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think of
how thin the geology of immigrant families is.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How if one
layer cracks, the one above it sinks<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">setting back
a generation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why is it so
hard to channel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the noble
beast<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am trying
to become?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When a whale
falls, its bones<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">become a
reef.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First come
the sharks and fish and lobsters<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to pick the
bones clean<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">then the
bacteria begin fermenting <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the marrow
for food<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">dissolving
my backbone<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">melting my
sinews<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">until at
last, my great jaw comes unhinged<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I offer up
my eyes<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and open<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> * * *</span></p><p class="MsoTitle">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoTitle" style="line-height: normal;"><a name="_1dzz5s4a0djd"></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Miracle of Becoming<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sometimes,
I forget<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">that
I'm cherished<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">passed
from empty mouth<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to
empty mouth<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am the message<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">you
have been waiting for<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">wrapped
in the afterthought<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">of
someone else's <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">leaving.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
is so much <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">room<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to
roam.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
I do my kettlebell workouts<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">to
strengthen my arms<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
lower back<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
forget that I am glass<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">fios de ouro<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">fragile
like<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the
semiprecious stone<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">my
mother's friend gave me<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">her
grooved fingers <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">holding
the stone up to the light<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the
way someone, somewhere<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">held
my face once.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You
once called me honorable<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">and
I have been chasing the Sun<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">of
your expectations<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ever
since.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Swallowing
it whole<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">as
snakes do eggs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">—light
smudging<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the
corner of my mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am pure lotus eater.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
want you to reach me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Plunge
into and out of<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">my
depths<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">reveal
the true lady of the lake<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(though
I always felt more prince<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">than
princess)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">water
rushing off of me<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">in
sheets.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mouth
open, gasping.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Each
layer gone<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">making
me a little lighter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">as
my feet try to find solid ground.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good
god.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What
miracle of Becoming<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">is
this?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><o:p>Meet the Poet</o:p></h2><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQAQ58_7B07XprZOPHE-8FEOnLzJNc7x2I33oCw_hCzmEyI_U90kAA7g5KA8dPVpgrhX_PRicWQ2GrgLM6eRZ2_mOPX8mmnTkNEkPxT_j1fUkXzBQg0msqVhvy-dE4fRTGq6xmviRlUYTxEZPM67dUltiwmW67NAF6dulkvIsjbGUG0PFLOGyjCrHvw/s1603/Luisa%202%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1603" data-original-width="1364" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQAQ58_7B07XprZOPHE-8FEOnLzJNc7x2I33oCw_hCzmEyI_U90kAA7g5KA8dPVpgrhX_PRicWQ2GrgLM6eRZ2_mOPX8mmnTkNEkPxT_j1fUkXzBQg0msqVhvy-dE4fRTGq6xmviRlUYTxEZPM67dUltiwmW67NAF6dulkvIsjbGUG0PFLOGyjCrHvw/w340-h400/Luisa%202%20(2).jpeg" width="340" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Luisa Aparisi-França (photo provided)</b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p><b><br /></b></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Luisa Aparisi-França</b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> is a queer, non-binary Latinx writer from Miami, FL. Her
pronouns are she/they, and she also identifies as a demigirl. Coming from a
family that is Spanish and Brazilian, being raised in the US was a huge culture
shock to the collectivist values they were taught. As a third culture kid, and
someone who, for the most part, slides in and out of confines, Luisa seeks to
use language as a way of bridging divides. Her poems explore transitions,
transformations, community, deconstruction, family, love, obligation, and the
spaces we constantly create with each decision and interaction.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoTitle">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"> </span></p><div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div><p></p><div><h1 style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: #666666; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chantel Frazier</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">, Poet</span></b></span></h1><div><span><b style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><br /></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Beloved Bruised Orange</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Beyond our cities university is OUR
land.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Land
spectators don’t come to see.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Media shows toxic negativity within
our community, but not much of the millennial minorities that are trying to
break free from the day to day struggles they meet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We all started out on the right
path, a lot of us became alumni and others dropped out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Soon enough we all would see what
the real world was about, and that our broken school system only taught us to
take a test before the time ran out. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The homicides and attempted murders
that reside on every side of our city are only justified to someone less witty.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The families of the dead that are
scarred say that they have taken this hoodstar thing too far. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We’ve marked some of our fallen
Martyrs, giving them praise for the loss of their life while staying true to
the gang.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In hustling street smarts come to
play when making a living.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most educate themselves learning how
to legally stack their wealth, others fail falling victim to jail. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When we all see reality for what it
is we will grasp a better view to the other side, where we all will meet at the
finish line.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are hard workers making constant
money moves, and where I come from if you snooze you lose. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Continuing our education, building
our own businesses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We want that house on the hill too,
some of us know too well what an eviction is. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many of us are breaking out of the
cycle we were forced in because we understand what’s at stake.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We all have lost classmates, friends
and kin that we’ll never get back again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When someone in our community is
labeled an animal or a criminal for surviving the best way they know or can,
the cycle continues and most boys won’t turn into men. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are not rotten, our reputation is
bruised and I’d like to show another view.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So if you're in your own bubble on
top of whatever hill hopefully this book will create a different feel. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you get an outside look in,
hopefully you’ll be willing to understand that for some of us, this life we
live is a cycle we’re forced in. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> * * *</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Single Parent</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Being a single parent with children
in high school isn’t so easy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the turning point where most
teenagers found out life wasn’t so peachy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reality hits for most of us at a
ripe age, like if I don’t go to work these bills won’t get paid.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m a single parent working three
different shifts to make ends meet. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So Please don’t look down on me if
my children are running the streets. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s not that home isn’t where I
want to be, but the fact that no one else will do it for me. Three
personalities, three different needs, emotional, physical and mental.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s my job to divide and provide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Giving them not always what they
want but always the necessity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I give my guidance through my
struggle, smile through my pain leaving myself enough personal time to cry in
silence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Overworking myself to balance out my
wealth, putting aside my health. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s hard when it’s only you, but as
a single parent it’s just what you have to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> * * *</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chose Me</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I didn’t want to be a part of the
hood, it chose me, I lived by the code as I played the streets. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I already said fuck school, no more
picking up pens now I buss tools.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The hood was my family, I had no
father figure to look up to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was my big bro, the one I ran
the streets and did dirt with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He never really taught me right from
wrong in the hood, just how to make a buck quick. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And that gun had me ready to show
off, I bet the hood would go crazy when it’s beef and I let this gun off.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m the shooter, number one on the
most wanted list.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Visions of being the only one with
cuffs on my wrists, I refuse to go down as a snitch! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before banging, the streets looked
so appealing it was just a hangout spot.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well at least that’s what I thought
until my friend got popped.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Losing your close friends to beef
leaves a stain on your heart. After all you live by the code you die by the
code, it’s up to you to play it smart. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You are what you eat” goes along
with who you hang with. So I wasn’t surprised when they said I was gang
affiliated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now I’m a target for the other side,
the police & those other guys. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Take time to understand why things
happen to learn your lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t get lost in your upset and get
your life taken away by either the system or a smith and Wesson. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">* * * </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Broke</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Broke is what they’ll call you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You run out of money and it haunts you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What this word does is break you down mentally.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Making you feel like without money you aren’t where you’re
meant to be. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t let someone else’s interpretation of “broke” stomp
you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can have all you need and have no green.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keeping in mind being
broke is only a temporary thing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not like breaking
something that you won’t be able to put it back together again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if your bills are
paid it’s okay if you won’t be going out on the weekend. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those who let money rule their world, end up the most empty
inside with a drawer full of diamonds and pearls.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Because they thought material things were a necessity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When their money was gone so was their feeling of being
complete.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t worry about
someone else in a different lane or you’ll start to see the need to compete. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember money
doesn’t grow on trees and it’s up to you to choose if it will be your priority.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">* * * </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Re-Entrification<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We can rebuild this city from the
inside out. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let’s buy back the block, show them
what our hood is really about.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Building our own empires, getting
our names up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If that means we have to change up
and let our goals rearrange us, we must.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We can’t be pushed out or let
ignorance become what we’re about, they expect us to give up without a doubt. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So it’s up to you, do you want to be
a part of the new view?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To have something to pass down to a
younger you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know I do, if I have it in me then
you do too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To walk into a business owned by
your peers of the same race. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A hair salon where you walk in
frowning and don’t leave until those fluffy light skin hands rearrange your
lace. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How about a bakery? Where treats by
Trice are baked and displayed faithfully. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Going to a restaurant where Balla
cooks from her personal menu. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chocolate faces that resemble you. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Orchestrated dance classes by Ken
where you can join your child too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wearing designer clothes from Jhom’e
& Cmenchi, this was meant to be. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let’s stretch our bodies and our
minds with yoga sessions from Courtney. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s been a tough road but with art
we are reminded. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those portraits by Rahm & Jaleel
will leave you so inspired. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Showing us our roots, adding our
beauty in each picture. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wide nose big lips,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, the most common chocolate mixture. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m saying this because I want to be
a voice that speaks this into existence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We can build this city back up as
long as you pay attention and listen to your intuition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN"><o:p> * * *</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN"><o:p>Meet the Poet</o:p></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdk32vAdE18ryvzcy42PDxm5PsX7U2DK54tPPUbFlFRk_I_v_5qXnB8urVmw887gNc93TBfoGFdlh6KFP18xM5YxLKSnrRI4udGmJskrfFZqmOMcDRxT-klzOYSZXJG5OImnYcbWkPkbNMcg4dVWMuAbWsHk_JpntYK8HGLhCKeg58SffMuOpZv9wwg/s1280/Chantell%20Frazier.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="839" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdk32vAdE18ryvzcy42PDxm5PsX7U2DK54tPPUbFlFRk_I_v_5qXnB8urVmw887gNc93TBfoGFdlh6KFP18xM5YxLKSnrRI4udGmJskrfFZqmOMcDRxT-klzOYSZXJG5OImnYcbWkPkbNMcg4dVWMuAbWsHk_JpntYK8HGLhCKeg58SffMuOpZv9wwg/w263-h400/Chantell%20Frazier.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: verdana;"><b>Chantel Frazier (photo provided)</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Chantel Frazier</b></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b> </b>is an African American poet, born and raised in Syracuse,
New York. After her high school graduation in 2013, she enrolled at Onondaga
Community College. While attending, Chantel completed courses in English,
public speaking, general psychology and American sign language. In 2014, she
left college to join the workforce as a certified nurse’s aide. Growing up on
Syracuse's south side, Chantel faced personal struggles as well as witnessing
her peers' challenges. Although her peers had come from different backgrounds
and circumstances, they were seen in the same light by many. She grew to
understand the view regarding her community was covered by a veil that could
only be lifted by someone willing to speak from an unbiased point of view.
Discovering this in her early twenties, Chantel depicted the world around her
gathering the personal stories of her peers, immediate family and her own into
a poetic explanation of life during and after high school. Ms. Frazier sheds
light on the societal misconceptions surrounding the teenage upbringing of
African American students, washing away the idea of a cyclical bruised
community never waking up to their calling of healing themselves… <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><><><></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="76" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s200/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; 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font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 13.33px;"><img alt="aaduna-Inc" border="0" height="70" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dA-6jCKY-Vc/U4oWjMAt2uI/AAAAAAAABew/V4jcL9EncAU/s1600/LikeUsOnFacebook_Icon_000.jpg" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: none; border-width: 0px; height: 72px; max-width: 810px;" width="200" /> <span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AadunaInc/" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">aaduna-Inc</a> Visit regularly for updates !</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /></div>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-44292156338123085172022-03-20T14:56:00.011-04:002022-11-19T18:12:07.100-05:00aaduna in exile - winter 2021 2022 - Contributors<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL9DCR-0i9t8FsEe3idv55np18XqlFwAA2cosAsOpwBlpcZnFekCh3yWplvvkSWO1PZ3sZCWFUKYdwNnDYyyt95F126rbXn_lnXBrzLqrm9PfhyUItyG6t9kWdQnXCdBojubub_nQGoHpdFV0LLzwz5UDstC2eCJQXktVU2MXNY5H28vWD_YrBi9tCA/s1633/aaduna%20winter%20cover%20photo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="1633" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL9DCR-0i9t8FsEe3idv55np18XqlFwAA2cosAsOpwBlpcZnFekCh3yWplvvkSWO1PZ3sZCWFUKYdwNnDYyyt95F126rbXn_lnXBrzLqrm9PfhyUItyG6t9kWdQnXCdBojubub_nQGoHpdFV0LLzwz5UDstC2eCJQXktVU2MXNY5H28vWD_YrBi9tCA/s16000/aaduna%20winter%20cover%20photo.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
is aaduna.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Never
compromised.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Never
just a brick in the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Always
direct. Honest. Intriguing. With Purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Always
creative. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Exploratory.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
is aaduna</span></i><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. Even in exile. Planting
its new foundation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fierce.
Bold…towards an end that will never come.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pushing
envelopes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
your face. Out your ears. Sound words for your brain. The pulse of your
everyday life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
cloak for your torso.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">* * *</span></span></p>
<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">aaduna </span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;">March 2022 Issue</span></span></h1><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bN6XpE56Dn3lJM380OJKCQy46b2YaKei3HWW5cVvTtfX7_xs98Z63K5mOlTmNdKBlZAoqEPNt5aMZ8-q28zMPHXry0Vx1u3t_HPuL-ejuXG5LMADQAZytTSc-S5lv6wwy1aggzXBqL9t0CNs7RswLN1uUrH5aXLydzmdYdyttQXlwQx0n2ZCEJdR0w/s1650/Contributors%20winter%202021%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bN6XpE56Dn3lJM380OJKCQy46b2YaKei3HWW5cVvTtfX7_xs98Z63K5mOlTmNdKBlZAoqEPNt5aMZ8-q28zMPHXry0Vx1u3t_HPuL-ejuXG5LMADQAZytTSc-S5lv6wwy1aggzXBqL9t0CNs7RswLN1uUrH5aXLydzmdYdyttQXlwQx0n2ZCEJdR0w/s16000/Contributors%20winter%202021%202022.jpg" /></a></div><i><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Meet the Contributors:</b></span></span></i></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stephen Ball</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">William Crawford</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mario Duarte</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kristyn Elyse</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoTitle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Luisa Aparisi-França</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chantel Frazier</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Daniel Ross
Goodman</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Charlie Hahn</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jen Shin</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Selika Maria Sweet,
M.D. FAAP</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Clive Uckfield</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All contributors’
work will be available at aadunanotes.blogspot.com and archived by date or
contributor’s last name.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Poetry: </span></i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">March 22</span></span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoTitle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Luisa Aparisi-França</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chantel Frazier</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Fiction/ Creative
Non-Fiction: </span></span></i><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">March 24, 26</span></span></span><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Stephen Ball<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>3.24</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mario Duarte<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>3.24</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Daniel Ross
Goodman, Ph.D<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>3.24</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jen Shin<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>3.26</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Selika Maria
Sweet, M.D. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>3.26</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Clive Uckfield<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>3.26</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Visual Art/Photography:<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></span></span></i><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">March 28</span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">William Crawford</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Charlie Hahn<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Conversation with
bill berry, jr.:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">March 30</span></span><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Kristyn Elyse<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The Others:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></i><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">March 30</span></span></span><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Publisher’s
Message/Submissions/<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><><><></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="76" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s200/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; 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background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; text-decoration-line: none;">aaduna-Inc</a> Visit regularly for updates !</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>aadunahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10262903259748144558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410395838106280374.post-92089365405134083762022-03-12T12:07:00.001-05:002022-03-12T12:07:37.431-05:00aaduna in exile 2021-2022 - Elyse<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNBwQGkzh_mfSn5koEVZJN7trzAAmSlA-2bPQOS5j3fOKiS-rvqd_Z6EuFOsh6PPMcjclLD2Nh2BVJCL3s1QwYVqA_KdA-OjY2Qt7GJnU0jOF3l2cSCfhjGziEPEhHV5BWHKrno6yZaUGq8LbIfGR9_03vPSySZEGxxdnnmWSK4RYyr-xXHs2QzwBTQQ=s1497" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1497" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNBwQGkzh_mfSn5koEVZJN7trzAAmSlA-2bPQOS5j3fOKiS-rvqd_Z6EuFOsh6PPMcjclLD2Nh2BVJCL3s1QwYVqA_KdA-OjY2Qt7GJnU0jOF3l2cSCfhjGziEPEhHV5BWHKrno6yZaUGq8LbIfGR9_03vPSySZEGxxdnnmWSK4RYyr-xXHs2QzwBTQQ=s16000" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-align: justify;"><b>Conversations are back!!!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">aaduna publisher, bill berry, jr. is re-introducing his
chats with creatives who have an intriguing story to share that will broaden
readers’ understanding of the world and its people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The winter 2021-22 issue of <i>aaduna</i>
will feature his conversation with </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kristyn Elyse, </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">a model and writer who represents the overall ambiance of
beauty, intellect, and graciousness that permeates Barcelona. Here is the
opening excerpt from the conversation between Elyse and berry.”</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">bb: </span></b><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hi Kristyn. Can you share what propelled you to seek a
career in the demanding world of modeling and more importantly, describe your
childhood that may provide the initial glimpse of circumstances that would
propel you towards an eventual career built around sharing one’s physicality,
personality, and intellect with the public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">KE: </span></b><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hi Bill, thank you for your kind words. I started modeling
much later than most girls- when I turned 25. Throughout my life a lot of
people told me I should try it due to my height and slim figure, but I was way
too self-conscious. I went through a bad break up on my way out of Berlin, and
my ex started dating some Instagram model. She was really short and not that
pretty, so I thought, well if they’re gonna pay her, they’re gonna fucking pay
me. So, I started working. I had an agency in Barcelona, and they got me a few
good jobs. I walked in Barcelona Fashion Week for Emma Picanyol, an amazing
designer. After that I was obsessed. I decided to move to Manhattan, where all
the “real” models and real jobs were. </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I don’t think my childhood had anything to do with
modeling. It was really just about that breakup and trying to kind of piss him
off.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt 0.25in; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">* *
*</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Read the entire “conversation” in the forthcoming winter
2021-22 issue of aaduna.</span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Can you wait for the next several days to pass? </span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><><><></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><h1 style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 36.8px; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s1600/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #7f0000; display: inline-block; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1057" height="76" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7WHEhYGjWmQ/WsDS3iMhJzI/AAAAAAAAEsc/pjeUHL0QFBEUgluCYb8T6dB0GuNHJOWgQCLcBGAs/s200/aaduna%2Blogo.jpg" style="border: 0px rgb(127, 0, 0); height: 77px; max-width: 200px;" width="200" /></a></h1><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: orange;">aaduna</span></span> </i><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">an online adventure with words and images </span><span style="color: #001000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px;">- a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; line-height: 18.4px;"><o:p></o:p></p></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-size: 12px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="background: white; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-size: 18.06px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #001000; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.33px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="float: none; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 18.66px; margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b4000; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13.33px;"><span style="color: #001000;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 16px; 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