2024, A Year in Review

You've Been Busy Wanda

Dear Wanda,

2024 was some year. Full and Fabulous. December marked a full calendar year since you said yes to postgraduate work on a doctorate in Women’s Spirituality. January marks your exit. 

In the archives you met Anna Julia Cooper, went by her house too in Washington DC and rang the bell.

Ding dong?

Hello?

Can I come in?

Oh, the house was sold. It's a private residence now.

I can't come in.

Can I walk on her porch and look at the back yard?

Thanks so much!

It's a large property.

I meet neighbors who knew the family and had been inside many times.

Up the street was Mary Church Terrell's place. Her house is a part of the National Park Service so eventually we might be able to see inside.

This year I traveled to DC a few times. I stayed with Paula, Monica's mom. Such a sweet lady.

I traveled by train to Austin, Texas, stopped in LA. I had so much fun at University of Texas @Austin (UT) for the Solar Eclispe. I got bling as in tee-shirts and souvenirs. I had so much fun even if it was cloudy and the big show was covered by a cloud.

I traveled home on Amtrak via Chicago. On my way back to California I presented a paper at a conference on the train. I hoped my connection would last. It did. So exciting. I applied to present another paper this summer, well, host a panel. The topic is Black Women Discuss Their Motherline.

I might present a paper at Harvard. I have to figure on what. I might look at Sojourner Truth and Harriet E. Wilson.

Auntie Theo Gayle made her transition in March, March 14. That was sad. I flew nonstop. It was a long flight. I had Charlie horses for days. I forgot my suspension socks.

I remembered when I flew the next time to Washington. I was headed to Virginia for Furious Flowers, a Black Poetry Writer's conference. That was amazing. The next one is in 10 years. I'll be 76. I will also have my doctorate multiple books. (I wrote this last year in December.)

Mama will be 91. How cool. TaSin will be 52. I hope Bilaliyah will be speaking with me then. Legend will be 18, Wise 15 and Hero 13.

Wow.

Anyhoo. I plan to be fly cool...

In DC the second time, Ellen met me and showed me her Smithsonian Museums especially the National Gallery. It's now one of my favorites. I think the African Art is my favorite. It's not overwhelming and it's not as crowded. Paula and I went then popped over to the African American one. I treated Paula to lunch. I had something that didn't agree with me.

I took a benadryl.

The sculpture garden was also nice. In the AA Museum I saw the waterfall. So lovely.

I love DC. On the second visit, it was raining so hard in September, I didn't get to Baltimore to Lucille Clifton's house and Museum. But it will be there. There were flashflood warnings. 

When I visited in the Spring 2024, I did get to Maryland. Kenneth picked me up at my cousin's and we went to a Jazz Concert at a church. I took the Metro commuter train over. At the church that evening was a special commemoration of a slave insurrection. There was a procession and a play about a slave rebellion in DC at the wharf, called "Remember the Pearl." 

I had some yummy chicken and beans.

At the wharf where the procession ended, there were fountains I could walk and run through. It was fun.

This spring I treated myself to another rode trip, I drove to Joshua Tree and then to Zion in Utah. That was far. Joshua Tree was far too. It was all really pretty, I just got tired of driving.

I want to go to LA, but I'd have to drive I-1 because it's probably snowing on the Grapevine.

I don't like driving in the snow.

Big papers this year looked at 19th Century Black women like CA Pioneer Nancy Ross Gooch. Oh I forgot to mention, I went white water rafting.

California's 175 Admission Day is Sept. 9.

Another paper completed was on Hattie Wilson.

I learned how to read and write a study this summer. That was a hard class, but I got through it with a B.

Mama moved to the Bay Area this summer.

I was in a play this Spring and Summer. It was fun. We got a good review too.

I gave the talk this year at the 29th Annual Maafa Commemoration on accountability.

I am ready to conclude this task.

I really enjoyed my Spiritual Activism class. I really liked the mothering class this spring too.

I think I just want to be free and to stay free. I have yet to meet a man who appreciates a free Black woman. Most men are selfish and want me to promote and support their program.

Nope.

I am traveling solo because it is easier than negotiating space in his room.

I'd rather own the whole house. No. I don't want a roommate.

My storage spaces still need sorting through. When Mama moved in she threw me off balance. I was afraid to ride my bike after falling at least twice, maybe three times. The first time I fell was after interacting with Zahir.

That is getting easier. I do not want anything to do with him. I trip down memory lane and then I wake up. He's still snoring and won't turn over.

Nope. This woman matters to herself.

The emertis dinner was a high point this summer. Great food. Karla and Kheven came. TaSin didn't come and Shawn didn't have enough notice.

I shared a poem. The one I wrote at the end of the semester. Juanita and Mr. Alexander came. They love me.

I think I gave two talks this year one was on Tuesday. My topic was Don't Be a Doormat

Then at the Thursday Educator's Meeting my topic was Hurricane Katrina.

Hosting the Truth Stole was big and I have been invited to create a bibliography and submit an essay on Truth. I might submit the one I wrote that needs citations.

I had such a troubling semester with one professor who has failed me three times. Fall 2024 the final time. I had to do something nice myself, so I treated myself to a week in LA to visit two art museums:  LACMA and CAAM. Simone Leigh's work was amazing. I went twice.

Yes, the wildfires started. Yes, it was terrible. We couldn't drink the water. We couldn't breathe . the air, yet a friend who at 102 lost everything when her apartment burned down. 

"When they say, 'evacuate!' You leave everything," Ms. Mildred Pitts Hayward said. 

The drive down was lovely. The drive back, the following Sunday was pleasant. The skies were blue again in LA county. Most if not all rest stops were closed. I wonder why.

I deserve a rest. I have been very busy.