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Had amazing time speaking to students at CSI. This is only the fourth class I’ve spoken to but I still love it. It’s a rush and it’s so great meeting new people, especially younger folks.
One student asked when I was going to update this blog, and well, now I have a reason to.
I’ve only been to Staten Island a few times, so it was cool to go back and also to check out a new school. It reminded me of when I was down south, just going to new campuses and walking around, trying to take it all in.
The first person I told I was transitioning to grew up in Staten Island and when I was talking to the class it came up. It’s nice feeling, that connection. Maybe it gets a bad rap, but I know some fucking amazing, beautiful people from there. And if anything had been different, they wouldn’t be who they are, and then I wouldn’t be who I am.
When I was at Penn State last month I thought of the friends I have who went there and I tried to imagine what it was like for them years ago, before we met. I was standing in the places they stood, and I wondered what they thought and felt at that time and I was grateful that our paths had crossed.
I’m thinking more and more about how we share these spaces and the energy we leave.
I stayed with a good friend who lived close to the ferry (less than a five minute bike ride) the night before and although I’d known them for a few years, I’d never seen where they’d lived. I automatically felt closer and had a deeper understanding. I felt even more connected than I already do. I wonder if the day will come when there are no more places to stay, but I’m beginning to doubt it, because so many kind souls offer their place and I’m constantly meeting new people. More often than not I’m turning people down. There’s more than enough love and help out there; I guess it’s just a matter of channeling it so those who have and want to give can exchange with those who at the time need it.
I’m trying very hard not to plan. It’s difficult but it’s freeing. There is far too much out there, far too many possibilities, places to explore and exist and new souls to meet. What energy will I leave?
I’m not a morning person and I was afraid of how I would be getting up today. Seriously. I’m known to fall asleep anytime and anywhere. Sometiems when I’d rather be awake. But today things were different. Even before friends new and old provided me with coffee, I actually was glad to be awake.
Thankfully I’d been having a bad dream where (shock!) my bike was stolen (then found, but came apart in pieces in my hands) and my credit cards were also stolen and used (which was frustrating, but less emotional). It was a deep sleep so I was glad when the alarm rang. Sometimes it’s great to have the unpelasant frustrating things in life, because when it’s over and you’ve lived through it, everything feels so light and free and it’s easy to be grateful for what you have.
