A Year. A Reflection.

The Taste of 2011:
Learning how to take space. Or rather to ask for it instead of just slamming a door shut slowly; Corrective experiences; Navigating an abusive cycle outside of a romantic relationship; Having someone notice harm happening to me and, for the first time in my life, using their power/authority/voice to try to end it; Stress rashes and the effort to work beyond old coping skills; Getting my heart split open. Twice. And the pros and cons of that; Letting go of what doesn't work with a lighter heart; Kentucky rainstorms; Long drives in borrowed cars; Friendships shifting and moving around the globe; Durham, North Carolina; The desire to deepen relationships; Riding in Dykes on Bikes with a hot femme sister; Trans Womyn Belong Here and The Michigan Womyn's Music Festival; Sobbing loudly in the woods and being held by a woman who had been set up to be my enemy; Internet TV; Talking in detail about sexual assault in therapy for the first time; Strengthening friendships and support at work with fellow supervisors; Getting better at my job; Questioning San Francisco as a home for myself; Dairy; Disneyland vacation with Best Friends; Being single ladies with Kristina and her loving/ass kicking friendship; Growing into my role as trainer for new survivor advocates; Scooter rides over steep hills; Having a few pieces of my writing circulated and appreciated more widely than before; Femme friendship; Deep generosity; Glitter Babes and performing with GLITTERACTION!; Dogs; Death defying first dates; The Hunger Games; Appreciating my Great Grandparents; Dignity; New and solid friendships; Friday Night Lights and the longing for small town life and working class values; Dates full of laughter and sharing and cute; Sex and bruises and learning; The Occupy/Decolonize Movement; The General Strike; Getting tear gased by the Oakland Police; 3am wake up calls to show up and defend the peoples right to have their needs remain visible; My revolution daydreams coming true; The 99% and our power; Making the personal political and feeling the life affirming affects of that; Speaking my truth to my Mother and her trying to hear it; Naming clear boundaries for myself; My Mom saying, 'Sometimes I don't know what to do' and me replying, 'You can honor my story and treat it with reverence, instead of giving into shame'.