Poetry – Feeling the Breeze

January 6 2024

Feeling the Breeze – ( Written in. July 2023 for Pride month)

May of 2023 a series of
Positive, healthy changes came together.
Having to do with my mental,
physical and emotional health.

When that happened the part of me that I put
To sleep 15 years prior, woke up.
Wide open, burning, tingling, on fire,
Inviting the rest of me to wake the fuck up,
Get out, do shit, meet people,
Have fun, live life!

For a year and a half I sat in my car
For the hour long appointment that my teenager
Had every other Monday.
A 5 minute drive from the location
Of Monday Night Poetry

This new chapter of my life began the day
I chose not to sit in the car for that hour,
The day I stepped into
The door of Shim’s Surplus,
Attending my first spoken views collective poetry event.

For me, Pride means

I am a safe person
I am a safe space
If you need a warm, loving hug
I will happily share one with you

For me, Pride means

I have a little bit of anger
At times a lot of anger
About not being exposed to the full
Spectrum of relationships and sexuality
As a young person

Sadness over what might of been
With my life had I known
There wasn’t just one way to be
And one way to love.

For me, Pride means

Embracing my neurospicy,
Pisces, sexually diverse self.

A little bit chaos
A little bit edgy
A little bit shy
A little bit bold
A little bit gypsy
A little bit mermaid
A little bit hippy
A little bit witchy
A little bit enchantress
A little bit seductress.

Actually though, I am undefinable
And I will not define others.

Living life on my terms
Meeting life in this moment
Doing what I am moved to do
Saying what I am moved to say
Feeling whatever arises

My eyes wide open
I’ve broken free from the shackles
Of tradition
I’ve opened the windows

Feeling the breeze on my skin
Blowing through my hair
Blowing through my thoughts
Blowing through my heart

Breaking free from the conditions
Of a childhood of constraint
Of not being seen
Not being heard

In fear of rejection
In fear of doing it wrong
In fear of not being understood
Not being appreciated
wanted
desired
loved.

Feeling the breeze
I’m releasing the traumas of the past.
Knowing when I am responding or living from the old me.
Still falling back into those old ways
The old fears of not being wanted, desired, loved.
Yet catching it when it happens.
Saying to myself, Nah girl.
Your worth does not come
From whether or not they like your posts on the gram
Whether they text or not
That’s old shit.

So I take young Camilla by the hand
Reminding her she is loved, wanted, and desired
That this does not come from them
It is a given, already there.
And this brings liberation, FREEDOM
And Freedom is just another word
For nothing left to lose.

I’m letting it in
No one else can do this for me
Living my life from this point forward
Til I can live it no longer

Being attracted to whoever the hell I want to be attracted to,
Without feeling shame or feeling like I’m wrong.
Breaking free from the the traditional concepts of what it
Means to be in a relationship with another.
Ready to have fun with kindred spirts, be playful, hold on loosely,
Exploring, being open
Ready to be touched
Ready to touch
Sparking deep connections
Heart to heart conversations
Connecting with those kindred spirits
Holding space for those I love to be who they are, love who they love.

Conditioning, traditions, shame, being afraid to make a mistake
I’m treating myself to throwing those
Bitches into the ocean
To be liberated by her depths.

Feeling the breeze on my skin
Blowing trough my hair
Blowing through my thoughts
Blowing through my heart

Living life with my heart wide open
Words unspoken, flowing forth

Shared with chosen ones
Who wish to hear them.

**Note**

“I have a little bit of anger
At times a lot of anger
About not being exposed to the full
Spectrum of relationships and sexuality
As a young person”

This does not mean that this information was intentionally withheld from me. I was just not exposed to it. However, when I was exposed to it, it was ridiculed and mocked.

A Game of Twister Hands

January 6 2024

Last night I was reminded of something our friend Matt Miller commented while having dinner with us at one of the C18 conferences years ago.

He laughed and said something like, the 3 of you (Team TLC) would make a great realty TV show.

The three of us haven’t done a creative activity together in years. The past two nights we worked on this puzzle together (my birthday gift to Lillian last year).

Imagine 3 neurodivergent folks, one with hand tremors, one with shaky hands, and all with the ability to hyper focus, getting anxious trying to get the right pieces in the right places. It’s like we were playing a game of Twister with our hands. It was cracking me up! And I think it brought joy to all of us! ❤❤❤

We lost one piece along the way somewhere. Maybe Basil knows where it is.

After we finished, time stood still for a moment as I watched Lillian walking around the house half-naked, like it’s no big deal and totally normal, Thomas frantically working on a deadline, and me making songs out of everything. Totally normal stuff, right? Ha!

Like the neighbor walks by with their dog. I finally remember the dogs name, Mickey. So then I start singing, Hey Mickey, you’re so fine, Hey Mickey, Hey Mickey. Then I have to look that song up and add it to my walking playlist.
Love my life.

Found the missing piece!

First Walk of 2024 – Huffaker Lookout

January 2 2024

It was a cold walk this morning. First walk of 2024 at Huffaker Lookout. Felt great!

Throwback Post: October 2014 Date Day with Thomas

**THROWBACK POST**

October 18 2014:

October 2014 Thomas n Camilla date day

Wilbur May Arboretum and Rancho San Rafael Park

Ending the date with splitting a blue cheese burger. Yum!

Signing Off and Saying Goodbye to 2023

December 31 2023

I asked Basil his thoughts for 2023. He says as long as you relaxed and cleaned your paws, it was a fabulous year! 🎉🐾🎉

Chad Basil the First has declared 2024 to be The Year of Smoked Salmon. He had smoked salmon for the first time last night. Let me just say, it’s a good thing he can’t actually talk because he would have been begging us for more. As long as he gets to have more smoked salmon this year, he will be HAPPY!! 💯🎉💯

Thomas made spicy, Parmesan pretzel rods and macaroni salad. I’m having a hibiscus gin & tonic (yum) and we’ve got different cheeses, apple, pear, chips, dips, and smoked salmon for later, followed by some bubbly. Feels like there’s the perfect movies to go along with these. 🎉

Slight correction. “…. My Grand kitty’s little forehead, bro.” Isn’t he so cute with that lil white mustache? I’m out y’all. See you in 2024! 🎉💋🎉

Visions of Sweetness – Feeling all the Feels

December 30 2023

Clouds this morning
Clouds this week
Visions of sweetness.

I’m feeling lonely and down today. Most days I’m content not having a partner or really close friends. But I’m feeling all the feels today. Please send hugs. Thought I’d share for anyone else feeling the same. 🖤🖤🖤

Diamond Art by Patty Romano – Team TLC 2023

December 30 2023

I’ve got to brag about my amazing, talented mom. Look at this masterpiece she created with Diamond Art. 💎🖤💎

Throwback Post: Beautiful Day for The Wilbur May Arboretum

**THROWBACK POST**

October 21 2015:

Early release day for Thomas and Lillian had a therapy appointment at 2:00. So we made a quick stop at The Wilbur May Arboretum in between. Beautiful day!!

Meet Those Edges With Love and Laughter

December 30 2023

2018 End of Year Poem:

The Ride of Life

No longer riding on the merry go round,
She celebrates whenever she wants,
She laughs when it’s funny,
And sometimes when it’s not funny,
She cries when the tears want to flow,
She eats breakfast for dinner,
She dances in the aisles,
She hands out hugs
Like Halloween candy,
She hugs the trees,
She meets her edge,
She stays with the experiences of life,
She lives.
And so it is.
xoxo
🎉🎉🎉

May you meet your edges in 2024, surrounded by joy, laughter, and oceans of love. xoxo

The Team TLC 2023 Christmas Tree Ornament

December 29 2023

My mom gets us a new TLC ornament every. This is one of my favorites so far. ❤️🎄❤️