What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up

October 29 2024

Today I had a classmate tell me she wants to be me when she grows up. This keeps happening. I do not hold back sharing my opinion, and it’s usually laced with lots of swear words. This afternoon Lillian and I had a meeting with SRC (Sierra Regional Center). I got a wee bit frustrated with irrelevant questions, and said so. I said something like, “Well, this is just fucking ridiculous.” Now, she knew I wasn’t directing it towards her because of the context of our conversation. She stopped and said, “You just made my day, really.” (I am respectful when the occasion calls for it, I’m not a fool!)

So I guess the moral of the story is to be authentic and tell folks what you think, or something like that.

It’s actually the weirdest feeling at times. I’ll be about to say or write something, and the very young people pleasing Camilla will whisper, Oh, don’t say that. I’ll be like, nah, girl, we done with that shit. It’s taken every nerve, every butterfly in my belly, and every ounce of strength to get where I am, and I’m not going back!

It’s awesome how many folks appreciate it, too. And the one’s who don’t … well, that ain’t got shit to do with me. Must get to bed now. Meetings and Linguistics class tomorrow, and work, and the C18 Halloween Dance Party!!

The Dehron Visit Comes to an End

October 21 2024

Last hugs and laughs before @fosterdehron and John head home. I love the memories of my Jr High years in Houma, Louisiana! And I love the friendships that have stood the test of time. Thanks for the comfort and listening ear on Saturday! And all the laughs, too. Love you my friend!! ❤️❤️❤️

Junior High School Friends Reunited – INOVA Paint n Sip

October 18 2024

My Jr High School friend, @dehronfoster, is visiting from New Mexico with their partner, John. Y’all. I am having the time of my life!!! 🖤💥💥💥🖤 Paint n sip at INOVA!!!

Y’all. This sums it up. Dehron knew me as a shy, quiet teen. Ha!! I saved all my loud, boldness for my grown ass woman years! 😎 I love the memories of my Jr High years in Houma, Louisiana! And I love the friendships that have stood the test of time. How lucky am I that my friend @dehronfoster came to Reno this weekend!! I hope one day all of us can get together!! We ain’t done. Tomorrow night will be a blast! 🖤💥🖤

Nevada Humanities Literary Crawl 2024

October 12 2024

Yesterday I attended an author chat at UNR as part of Literary Crawl. It was informative and so wonderful to meet you @kiminthewest! I’m inspired by you! 💖💖💖 Thank you to Nevada Humanities for the Literary Crawl!

2024 Nevada Literary Crawl! Wonderful to see my poetry friends shine and share their talent. Thank you to @nevada_humanities for organizing this fantastic event! 🖤🖤🖤

Poetry: Goodbye

October 6 2024

An oldie I don’t think I shared. 🖤

Goodbye

I’m leaving
I’ve done all I can

The disappointment that keeps getting delivered
Fractures my heart into a trillion pieces
My nervous system simply
Cannot take the rise and fall,
The dopamine hits
Of the delicious intense encounters
And the heart breaking let down
Of disappointment

Farewell

I’m headed to the craft store
To buy glue, steel, and comfort

I’ll glue the pieces of my heart
Back together,
Melting the steel
Into the crevices
Smooshing in words of comfort, strength,
and resilience
More glue,
More melted steel
More words

So long

I’ll calm the elephants stampeding
Across my heart
I’ll take the love that has hit a dead end
The love that has no where to go

I’ll feed it to the elephants
Pouring the love into them,
Onto them, over them
Until they slowly calm
Inhaling the love with their snouts
Wrapping me in their herd
Taking me into their trust
Showering me with that same love

Showering me, rocking me with their love
Until my heart has healed
Reviving my ability to love
Showering until my light returns
Until the joy returns

They disperse
I disperse
Having a fortified heart
Feeling calm, peaceful

Dare I say
Ready to do it
All over again

That is, of course,
After this process has
Repeated from
Five to five hundred and fifty five times

Goodbye
Farewell
So long
Camilla Downs 2024

Deep Dive – Power, Identity and Social Justice

October 5 2024

Deep dive into my classes. Power, Identity & Social Justice – I love this class. This is an introduction to gender, race, and other identities and inequalities. Currently, I’m minoring in Social Justice. I met with the GRI advisor last week to get clarity on whether I’m keeping this as my minor or switching it. I really liked what he had to say, and am leaning towards keeping it as my minor. I’m meeting with a few other advisors in different departments next week to further that clarity.

Our big project is a group project. Each group chose a local social justice organization from a provided list. We are to research the history of the topic the organization focuses on, interview someone from the organization, and write a paper along with a presentation. My group chose Canyonwalker Connections. (Looking at you Kathy V. Baldock!!) I suggested three organizations of which I know the founders or directors, and my group mates were most interested in this one.

I had my first midterm last week. Whew! Anxiety hell, y’all! In one month, I register for Spring 2025 semester. Onward!!