lovella

So I know I’ve been out of touch for a little while…
I don’t know if I am ready to send you an update, I have not really processed all that’s gone on as of late, but I know its been awhile and I wanted to say hello and that I really really miss having you all so close to me. I am a bit lonely I admit. I have been SO busy the past couple weeks with work, as in working late every single day and the whole or at least part of the past 3 weekends! Not here to complain cuz I’m glad I was part of these events. But I’m just saying that’s part of why I haven’t been in touch and its led to major craziness in my head and heart. So its slowing down for about a week with some more travel at the end of the month and a visitor next week. Don’t forget, I am hoping that you’ll all come and see me, though I am planning a possible trip home at the beginning of September to meet my newest niece if she’s arrived by then.
One of the things that I’ve been working on at work, which is taking up much heart and mind space is the “Eyes Wide Open” exhibit. The exhibit was to highlight the human cost of the Iraqi war and was a showcase of over 850 pairs of boots to represent the American soldiers (along with names, ages and states) who have lost their lives in this war. In addition we added 1000 pairs of “civilian” shoes to represent 1/16 of the over 16,000 Iraqi lives that have been lost. The inside part of the exhibit was more in-depth and was something like this “Take a multimedia, multisensory journey through the words, images, and sounds of the Iraq war. Move through a vivid memorial to the war's military and civilian victims and see compelling evidence of what the war is costing us at home.” This was a very emotional exhibit and weekend and touched people, including myself in many ways. Note that we exhibited in on July 4th weekend in a touristy area, so there was a lot of traffic and pretty good reception. For more details, please do check out the www.afsc.org website and go to “Eyes Wide Open” logo on the left of the page. It may be coming to your area!
The weekend before this was the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth conference which went over well and I met some great people. I helped plan one of the events, an open mic at an LGBTQ space here in town. It went well. The actual conference I helped out with, and participated in as well. From this, I became one of the members of the Steering Committee for the Network. The working website for that is www.youthandthemilitary.org although what it looks like should change soon.
I’m working backwards now for some reason. Before that I went to the Hip Hop Political Convention which I know some of you are very jealous about. I met some great people there too and got to listen to some music. And after that conference in Newark, I got to go visit my friend in NYC as I did on July 4th and 5th.
Anyway, I know you’re bored by now right!? I didn’t have much of a life outside of work the past couple weeks though, so that’s why it took up so much room. Like I said, its been difficult here all by myself. I have some great friends here in Philly (and NYC) that I’m looking forward to spending more time with now that I can but I also miss the old days when I was with you all in Michigan or the Philippines or China or… As you may remember I am living by myself for the next couple months. It is a strange thing that I have never experienced before. I do often enjoy it, when I blast the Indigo Girls while I take a shower in the morning and when I leave my piles of papers and jewelry wherever the hell I want but… you know, I don’t have anybody to laugh at my messes with or sing silly songs with. Though I know you are all always with me, you have created me and I whole-heartedly thank you for that. A friend said to me the other day, “You’ve been sad ever since I met you.” Since he said that I realized the bitter truth of it and have decided that in addition to that sadness, I am making a commitment to balance it with more happiness and fun! I know that sadness is a necessary part of me, of life, and of happiness, but I also know that I don’t want it to dominate who I am. So that’s that, for now. I am going to be updating my blog (online journal) more now, so please go there and I won’t crowd up your inbox so much. I’ll be putting some of my poetry there, or at least I’m gonna have a link to it there. www.lovella.blogspot.com
I LOVE YOU!

posted by Lovella Rose @ 6:20 PM 0 comments