You surely don’t look your age! And I am already following you, I realized. I have been “curating” my follows for a number of reasons. The fact you are still among my “follows” means that I like your work and that you are consistently you: there is another compliment. I don’t do any other social media so it came as a surprise to me to find people who claimed to be allies in most of their work using demeaning words towards those they claimed to care about. I found that weird but it happens in real life, too. I can avoid racists, homophobes, sexists and such on Medium just as I do in life. And so far, it is working well.

I began writing only responses and that is all I wrote for a very long time. I need to do what so many others have done, alto is the first I remember seeing, and make my work easier to find. Although some of my best writing is in responses to the words and experiences of others. I like making connections and building community here.

I had completely forgotten I wrote what you quoted, I am embarrassed to admit. Yet it is true and felt good to read, again. I obviously need to curate my own stories!

Honestly, most of my “real life” friends are younger than I am by 15 to 20 years. I adore them all, but I have been blessed to read the work of Sherry and you and some other amazing women closer to my age and older, too. And some who are as wise as we’ve become although not as old like MelHopkins.com, Ezinne Ukoha and my compass of truth, Emjay Em. But every time I start listing writers I like I get into trouble with myself because I forget so many. While I continue curating my “follows” I think I shall make a few lists of women and men who inspire and teach me: what a gift to know that I am never too old to learn, to think outside of the box of me, to be challenged and grow! I had lunch yesterday with a friend I have known since the 7th grade. She moved to another state 7 years ago. We keep in touch but what we talked about yesterday was enlightening and heady. The wealth inside us kind of surprised me yet also made me crave more. Then I realized lots of that is here.

I’m glad I caused you to laugh! It really has been a long, hard week. Knowing that I caused someone to laugh brings it to a happier close. And, as a bonus, you caused me to laugh, too!

I look forward to knowing you better via Medium!