Genevieve's Gems

You know, there's a lot of activism that doesn't deal with empowerment, and you have to empower yourself in order to be relevant to any type of struggle.

~ Talib Kweli, Musician (b.1975)

Halloween

I saw this outside one of the stores downtown.

Winter Is Coming

I was just a few feet away from my furry friend when I snapped this photo. He might be looking for acorns to store away for the winter.

Crossroads

Crossroads come up more often than you think, at least it does with me. So many choices, so many changes. When the choices are all good, then there's a dilemma of choosing which is the best road to take.  

Crossroads, in my mind, means change. Whatever happened in the past is past. the door has closed or is closing. Looking ahead there's uncertainty, trepidation, fear, and no familiarity. You can't stay where you are because change is inevitable. The only recourse is to proceed ahead. 

I'm sure the early pioneers had all the feeling mentioned above and yet they continued moving ahead. They were obstacles and setbacks but they kept going. That's the choice we all will have to make when we're at the crossroads of life.      

Genevieve's Gems

One is always considered mad, when one discovers something that others cannot grasp.


~Ed Wood, Director (1924-1978)

Ile Royale Light

Located on an island off the coast of French Guyana, Ile Royal is among a group of prisons where the worst criminals and political prisoners were sent. The 95 foot structure is almost half brick ad the rest is a skeletal structure. A watchtower, gallery and lantern top the structure.

The lighthouse is still in operation and is a tourism attraction. The water around the island is infested with sharks.


Resources:

http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/photos/SouthAmerica/IleRoyale/index.htm 
http://www.pbase.com/zulakitten/isle_royale

Transgender Day Of Remembrance

I looked at the memorializing 2014 section of the Transgender Day of Remembrance website. The list seems to be larger and younger. The youngest was eight years old. Brazil sees the most transgender women murdered and this year is no different. 

With the increased visibility has come the increased violence against trans women, the vast majority women of color. We're getting it from all sides from the religious right to trans-exclusion feminists to politicians to law enforcement. We are moving forward, however.  At TDOR vigils I make it a point to pay homage to one person. This year will be no different. I will make this decision at a later date. 

In the meantime, we all need to be vigilent at this important time in history. Remembrance vigils will be held in many places around the world. Please attend one to honor the sisters and brothers we have lost this year.

Genevieve's Gems

Don't let people disrespect you. My mom says don't open the door to the devil. Surround yourself with positive people.

~Cuba Gooding, Jr., Actor (b.1968)  

My Thoughts

Over the past several months a number of trans women have been murdered. The majority of them were women of color. The more visibility we have received, the more the haters of trans people have come out.

I can understand those outside the TGLBQI community hating us. It's those inside the community that I find rehensible. We all suffered from harrasment and fear and loss of livelihoods. When the leadership positions were formed (predominantly white and male) trans people, CDs, and drag queens were shunted to the margins. Trans people were not only kept out of their organizations, we were prevented from receiving any kind of help. Personally, I feel that groups like Gay Inc.  are somewhat responsible for some of the troubles trans people experience.  Add the TERF crowd and the religious right, then there's a recipe for trouble.

I'm my travels there are many people inside and outside the community who are lacking in understanding what transgender people face. With the Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremonies coming up in a month or so, there's still so much more educating to be done. I also believe that transphobia (especially inside the community) needs to be called out.

I still believe that if trans rights were put in front in the formative years, many of the issues affecting the comunity would have been resolved. That's just my own thoughts. Let's pray that our increased visibility will open more eyes to the fact that we exist.

Genevieve's Gems

Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse

Originally built in 1825, this is the current structure which was constructed in 1875. It is located near Annapolis at the north end of the South River.,  Maryland. It is the only screw-light in Maryland still on its original spot. 

Reference:
www.thomaspointlighthouse.org

Genevieve's Gems

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.

~Charles Spurgeon, Clergyman (1834-1892)

Last Quarter of 2014

Today is the start of the last three months of 2014. Usually my life activities pick up especially in November. Where did the year go?

Have achieved some of the goals you set back in January? It's still not too late. I have discovered that the last quarter of the year is a time for reflection. There have been a few instances where I was a state of limbo. The picture has become much clearer and now it's up to me to follow it up.

Hot And Dry

When I was in the deserts of southeastern California, two aspects of the scenery I remember vividly. It was very hot and dry. There seemed to be no life there. You wondered how anything could survive out there in that climate.

Sometimes are lives are like the desert. You feel stuck in the middle of nowhere, not knowing which direction to go. I have felt that way on a number of occasions. Perhaps, God is allowing me to have a break from all the activity and access what's really important. I do know that things will be different from what they were. 

It can be scary with the uncertainty surrounding us.  I am reminded that I am not alone. God is there even when there seems to be nothing around me that makes sense or we can put an anchor on something that tangible. I am reminded that know I don't understand everything He is right there paving the way. I just need to trust and follow. 

Genevieve's Gems

The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.

~William Morris, Designer (1834-1896)

New London Ledge Lighthouse

New London Ledge Lighthouse is located Thames River, located at the mouth of New London Harbor. I was struck that such a ornate structure was built in the middle of a busy waterway.

New London Ledge is on the list of haunted lighthouses. The ghost of a man named 'Ernie' who had committed suicide by slashing his throat. His body was taken by the sea but his spirit remains taking care of the lighthouse.

Poem

Amtrak
By Richard J. Fein

"We're not getting anywhere.
All you do is keep on asking
why, why. I've told you again
and again, I wasn't thinking.
What more do you want me to say?
You've got to put it behind you. Look
...huh?...hmmm...uh-huh...OKbye."
Sidling out, turning, as if needing
the rest room, I pause
ever so slightly, feign
at righting my balance before
going down the aisle,
shoot my furtive look at the body of the voice
on the cell phone-maybe twenty,
pale, white sweater, white skirt, running shoes,
and staring into the back of my seat
as if her eyes were burning a hole
right through the upholstery
to my antimacassar,
but what I can't keep
from fixing on
is the slab
of elliptic buttons on her lap.

Genevieve's Gems

It is only the farmer who faithfully plant seeds in the spring, who reaps a harvest in the autumn.


~B.C. Forbes, Journalist (1880-1954)

Autumn

Autumn will be here next week (where did the summer go?). It's my favorite season because I love the beauty of the landscape when the leaves change colors. It signals that the summer's planting and watering will yield a bountiful harvest. Apples are ripe for picking and so are grapes.

Autumn is a reminder that I am to be thankful for what good thing has come my way. I learn from the bad events and do whatever I can to correct them. As fall's slumber gradually comes let 's give thanks for all that  has happened.

We Are Called

This past Sunday's sermon really spoke to me. The minister shared that we are called by God. Our youth, preparation, and sense of inadequacies does not eliminate us from His calling.

The second point stressed was that it isn't about us. The point of Christians being called is to bring God's love and kingdom to the spiritually lost and dying. Moses didn't feel that he was good enough to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Jonah did everything he could to get out of going to Nineveh. Jeremiah thought that he was too young to prophesy to the people of his day. The sermon by the way was taken from Jeremiah chapter1, verses 4 through 10.  

God knew who we were to be before we were born. He knew that I was transgender before I was ever conceived. The takeaway message I received is I am to follow God's call whether or not I'm ready or feel ill- equipped. It's a message to all of us who call ourselves God's children.