One of those spirits is from 2016. I was in Philly then, at Greyhound then. Night after night I would watch the NYC buses load up with Hillary for President people. I knew then even though I would deny it that her race was in trouble. I don’t have a similar finger on the pulse today, and even if I did my current location is an aberration. I made a plan for election night, I had to. If things go sideways I don’t want to be ‘alone’.

Another spirit is from 1990. My final year at Girls High. Treble Clef gave me a path to graduation but I wasn’t able to move past advisory and not being included in the senior activities. I was isolated and that isolation led to ‘things’ happening.

Another is from 2000. I was about 700 months pregnant and disenchanted with the work at AFSCME. I wasn’t fearful of being a single mother but I was fearful of being a mother. I worried I could not protect my child from what I endured. How silly of me. I can look back and realize that I did a good job but I wasn’t able to look forward to see how. Funny how that works right?

2021 was chaotic and I’d be days away from the conference which would allow me to change the trajectory of my life and my zip code. I’ve wondered if I would ever be that hopeful and happy and expectant again. I’ve learned the answer to that is yes.

2024 is not without her challenges, after all this IS the life of Nicole. Ironically the current state of the union will not allow me to meander through the emotions tied to the calendar. In a sense I am grateful. In another sense I am also highly skilled and prepared. I get to dust off some skills, enhance new ones I’ve learned and on the other side of this will be victory. Victory doesn’t necessarily equal getting all that I request but that is what I aim for regardless. After all the worst they can say is no. No doesn’t have to be the answer though which is why we have the fight. There are many who thought they could conquer or beat me who’ve learned otherwise. This moment is not different. Let’s go repeat some history Nicole.