Devonne Brown

Photo by Douglas John Imbrogno

“I’ve survived one hundred percent of the days that were just God-awful. I am happy to be alive on good days. I do wonder about what’s next though. Next. What’s coming? I’ve got a lot coming on my plate. I have many choices to make, much to be careful of, and much to be thankful for.

A word of the unknown. Fear of the unknown. Keeping my back to the walls, corners, and trees. Watching the world with dread, waiting for the worst to come, and sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn’t, yet waiting just the same. It’s insane.

I’m happy to watch children be happy, and talk to me with trust in their voices, and answer hard questions with compassion. 

I’m happy to write, with my posse or by myself.  I’m happy to fashion words from my brain to the page. I create characters from descriptions of emotion in settings with pictures in language all by myself. I don’t need no steeenkin’ AI. 

Next, forget next and live in this moment. Experience joy, beauty in pretty glasses, in brooches that glisten, in choices you make. Experience sadness, depression, and loneliness when the times are right. Go to the top of all the mountains wherever you are. 

I can’t forget the “Next,” I’m at the age of “Next.” I’m curious and nervous about the hereafter. I’m retiring soon. I am trepidatious about the whole thing. A transition of monumental proportions, as big as having kids, almost.

I’ve always wanted to “Graduate.”