Be Someone's Radical Auntie

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Today, I give thanks to the Radical Aunties of the world.

At any given game during my storied Little League baseball career, you would have heard my people cheering me on — loudly and disproportionately. My mom was there along with my Aunties — Peggy, Joyce, Cherita, Kim, and whoever else was drafted into the role of family during this season of my Mom's life. They were loud, maybe a little tipsy (Lore has it that there was beer and wine involved), and always there to defend, support, and love me into my whole self.

Not sure if the booze part is true, but what is true is that I was raised by committee — a group of Radical Aunties. Yes, "radical" is all relative, but for me, radical means that they were left in their politics, progressives in their social awareness, and deeply committed to community-thriving over individuality.

This past week, I had the opportunity to share a meal with some of those Auties who played a huge role in raising me. As time has passed, we've all grown older, and some Aunties have passed away, but one constant is the power of their presence and impact on my life.

I can't even begin to count the moments and gestures of love that placed their mark on my life. Gestures were not always about politics and social issues, but, about the radical commitment to be family beyond blood or marriage. Radical gestures included rides to and from school/practices, dining and travel adventures beyond mom's budget, cool clothes buying, gifting me my first brand-new-to-me car (197x Toyota Corona), showing up at all the games, helping my mother make parenting decisions, and always being there for my mother in ways that allowed her to be there for me.

Thank you Radical Aunties!

I have been hooked on this Paramount+ Show, SkyMed. Yes, it is brain-candy binging of beautiful people making questionable life choices, but it also has some threads about love, relationships, calling, family, and more. The show is based in Canada and has a diverse cast that touches upon multiple cultural and social storylines. On more than one occasion, I have found myself weeping over the attention to the indigenous characters' references to "the community," their naming of "family" being beyond blood, and their consistent acknowledgment of the power and complexities of knowing one's ancestors.

One character is going through a season of self-awareness about his indigeneity and his connection to his mother's community. As he walks into one room and is being introduced to aunties, uncles, and cousins, he asks, "Am I related to all of these people?" His uncle responds basically with something like, "Yes, and some by blood," reinforcing the theme that one's people and one's community are not defined solely by bloodlines, but by a connection to the spirit of people, the land, and the self.

In another thread, the during main character, Kristal's, struggle with identity, vocation, community, and wanting to be all the the things to all the people, her grandmother helps her to understand that she is already many things at once and that she has never been and is not now alone — her ancestors have been, will be and here her to guide her. This was ugly cry TV for me.

For those connected to communities for whom the " . . . and some even my blood" and, "our ancestors will guide us" spirit is deeply ingrained, these are not new concepts, but to see these realities portrayed on TV with such tenderness and realism is affirming and compelling.

Without question, the Radical Aunties in my life gave of their time, their resources, their energy, and their love to support my mother by helping to raise and form me. I will forever be grateful and compelled to create space where this cycle of support and presence will be repeated for the current generations, and generations to come.

Most recently, during my recent trip to Palestine, we had conversations about radical aunties. There was a little one on the trip (images used with permission from the parents), and my own kid, who has been raised by their own set of Radical Aunties, was tasked with being the Radical Auntie to another.

The Radical Auntie circle is being completed again.

Today, I encourage you to name and give thanks for those Radical Auties who raised you and to take a deep breath of pride and encouragement for the ways in which you have been invited into being the Radical Auntie to others.

Peace,

For kicks and giggles, here is another Little League and the only time I will ever be an Astros fan 😄

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