Ten.Nine Hundred & Forty-Three

1. 3:30 comes quickly.

2. So dark. So foggy. Pre-flight jitters.

3. She sits with me at the table and gets on the phone. When she’s done I ask her if she’s a doctor. She is. An Ob/Gyn. A black one. She says she taught at Wake Forest. I tell her that I went to Wake Forest too. Small world.

4. A whole row to myself. The stewardess is a little chatty for 6 am. That’s okay. Could be worse.

5. Only in California would I sit next to a black guy eating vegan jerky. Right?

6. Everything looks entirely different. I can’t figure out how to get out of the airport. But it’s nice. It’s really nice.

7. Mom and dad. Nitro. I feed him my leftover french fries.

8. Not enough time.

9. I pick a room at the back of the house, upstairs, away from the noise. I have a feeling I’m the oldest one, the only one in need of going to bed much earlier than everyone else.

10. I’ve been looking forward to this night for so long.

11. Omar Tate. Ashtin Berry. I see Chef Elle across the way. And Klancy Miller. And Krystal Mack.

12. So much people-ing. But all so good. So much to learn. Grateful to be in spaces with those who are willing to ask questions and have difficult conversations.