It is from murky, dirty ponds that lotus flowers emerge. The lotus exists as beauty juxtaposed against the opaque waters that once hosted and nourished it. That the offspring manages to look clean against its dismal background is indeed miraculous. My given name translated into English means “lotus flower.” This is not something I take lightly. I have emerged from circumstances and survived events that have been difficult to surmount and that, looking at their sum total, may seem impossible to overcome. But here I am!

Besides having a fly name with a sexy meaning, I am simply a woman who is incredible aware of her mortality and the brevity of life. Friends my age and younger are exiting this plane of existence in greater numbers than I could have imagined they would. The outer branches of my family tree are thinning.  I don’t like it. That being said, I have no time to dawdle or delay. I have no time to waste trying to convince people who don’t like me that they should like me, or people who don’t love me why I am worthy of their love. I’ve got things to do, and last minute dreams to accomplish. I can’t remain in the mud staring at the darkness around me. I’ve reached the top of the water; I feel the sun on my face and the rain on my skin. And here, I will stay. Axé.