Miami Mami

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A four hour plane ride dropped me off in the "Magic City" of Miami. I booked this trip with the intention to celebrate my birthday, but also the completeion of my eighth year of teaching (which was also the hardest year of my professional life). I have never felt that I "needed a vacation", until this one. And, I am so glad that I invested in me and a designated time of refreshment and play. Below are some highlights from the trip:

1) Diveristy: It was so refreshing to be in a city that was so diverse and full of life. Miami is known for being densely populated with people from Latin America, but it also had a bustling population of black people. The ratios teetered in the favor of people of color and I loved it. It made me realize how "white" Denver is and how much my own preceptions on life have been formed by growing up in a prodominately white city. I grew up with a lot of diversity around me thanks to the efforts of my parents, but upon entering the education field and making friends via that profession my world has seemed to become less diverse. Coming home, I want to continue to seek out diversity and to check my own preceptions on success and beauty that have been formed by the "white ideal".

2)I love to dance: I've alwyas known this. I mean, one of my earliest memories is dancing on top of the vaccum cleaner to Michael Jackson. But, upon hitting Miami, I just wanted to dance. When we went to 'Little Havana" on Calle Ocho we stumpled upon a block party and they had a live band that played Salsa. The crowd was comprised of all ages, prodiminetly Cuban-Americans, and both males and females. And guess what, everyone danced. One of my favorite dancers was this 90 year old woman. She only stood about four and half feet due to her hunched back, but she was still tearing it up as she salsa stepped through the crowd. This dancer would only take momentary breaks by resting on her walker when the music would pause. I love that. I want to be that. 

3) Miami Fashion: I packed my carry on bag with almost a dozen outfit choices and four pairs of shoes. Yes, I was only there four days...but you never know what kind of an outfit the day will call for. While walking South Beach, which is Miami's most iconic beach, you will see all types of dress. Some wear their body con club dresses and their stilletos, some are still in their swimsuit from the morning's swim, some pull out all the stops and flaunt their bodies with mere mesh covering the essential parts. It was fun. It was free. It was refreshing. Here in Denver, most of the population walks around looking like they are going on a hike at any moment or that they just got out of a trendy spin class. Basically, theres a lot of granola and a lack of jazz. A lack of zest for life. And, I really appreciated people's love for their bodies. They didn't use clothes to hide from the world or to blend in, but instead they used their clothing to stand out and flaunt what their momma gave 'em. 

4) "Hey, Mami": I got called "mami" over a dozen times....and only two of those times did I recieve it from a man. No, it's not used to hit on people...but instead its just a loving term of enderment that I love! I can't really describe it, but it makes you feel real good. Real proud to be a woman. And I plan to use the word "mami" more frequently when interatcing with the women in my life because a simple, "okayyyyy, mami" goes a long way. 

5) On the edge: I have been living these past nine months of my life in a state of "fight or flight". This school year wrecked me in multiple ways. I had to deal with children telling me "Fuck you" to my face, I had to break up fights in my own classroom, I had to deal with kids bringing drugs to school, I had to deal with kids drinking while at school, I had to file a Title IX report after students were openly and aggressively sexually harrassing me. I almost quit. Several times, but I prevailed. I pushed through and I flourished in so many ways. However, although it was a victorious I still was run ragged and on edge at the end of it all. This trip truly helped me to refresh and at one point I looked at myself and said, "There you are". I saw myself and I looked like myself. I didnt look rundown, tired, or hard in the brow. Instead, I looked soft, joyful, rested, and glowing. I am thankful for vicotories, but I am most grateful for rest. 

Miami was good to me and I plan to take what I learned from being a "Miami Mami" and carry it into my daily living.