“What is the ecology?
This book already exists in an ecology of kindred works.”
                -Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals, page 11

                On Friday I got to meet Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs, and hear her talk about her next book. In her talk she asked us to each dedicate the work we were about to do together to someone in our life, someone not in the room but with us. We shared our dedications with the person sitting next to us. So I got to hear about Lala, my new friend’s mother, and to share about my mother—these artists, crafters, community-makers. The ecologies we come from already intertwined and moving to connect.
                Of course my ecologies have lots of books in them. That’s part of what this blog is: words and sentences that grow roots, that give me my roots, that intertwine. Memories live in these ecologies, too: waiting at the front of the theater to meet Dr. Gumbs. Sitting with my partner years before, reading Dr. Gumbs’ pages as we find the passages we’ll say as part of our wedding. And future moments: I haven’t read the dedication Dr. Gumbs wrote in our book. I want to read it for the first time with my partner. And literal roots. I miss the sycamores I walk past everyday when I’m in Illinois. I sit here, feeling far from them. And then for a moment I feel them, touching earth that’s touching earth that’s touching roots that’s touching earth that’s touching water that’s touching earth all the way to here, and I’m grateful to exist in these ecologies.