AUNTIE’S PHOTO-DUMP, DAHLING Loving up on my oldest niece today, tomorrow, forever and always Brought my adorable oldest niece back up to NY with me a few weeks ago for the first time, and my heart is still so full from the moments and memories we got to create with each other. Over the years, as we’ve spent time with each other, I’ve always been either visitor in her world (traveling back to Philly to visit the fam) ... or the auntie that’s coming down from NY to join the family for our annual family vacation. Was on the phone with my older brother last month catching up as we usually do, when I simply found myself saying “I want her to experience me in my life.” She is fully aware of who I unapologetically am, but had only experienced me in curated family settings. I wanted my niece to see how her Black queer non-binary auntie navigated her world, showing her that one could exist joyfully, successfully, and unapologetically in their uniqueness. My brother sensing that my statement had my mind racing with realizations of the relationship I wanted to co-create with my niece, simply said, “well, let’s plan a trip for her to visit you.” A few weeks later my brother was driving my niece and I back to Brooklyn after spending Christmas in Philadelphia. After going on a NY shopping spree with her the night before, where she had the agency to pick out her own lewks (obvi with auntie’s fashion guidance) ... the day came for our NY adventure. An early morning walk to my favorite local park (had to stop by the swings), a chic brunch overlooking a gorgeous view, a lil gender fluid shopping for auntie on 5th ave, a lil night on Broadway to see one of her fav Disney movies on stage, and ending the evening with a fancy lil dinner date .... dahling, we👏🏾had👏🏾a👏🏾day!!! The next morning was a lazy morning inside watching some of her favorite movies and cartoons. My dad soon arrived to take her back to Philly ... as I waved ‘see ya later’ and watched my dad’s jeep turn off my Brooklyn block I could only think to myself ...”how blessed I am.” Grateful and blessed that I get to co-create these moments of laughter, adventure, wonderment, happiness with her 💛