Before I Am Erased

<p><strong>They expected a woman like me to disappear quietly. I chose the opposite.</strong><br><br>I'm 64. Ethiopian by birth. American by necessity. And I've been called many things: Revolutionary. Refugee. Doctor. Mother. Liar. Lover. Ghost.<br><br>Parkinson's is hijacking my body one tremor at a time but my mind is still sharp. Before it steals anything else I'm taking it all back: my story my silence my name. And I'm finally facing what I left buried...a child I lost and a son who tried to bury me.</p><p>Through it all there's still laughter-sisters who coax me into reckless road trips and drag me to sip-and-paint (don't ask about the bananas and eggplants). This is the year I finally say yes to risk pleasure and the woman I smothered just to survive.<br><br>I'm not here to be pitied.<br>I'm here to outlive every lie.</p>