This week sees a new experience, a new journey for my puppy and me. This week is our birthday week, our first one with me on earth and him in the spirit realm. Juxtaposed against this new experience is the familiar pull of the summer season, the days where she turns deeper into herself and the still summer sun, cricket-filled nights offer a calm music-filled backdrop for time pockets of writing and sharing. Thank you for staying here with me, for your patience with the pause on new posts, while I took late spring’s energy to reconnect with the plants, animals, and humans around my neighborhood. Marked moments have unfolded in my dreamworld and waking life, eager to be penned on paper and typed on keyboard, and shared with all of you through this newly named iteration of my newsletter — Songs for Nene.
Nene…
Nene is the nickname I was given by my dad’s side of the family. “Little girl” is the best translation from Ilonggo to English. I’m sometimes Manang and often Ate (in Tagalog), a term of deference — or I like to think, endearment — for a woman elder relation amongst siblings and cousins.
Now I’m Mama to my own little girl, a daughter who I’ve also nicknamed Nene. A bold inheritance.
This newsletter is a journal compiling stories and memories of the beautiful moments that span the vast range of human emotional experience, sometimes in spoken word and sometimes in song. Voice recordings accompany posts sharing the timbre in my voice.
These words are the magic potions written from one Nene to another Nene with the intention to capture the wisdom of little girls.
More about me, Jessica…
I am a mother and a writer working on my first book, a collection of small moments that portray the deep love between a human and her animal companion. Promenades with trees, sitting amongst flowers, observing squirrels, and time with my daughter are cherished moments. Sharing my writing feels like sharing ceremony honoring the small transitions that occur throughout the day, life events, evolving identities, and moments of loss and grief.
My ongoing scholarship hones my knowledge on herbalism, education, and decolonization. I am soon returning to doctoral study in counseling psychology — a path that draws upon my natural inclination of viewing the world through the repeating patterns and cycles in our stories. Other facets of myself include being a trained classical pianist and former touring synth player (I’ve played SXSW and Pop Montreal back in the day). I receive such joy from teaching piano lessons to pupils wishing to explore their emotions and a passion for self-expression through music. I love working with youth, especially when it involves the arts and creativity. Leading an early learning music and movement class at a local dance studio is a new step reviving the dancer within me that moved and breathed fully.
All of this culminates in the being that is me — Jessica — a person who gains a deep sense of fulfillment from creating holistic offerings that focus on wellness and healing for kindred spirits.
Why subscribe?
I am honored and grateful that you are here with me taking in these words.
By subscribing to “Songs for Nene”, you become part of the community that keeps me going. Your continued presence and interaction gives me the courage
to keep sharing my writing.
Thank you for being here.