Welcome everyone. Thank you for coming to share some of your time with me again, and to those of you who are seeing this Newsletter for the first time, or have just subscribed to the Newsletter, Welcome to This Little Light of MineJune Newsletter.
Well, I sure hope you enjoyed this month with all of its community events, Get Togethers, and festivals and celebrations. I hope you got to spend some quality time with your (old and new) friends and families.
Thanks for reading This Little Light of Mine: Addena’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Many of us, for various reasons, don’t have Blood Family around us but it’s important that we have an established family around us that we can count on for support, respect, love, and acceptance. . If that can’t be our Birth Family, we can still have the people we love and respect, and people that have chosen and have been committed to be our (Chosen) Family.
Family
You can create a family
mold one with love, like soft red clay.
Shape it, smooth it, soothe it, blow on it gently.
You can repair the scars of tragedy,
chip at them faithfully, everyday.
Shape them, smooth them, soothe them, blow on them
Gently.
You can re-scribe your history
chisel barricades away.
You can create a family.
Shape it, smooth it, soothe it, blow on it gently.
I’m going to share with you photos of Some of my “Chosen Family” that I have built and chiseled and molded and they, in turn, have built, chiseled and helped to mold me:
My biggest regret about my Chosen Family (not any of them pictured here) is that I have lost some of them (not through death, but for two other reasons: Reason one is because of their decisions to choose not to be vaccinated (and I couldn’t risk my family’s health and my other friend’s and family’s lives by being with them).
The second reason I’ve chosen to eliminate a few others (that I really considered friends) from my life with no regrets is because they chose to support and admire Donald Trump and his philosophies and his agenda as well as his MAGA Party’s agenda. Everyone has the right to choose who to follow, but the decision that I had to make - was if that is where their heart and mind was, then it crossed a serious line for me. I have no regrets about that decision.
If that’s the path that they have chosen for themselves, there can be no further friendship or connection between us.
Thanks to Allison for this event . Allison Rocks!!
Some of the most fun events (festivals) are the Pride Celebrations!
They started near the end of May and many of them were in June.
. Winnipeg, Manitoba — June 1.
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories — June 8.
Iqaluit, Nunavut — June 10.
Regina, Saskatchewan — June 14.
· Kelowna Pride Month: May 30- June 30, 2025
The theme of this 25th year festival : RISE AND RESIST. People were invited to celebrate in solidarity and come together as a community. We honoured and acknowledged that we are visitors on the traditional territories of the Syix-Okanagan peoples of the Inner Salish Nation.
We attended the Pride Week’s final rounds of ‘Kelowna’s Next Drag Superstar 2025’ events that were at Red Bird Brewing - An event presented by Heritage Law group. The events were the end of a fierce competition with finalist battling for the crown. Ella Lamoureux hosted the events. They were super fun with amazingly talented, creative, and unique competing acts . The venue was great for food, beer, liquor, and great vibes. It was great to be in an atmosphere like that.
**** If your city’s Pride Month and events were in June, and you missed them, don’t fret. If you are travelling on summer holidays, you still have Pride month to celebrate in August in Edmonton.
In fact, just in case you are travelling around this Summer, Pride Parades are happening different dates all across the country. For instance, this year Pride Parades were/are are still schedule to be happening: Toronto: Main events are scheduled to be from June 26 to June 29. The parade is on the last day, and should be packed with revelers. Last year there was over 200,000 marchers.
Toronto, Ontario — June 29.
Victoria, British Columbia — July 6.
Fredericton, New Brunswick — July 12.
Halifax, Nova Scotia — July 19.
London, Ontario --- July 20.
St. John’s, Newfoundland — July 20.
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island – July 26.
(Vancouver, British Columbia Celebrations from July 21- Aug. 3)
Vancouver Pride Parade Sunday, August 3.
Make sure to read about all the new, fun, and fabulous events you don’t want to miss.
Below is a link to the “All Things Pride” event schedule for Vancouver. Make sure to read to the fun and fabulous events you don’t want to miss. Here is a “All Things Pride” event schedule for Vancouver.
This past month, in Philadelphia, the annual “Odunde Festival” was held. I was fascinated, intrigued, and really happy to learn about it.
I have pieced together some information about it to share with you.
Odunde , means Happy New Year in Swahili.
This street festival celebrated its 50th years this year! It was started with a grant of $100 by a woman, Lois Fernandez who had a vision of an inclusive Festival and celebration. The concept originates from the Yoruba people of Nigeria, West Africa, and it celebrates the coming of another year for African Americans and Africanized people around the world. The festival begins by “invoking the Goddess.” A colorful procession walks from 23rd and South Street to the Schuylkill River where an offering of fruit and flowers is made to Oshun, the Yoruba Goddess of the river.
Photo by Hanbit Kwan
Now, in 2025, Lois Fernandez’s children & grandchildren are involved in the planning, because, as Lois said: “I’ve gone for at least 40 years”. This beautiful inclusive festival celebration is now led by Fernandez’s daughter, Oshunbumi Fernandez-West.
This morning I was lounging in bed thinking (which I do most mornings before getting up). Most days, after I wake up I stay in bed, prop myself up on my elbow and look out the window. I think and daydream about things that have gone on in the past, fantasize about places I’d love to travel to in the future, ponder and plan tasks that need doing.
Sometimes, I write poems in my head, (and forget them by the time I get up and find a computer, a notebook, or my iPad). I think about the latest news and politics, and the days before an issue is due I think about what I might talk about and share in my Newsletter.
Today I was laying there thinking about “words” (because you know I love words). There was one word that kept echoing into my head, and that word was : “less“ . I thought: isn’t it curious that when you use ‘less’ as a suffix on another word, it drastically changes the root meaning of that word? … I know we all know that, but I found that fascinating.
I mean, like think of some legitimate feelings that you have experienced when you immediately wish you had the opposite feeling, for instance : fear .
I think we all have at some time and in some situation, been familiar withthis distressing emotion. It is generally aroused by imagining or anticipating impending danger, or evil, or anticipating pain. Whether the threat is real or imagined you still experience the feelings or condition of being afraid .
But wouldn’t it feel great to be “fearless”?
The same thing could be applied to qualities we hope people see in us, and things we want to have in our lives like : hope, certainty, value, love. Just saying those words make you smile and gives you a feeling of comfort doesn’t it ?
Now imagine feeling hopeless, valueless, loveless.
It would feel so overwhelmingly painful it would feel almost too much to bear!
I would imagine those emotions of utter fear and helplessness and confusion bounce around inside a person’s mind when they are snatched off the street and thrown in, and held captive in a detention centre or shipped to a foreign country and put in a Gulag:
hopeless
valueless
loveless.
Think of all the personal qualities and blessings that we have, or would want to have, or strive to have, like:worth, friends, humour, intelligence, intuitiveness. Now imagine yourself being, or feeling:
worthless,
friendless,
humorless,
clueless.
Isn’t just the thought of that disturbing! That’s what I was thinking this morning lying in bed. Then, I thought, ”Ok enough already. Girl, Rise and Shine” Go seize the day! … Then I got up.
I was told by my parents and from some mentors and teachers that ‘we can learn from History’. They advised that we can learn from all the negative and tragic events in history that did great damage to our people, and then make it our goal not to repeat the same behaviors and decisions that lead to those tragedies. Much of what is happening now made me think of Martin Niemollers prose poem he wrote in 1946:
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a
socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
—Martin Niemöller. 1946.
It is now 2025. Let’s look at what’s going on politically and socially in the USA.
It’s time, and it up to us all, to make the decision that Martin Niemoller didn’t make now … Today is the time to speak up and speak out against the injustices and atrocities that are taking place right now, perpetuated by President Trump, The Justice Departments and ICE agents .
First they began arresting and imprisoning illegal immigrants. Then they started arresting legal immigrants, then permanent residents, now they are arrest naturalized citizens. Now they are trying to eliminate the Constitutional right of Birthright Citizenship., and considering changing the legal rights of Same-Sex Marriages.
These actions only lead us to conclude that ultimately they will come after any non-white , and non- Straight person within in the borders of the USA. If you think that it can't possibly happen, then ask yourself …. if even 10 years ago you thought that any of the blatant, (unjust) Anti immigrant, Project 2025 initiatives going on today could happen? There is no bottom to the injustices and seemingly no end to the racism and evil self serving attitudes that runs through the heart of the , MAGA Republican party and their supporters.
And … if you think any of the heartless and hateful, and racist MAGA Republicans ideas and objectives, don’t affect the rest of the world, then I suggest you take a look around. Especially take a look at what is brewing here in some parts of Canada.
We only have to look to Alberta’s leaders like Danielle Smith , to see some of the mirroring of the MAGA attitudes, especially her Nationalist ideology and Anti-Immigrant sentiments. Danielle Smith, also wants, and is lobbying for the province of Alberta to separate from Canada. She wants the Alberta government to determine their own, (and what kind of) healthcare system and educational systems Alberta receives. She has taken meetings with Trump at Mar-a-Logo and was cozying up with Trump-friendly media which has sparked controversy, both with her opponents and also with many people in Alberta.
Alberta‘s independent Senator, Paula Simons posted the caution that “ Smith’s government was embarking on a vile hate campaign when it comes to proposed immigration measures “
Sound familiar?
It is a good thing that our eyes are open, and we, as a country can band together to stop this racism and MAGA Wannabe-ism and hate from spreading here in Canada. If we can do that.. then, we would never have to write prose, or poems. that we begin with lines:
July is going to be another month filled with Festivals and Celebrations, outdoor concerts, outdoor theatre, and lots of summer Food Truck events.
Take a look at you city’s Event Listings, and go out and enjoy. Enjoy your parks, your oceans, your lakes, and get out and explore what’s new around you. I hope you all get to do some of that as you toddle around by yourself discovering and exploring, or rather you choose do it with your friends and Family.
Before I go help me Celebrate two of my Friends and Chosen Family.
Beverley McIntyre, and Glory Last. Friends for 50 years!
Me and Beverley.
Me and Glory.
One Love Everyone . Stay Safe, Stay Positive. Elbows up!++
Thanks for reading This Little Light of Mine: Addena’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
As always, I love reading what you've been up to. Kinda sad I didn't make the "family" list. Hope it's just because you couldn't find a pic of me LOL. I know it's not because I'm a Trumper, because you KNOW that's far from the truth! I can't wait to dance in the streets when he's handcuffed and hauled off to jail. God, I hope we live long enough to see it happen.
As always, I love reading what you've been up to. Kinda sad I didn't make the "family" list. Hope it's just because you couldn't find a pic of me LOL. I know it's not because I'm a Trumper, because you KNOW that's far from the truth! I can't wait to dance in the streets when he's handcuffed and hauled off to jail. God, I hope we live long enough to see it happen.