Appropriately Awkward:
I met Mike Garcia through our dear mutual friend, Alina Potrzebowski. Mike had just started his Podcast, “Life of a Dog on the Rez”. I had just started my project, “You’re on Mute with Aisha. We were both spending hours with Alina, and she said, “You two need to know each other.” And we did.
When we finally met in person, it was on Mother’s Day, which I could write about in another letter entirely. Alina hates Mother’s Day. I am not a fan either. There are expectations, feelings, complexities, trauma, histories, and it’s one of those days that dominant culture treats as a one-size-fits-all and well, it just doesn’t.
We couldn’t find a place to have brunch due to plumbing issues, long lines, and well…peopling.
I still laugh when I remember Alina’s face when we all got out of our separate cars to meet on a sidewalk on Central in front a crowded restaurant…she was so pissed! I just casually looked around at everything….everything but her face…..because I knew. It took just a bit before she said, “I told you so!’ and I listened to her…she had told me so. We found a great little joint and ate great homemade bread and delicious coffee.
Alina took our photo. Mike and I were awkward. I told Mike, “Oh look at us being appropriately awkward!” and he was like, “right?”
Mike and I had a great conversation, actually more than one. I highly recommend his Podcast “Life of a Dog on the Rez”. In Mike’s own words I read to you his synopsis of his Podcast:
“The “Life of a Dog on the Rez” podcast is a place where we share funny, cringe-worthy, and inspirational stories from our beloved Pueblo homelands. Stories that uplift the soul, provide us hope, and heal our spirits. Join me on this journey of life on the Rez, and how it has shaped who we have become. Come and share our stories!”
At the end of all of it, stories bind us, stories connect us, stories propel us forward, while rooting us to our past.
Thank you for listening and reading.
Warmly,
Aisha
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