The Brothers Johnson

Huge fan with maybe three of my all-time, all-timers! I’ll Be Good to You, Strawberry Letter 23 and Stomp! I know, I know, stop looking back. The world has changed, evolved, moved on. But on the list of things I miss from my youth, great ’70’s soul and R&B are definitely on that list, right after innocence and not knowing everything about everybody all the time. I digress. On the very rare occasions I hear something current that echoes the past, I am drawn like a moth to the flame.

“Strawberry Letter 23” is essentially a musical response in an ongoing exchange of love letters between a couple. The singer is replying to his lover’s previous message—the 22nd letter—by making the song itself the 23rd letter in their romantic correspondence. And as a 16-year-old at the time, what the fork did I know?

June 19, 2026, Third Friday and the BFF’ster invited me to join her and some school chums. It didn’t hurt that I was going regardless. I also extended an invite to some other friends, with whom I introduced BFF to sometime ago, as well as turning her on to this monthly event. I am the great connector! That and $5 won’t cover a Happy Meal, but hey, it’s something. I made of point of extending the day as it was a busy week. I recently had trees removed, I have removed a ton of dead branches, etc. myself by hand, worked, cooked up a storm, on and on, but no one really cares. We have been having our deck resurfaced, which has meant coming and going in Kandi mode was challenging. I had an open runway (until they complete the task early the week following), so off I went!

I needed this as an escape from reality. As recently discussed, with a literal lifelong friend battling cancer and my meeting the most wonderful human being with herself recovering from breast cancer while her husband is battling a brain tumor, my head was spinning. Listen, none of this happened to me or my family (although these people are loved ones, some for 50+ years, some I just met but we have SUCH a connection and renewed it recently, both loved), but it’s the slap in the face.

We all have life struggles; no one is immune from this. I am old and I am on that back nine and my peers and me are subject to life’s cruel twists more so than when we were younger (obviously). I have FAR more memories with my friend than any memory with my family (the family I was born into, not the one I helped create). And I don’t mean that I had a bad family situation, far from it. But I now understanding that my gender issues, purposely not acknowledged in my own mind for those many years, caused me to put up a wall around myself a bit with my family. Kandi’s Land is both a dose of reality as well as a map for being oneself. I am trying every single day to find the joy, some days it’s as simple as getting my girl on, some days it’s a simple as the latest photo of our grandson, some days I could actually play well on the pickleball courts or just playing with another lifelong friend, and on some days it is not possible. But I always try.

This day, you can see the happiness in me, it’s palpable in these pictures and was so on this day. My wife asked me to return some swimsuits for her, so I took it as an opportunity to just casually stroll the mall. I have said this time and again, shopping as a woman, looking at things that are completely feminine, is bliss. I poked around Penney’s (no question, my favorite lingerie brand), Dillard’s semi-annual intimates sale, PINK and Victoria’s Secret. I agonized over a purchase there but resisted (do I really need another one-piece?). It was in that adorbs pink candy stripe pattern; I just love it! It was 60% off, my size and took a lot for me to walk away. I may go back and if it’s still there, then it was meant to be…

The rest of the evening, time with Sher and our friends was just delightful! A few hours very well spent, for sure! I remain a very lucky girl, for these friendships, for the ability to generally navigate the world as a woman, to have the family and friends (both of me) that I do. I never take that for granted. Even after at least 12 years of regularly going out dressed, I still have to stop and realize, that’s me. Those are my bras, my panties, my skirts, my dresses, on and on. Mine! For me. And it’s okay and it’s wonderful.

Like the pictures of me and Sherry? Oh wait, that didn’t happen yet again…

Hello, my love, I heard a kiss from you
Red magic satin playing near too
All through the morning rain I gaze, the sun doesn’t shine
Rainbows and waterfalls run through my mind

We change minds slowly, by being visible and gracious.

This picture from the archives is at the fantabulous Cleveland Museum of Art, a true gem, not only in Cleveland, but in all of America. It’s a world class art museum, free to all, forever. Parade the Circle is an art museum event and I am KNOWN there and am a sliver of a part of this place, a grain of sand on that beach. But I am on THAT beach! My greatest individual accomplishment!

I recently received the following comment on a Facebook post: “Thank you so much for being part of our community!”. This was from a member of The North Coast Men’s Chorus. My response: “Community is the solution to all of the world’s problem as it implies a togetherness and acceptance that all people are different as well as that we are all in this life together, like it or not. THANK YOU!” He loved my response. I repeat it here not because I want a pat on the back, but to make the point. Am I wrong?