the bird with the pale-butter underbelly and dark wide wings that flies overhead, dipping and soaring above my home
freshly roasted peanuts, still warm and ready to be shelled, that remind me of my father and our ritual on Saturday afternoons, the empty coffee jar waiting to be filled for my mother’s delight
the opportunity to be with my sisters all together in the same place, in the warmth of our Caribbean people, the sea and sun
writing and receiving hand-written letters from afar that speak of Rwanda, of struggle, of pain and of triumph, of joy and everything unspeakable and unimaginable, today and in the past
discovering new authors, suggestions from our panafro readers across the world, speaking languages I do not understand but finding our common spaces and places through the written word
connecting, bi-weekly, with writing friends at midnight, all women whose ancestors hail from continents, countries and cities I will only come to know through their writing
travelling through Spain with my Chilean friend, whose name whispers of the Mapuche never defeated, reliving our times together in these last four decades
spending a few hours with my black sisters one October night, celebrating the life and work of she who has most influenced my political life and struggles; in sisterhood always!
finally, and most importantly, my little family coming together this year, under one roof, three ancestral generations in one family compound in the middle of the wheat fields, amongst the deer, the boar, the rabbits and the foxes
I am grateful to each one of you; you and countless others have been a beacon for me in these rough and dangerous times in 2025.
Thank you for being with me this year
Patricia Angoy 
I am grateful for your wisdom, guidance, and kindness…Thank you for the letters, the calls, the assurance, the love and the books…In the midst of this year’s sourness, your letters have been one of the few things that have aroused my faith in human decency!
Thank you again Patricia!
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When I read your letters, hear your words, experience your poetry and learn deep lessons from your experiences and those of your family I know that the world can be a better place for all of us to thrive in and share together. I look to 2026, a year in which the human endeavours to do good work, to share our truths and to work in a multiplicity of ways towards the human decency to refer is possible. Thank you Francisco for being here.
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So beautifully written and I am so grateful to have you as a friend, Patricia
Nicki
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I too am very grateful for our continued friendship. Thank you!
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I read this when I was at my sister’s place for the holidays, and it is a wonderful expression of gratitude. You write so beautifully about the natural world! It brought to mind Mary Oliver’s book of essays, Upstream, which I am reading now.
Linda
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Thank you Linda. I will read the essays you mention. Wishing you a wonderful year of writing as we move into 2026
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I remember 3 ancestral generations coming together under one roof when you were in the middle of the chain not at the top. A pity Jessie couldn’t be there and it would be 4!!
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I too remember those days fondly and am sorry Jessie never got to be with her great-grandson. They missed each other by only a few months. These are times to cherish as we sit together each evening, remember the day as it draws to a close. I miss being in the middle!
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My dear Sister,
I am grateful, too, for the way you share your journey with us. Through your letters, your reflections, and your presence, you remind me that even in difficult times, there is beauty and hope.
May 2026 bring you peace, joy, and renewed strength. May your writing and sisterhood circles keep flourishing. I look forward to journeying with you in the year ahead, carrying forward the light you so generously share.
Warmest regards
Sibongile
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Dear Sisi,
My thanks to you for always being there for me when I needed a champion and guide.
Sending love and light to mark your way and help get through these challenging times.
Always,
Patricia
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