This week, I am focused on creating two collages that honor my grandaunts Mabel and Paulyne Roberts, the eldest daughters of my great-grandmother Eunice Ann Thomas Roberts.
Today, I created a collage dedicated to my grandaunt Mabel’s journey from teenage womanhood to adult womanhood. I used photos of Aunt Mabel’s teenage years to thirties. Two photos of her mother Eunice Ann are added. I decided to create several copies as a border on one of Mabel’s teenage photos.
I added two Nyame Dua Ghanaian Adinkra symbols to each collage. Nyame Dua means “Tree of God” and reminds of the Divine’s presence and protection. The symbol is also used as a divine and ancestral altar. Each collage functions as an ancestral altar.
As I approach the Spring season and beginning of a new astrological year (starts March 20), I am getting energized by the divine downloads I received from Creator, loving + wise +well ancestors, Orishas, and my spiritual tribe about aging on March 9th. They are rooted in my mantra, “BE EXTRA” and guiding my current writing. So look forward to reading more about my aging journey.
They are helping me embrace, enjoy, and celebrate my aging journey at 61.
I invite you to read and reflect on them.
May you be inspired to explore your own aging journey no matter how old you are.
Tennis has always been a sport I wanted to learn as an adult. It runs in my family too. Check out the photo of my grandmother Frederica Stanley Roberts Leeke holding her tennis racket during the 1930s
During the global pandemic, I decided to take lessons and become a beginner player. My soul sistalove Tonya (see in the third photo above) encouraged me. Tonya is an intermediate player and “tennis momma” with many years of experience due to her son’s tennis playing years.
Tennis has always been a sport I wanted to learn as an adult. During the global pandemic, I decided to take lessons and become a beginner player. My soul sistalove Tonya (see in the third photo above) encouraged me. Tonya is an intermediate player and “tennis momma” with many years of experience due to her son’s tennis playing years.
In October 2021, my tennis journey began at the grand age of 56 with the support of my coach Kendall, a Howard University senior and member of the tennis team, on the Banneker courts in Washington, D.C. Kendall coached me for several weeks before the weather got too cold and resumed teaching me during the spring and early summer in 2022 (see two photos of above).
After she moved, she referred me to Jadenn, a coach and junior at Hampton University who was a member of the tennis team. Jaden worked with me on the basics and encouraged me to sign up for the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation’s (DPR) fall tennis classes in August 2022.
During my DPR journey, I learned so much from a great group of coaches including Rich, Richard, Dave, and Kevin, and volunteers Gail and Dan. I also learned a lot from my classmates. When I graduated to intermediate tennis classes in the summer of 2024, I started working with Coach Marian Lang (see photos above). Coach Marian really helped me with dive deeper into tennis and build my confidence as a player. I worked with her until the end of 2025 and plan to continue working with her this year.
In October 2025, I realized I learn better when I am in a small group. So I stopped taking classes with DPR. My friend Tonya encouraged me to experiment with indoor lessons at Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) and Rock Creek Tennis Center and. So I signed up for JTCC’s Learn Tennis Now programs in November 2025. I also gave myself a birthday gift of intermediate lessons with Coach Bianca Eqalite at Rock Creek Tennis Center in December 2025.
Before 2025 ended, I decided to take intermediate winter classes at JTCC and Rock Creek Tennis Center. Unfortunately, I only attended one class at Rock Creek Tennis Center due to the winter snow and my schedule. I may go back in the spring or summer because I really enjoyed Coach Bianca.
My winter intermediate classes at JTCC have been pretty intense which is a good thing for me. I have enjoyed learning from Coaches Ross, Tayla, Eva, and Ale, and practicing with and playing my classmates.
Last weekend, I spent Saturday evening celebrating International Women’s Day and the great tennis legacy of women players like Althea Gibson, Serena and Venus Williams, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and Taylor Townsend at JTCC. I had a great time participating in tennis exercises, games, and matches. It was an intense workout that was much needed.
Getting a peach Fila tennis skirt made the event even sweeter!
Special thanks to Marta and the JTCC women coaches for hosting the event.
Happy International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month (which are every day)!
I am using this month to create digital collages that celebrate my womanline ancestors.
Last week, I focused my creative energy on completing three digital collages for my Ancestral Medicine collection that celebrate my great-great-grandmother Francis “Fannie” Daniel Thomas and the journey of girlhood to young womanhood of her daughter, Eunice Ann Thomas Roberts (my great-grandmother) and granddaughter Frederica Stanley Roberts Leeke (my grandmother).
I am still marinating on the names of the collages and will share them later when they reveal themselves. Gotta honor the divine creative process!
I added two Nyame Dua Ghanaian 🇬🇭 Adinkra symbols to each collage. Nyame Dua means “Tree of God” and reminds of the Divine’s presence and protection. The symbol is also used as a divine and ancestral altar. Each collage functions as an ancestral altar.
Great-Great Grandmother Francis “Fannie” Daniel Thomas
Collage #2: Great-Great-Grandmother Eunice Ann Thomas Roberts
Collage #3: Grandmother Frederica Stanley Roberts Leeke
Ananda Leeke 