Updated (7-10-2025)
Updated again (9/9/2025 — 11:17 AM)
Updated again (9/22/2025 – 8:53 AM)
Updated again on Christmas Day(12-25-2025)
Genevieve
The first Saturday of every month was one day Jasmine undoubtedly looked forward to. This enthusiasm was without a single shred of cynicism.
Genevieve was a young, lively, spirited leader of the young women Jasmine roomed with.
She embodied youth even though she was a young adult. She was the woman who came to visit Jasmine, her ‘flatmates’ and they appreciated it dearly.
This fun, spunky, energetic woman named Genevieve would bring her whole spirit each time she paid a visit. She would take Jasmine and her roommates on an outing. This was an excursion the girls cherished, laughed about & talked up to the staff when moods were elevated or when they needed a lift.
Genevieve changed the mood, she brought music, life, colors and smiles.
She was the one guest who literally jumped in to the ‘Sunflower bedroom’ space and offered an intentional reminder to the girls that they were the sunflowers.
Genevieve lifted the mood of the weekend and sometimes the entire week that followed. She was upbeat, wore enthusiasm on her sleeve, was twinkly-eyed and looked each girl in the eyes when she spoke to them.
She had a streak of pistachio green hair that matched one of her loose-fitting rubber bracelets. Genevieve had youth in her tone bubbled with creative ideas for fun outings.
These excursions were the right mind- medicine that allowed Jasmine and her roommates a chance to forget about the situation they could often easily dwell on when the days grew stale. These Saturdays were a chance to forget where they all laid their heads to rest, they could forget where they lived and what these circumstances meant to each of them.
These outings were a time to imagine the taste of love, a different life. This was a chance to get out of the place where they spent their mornings, days, and many repetitive routines that they each grew weary of. At nights when the weeks drug on too long, they argued with each other. This bickering was often followed by commiserating, wallowing in their shared, sometimes horrendously tragic lives. Now, circumstances aside, they could let their hair down as Genevieve often encouraged
These excursions only lasted for a few hours but the conversations, memorable exchanges with the playful, lively Genevieve and the bright moments they co-created; shared laughs, sweet, mouth extended, teeth -showing smiles and those times of bonded connections, they hung with each of the girls as did those special days.
Those days with Genevieve…. They stayed with the girls for weeks. When the trinkets with original stories rolled out of sock drawers, the girls reflected.
Genevieve brightened the hallway as soon as she burst inside the facility. As she lightly bounce-stepped inside the bedroom, her energy positively infected the entire living-space. She brought colors, smiles, zest and each of the girls knew it was time to sit up and share the good energy Genevieve had given them.
She was fearless in her steps, immediately without hesitating she jumped into a two-character, dialogue-driven scene. This scene had her acting out an imaginary conversation between Yola and Jasmine. Genevieve broke into performance mode while passing under the frame of their already opened door.
“Oh Jas, come on girl”.. Genevieve started off. “Let’s get ready, we’re heading out with the amazing- Genevieve today”, in her best Yola impersonating voice.
“Ok, ok…”, …. “I’ll get ready ….”, this time a bit more somber as she often witnessed Jasmine to be. Posture slouching a bit, as face lengthened.
“Genevieve… it’s so good to see you,” Yola chimed in. upbeat and emphatic with the exaggerated, bold, “so good”, Yola was clear in her beaming excitement.
“Well, alright, let’s -go then, girls!!!” This time Genevieve motioned with her hands, showing a curved, rounded, fully extended thumb & pointer finger as Genevieve directed her team of teenage girls toward the vehicle.
“We’re heading to the Above Cafe, my girls… it’s time to rise,” Genevieve spoke with a cool twang & curled her lips in a silly way that made her cheeks lift.
“Girls, this place is cool, you’ll -love it… …..let’s go!!!” Genevieve had one thing right, the girls would love their day with her.
Now jumping with both feet down the hall, sending Yola and Jasmine into a full, gut opening laughter. This was the day they’d been waiting all week for & they could not hold back their joy. They smiled, looked at each other and laughed again.
“Let’s go girls!!!” Genevieve shouted as she turned the ignition.
“Unnggg…” now Genevieve roared with the engine & the girls laughed again uproariously. Sitting up, looking around just to ensure that she was releasing every bit of the magic that turned the mood into something delightful, Genevieve nodded confidently, approving of what she had created.
“Yeeeeeeeeeeeee…..” she now called out as they drove forth & headed out.
“This, my girls is the matcha of love…. ‘Cause you know I love ya’all”.
Philip Dane 