Since far too often we only publicly say nice things about people when they are dead I’ve decided to randomly pick a Facebook friend every day and say something nice about them.
June 17, 2019
Today’s person: Kathleen Antonia!
Velina was pregnant. She was also playing Condoleezza Rice for the Mime Troupe - again - but we were going on the road. Her costume had accommodated her and her passenger all summer, but neither of them were going to be touring with us. We needed another Condi.
And that’s when the magnificent Kathleen stepped in.
That’s the best word for her. Magnificent.
Not just because of her performance spot-on perfect, or that she was a joy to work with. Not just because of her biting sense of humor, her willingness to do what it takes to get a show up, or her ability to grok a situation in a split second and act appropriately.
And not just because of her relentless commitment to justice, her tireless work on all of our behalf, or her being a bold champion in classrooms and at conferences for the oppressed and underrepresented.
Not just because she is willing to walk into any room anywhere and speak truth to any power anytime with the calm of inevitable victory. And not because the arc of history bends toward the Truth of Kathleen.
She is not magnificent because of any one of these attributes, but because all of them. Those, and the rowing. Always with the rowing. I would not be surprised if she announced she was rowing to Hawaii - especially if it was to stop some injustice.
And she could be so intimidating, her smile could so easily be one of condescension, her jokes so easily belittling, her intellect used to make everyone else feel smaller, but instead she’s fun and supportive and gentle and boisterous and again with the rowing.
Because Kathleen would joyously row all of us the promised land of justice if she could. And maybe she can...
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