I am led by a yearning to connect with you, to understand the woman who shaped the path of our female lineage.

When your daughter, my mother, first embraced you after a lifetime of separation, she held within her arms the unknown past of your existence. I, too, hold this close, despite never having the chance to know you.

An embodiment of resilience of my matriline, the women who came before me. Worn close to the heart, a link to my roots and the women who have shaped my existence. An ode to Barbara Lynn's life, and how I will live mine, ensuring that hers is not forgotten.