Last month my younger brother died. It was devastating for me. It still is. I am a lucky woman to have the family I do. While everyone in my home were fantastic, my daughter sticks out. When I made the decision to go back to the states- with much urging from my older brother- I decided to take my daughter. Why? She's funny and honest.
When we boarded the airplane, she was so excited. Not nervous about anything. She's 4, and never flew so I am not that surprised. However, as soon as the plane took off, taxied the runway preparing for take-off she was ecstatic! When were wheels up, she was screaming excitedly like she was on a roller coaster. It made me feel more at ease, because I was laughing so hard!
As most of you may know, my husband is white and I am black. Doesn't matter yeah? Well, I told her we were meeting her grandparents at the airport in Baltimore. So once we landed there from New York, she was asking every white elderly man if they were her grandfather. I didn't think much of it until she met my father. I told her who he was and she was silent for a few minutes. Then she finally said, "you're black?' Too funny. I told her that I am black so my parents will be, too. She might have thought since she's black and has a white father, she maybe thought my father would be white, who knows. Her brain is a funny one!
She took to her family like she's known them all of her life. Everyone loved her because she genuinely loved everyone from first sight. It was a joy and helped us not think about why exactly we were all there for.
Mawa and Grandpa
4 generations
Amara and grandma
Being home for me was very emotional. I was reunited with my brothers and sister after nearly a decade of being apart. I wanted this, but not like this. But I am not going to go there, maybe in another post. Right now it's about my lil curly sue.
The day before the funeral, my daughter asked to go to Chuckee Cheese's. I told her that we couldn't because we had to say goodbye to her uncle. She went over the process, and thought he'd come back and dance with us like the zombies did in the Thriller video from Michael Jackson. It was so random it made laugh out loud in Walmart.
My daughter dancing to the music in her head....lol
After we've been home in Germany for a week or more, I had a huge breakdown.
She looked at me kind of like she was annoyed and said, "Are you still sad about your bruhvah (brother)"
I said, "yes, I am."
She said, "don't worry mom, I'm yo best fwiend." And gave me a big hug and kiss. It really helped me feel better almost instantly. Like my brother had her be there for me right at that moment.
I miss him immensely and I don't know if or when I will be OK. But with my babygirl and my family around. I know I will not be down for long.
Yesterday we watched the A Christmas Story. As soon as we saw a pole on our walk, this is what she does. I love her randomness....it's disgusting sometimes, but mostly funny!
Kiss your family and squash any unnecessary drama you have between family members NOW. Life is way too short.
Thank you for reading!
