Mama...you know I love you...

This picture makes my heart smile. This is Barack and his grandparents. His grandma was a HUGE part of his upbringing. It was because of her that he's had so much of the success that he has had. She put her grandson's needs above her own and provided for him. She made sure he attended an elite school while living w/ her in Hawaii. It was because of her love, that he excelled and stayed away from a lot of things that unfortunately claim so many of our youth(young, black youth especially).

My parents had me in their early 20's(Dad was 24 and Mom was 27). They got married when my mom was 3 months pregnant w/ me. My Dad was in the Air Force and my mom was a teacher. She eventually stopped teaching and started working for a very popular Children's magazine as a computer analyst. They moved around quite a bit due to his going on different 'tours' as they are called in the military. My parents wanted me(and eventually my brother) to have the most 'normal' upbringing possible. This led to me living with my granma for most of my adolescent years. I thought it was cool b/c my granma is and was one of the coolest people ever. I'm tellin you Tiddee(as she's called due to a book she used to read to my brother and I ) is the dopeness.

My granma has taught me so many important lessons that even though she doesn't think so, I take heed to. I try and pass these same 'jewels' as I call them on to my daughter. I'm so very grateful that I've gotten to have the relationship that I have w/ her. I'm also thankful that my children have had the relationship they've had w/ her.

My granma's birthday was in September. We were supposed to take her to Pappadeaux for dinner(both of our favorite place). At 4:15am, on her birthday, I woke up feeling sick to my stomach. Something didn't feel right. At 5:30am, my Aunt called to let me know that Tiddee had had a heart attack and was in the hospital. I immediately went into a panic. My granma had a health scare 2 years ago and it was very touch and go. We almost lost her. I couldn't deal w/ losing her now. I have so much more to accomplish. I want her to be front and center at my wedding(even though she doesn't want me to fool w/ a man b/c she doesn't want me to get sidetracked). I want to celebrate many more birthdays with her. I want to sit at her table and continue to eat her wonderful Sunday dinners and holiday meals for the rest of my days. My granma is more like a mother than my own mother. It hurts my heart in some ways to say this, but I'm equally blessed I guess.

This post is nothing but a dedication to my granma, my Tiddee, my 'Mama'. I love you granma, more than you'll ever know. I hope your proud of the woman I am and am becoming.

Ps. I would have put a picture I have of the two of us on this post, but my granma don't play that. She don't want no parts of the 'Innernets' (LMAO, she's from the old school!)