The beginning (and a little background)…

Well I think it’s only right to start at the beginning, so you will know where I am coming from and I think it will be good for me to recap my life, consider my future even gain a little perspective. I lived in Decatur, GA for more than half my life. My middle- class and rather close family consisted of my mother and father and an older brother. I was and still am a bona fide Daddy’s girl, despite my father’s demise in 1995, a month after my high school graduation. I think that’s where my life sort of changed.

It was difficult for me to see my place in this world without his jokes, his hugs, his love, his stern words, and his special daddy ways. I was actually not allowed on my first date until I was almost 17 years old. I could leave a note for my dad to wash the dishes for me, so I wouldn’t get in trouble by my mom for neglecting my chores (which now I realize was so selfish, he had worked all night and I left more work for him). My dad also taught me how to drive, which is a personal claim to fame whenever someone comments on my “better than average girl driving skills”. I always boast “my daddy taught me how to drive, honey”.

I went to college, really not focused and sort of played around. My mother is the strongest WOMAN I know. She held herself together during my father’s illness, so much better than I could have ever dreamed of. For a woman who had never cut the grass, she started when he stopped. She worked her normal daily job, and she even picked up another one. She made sure he was at the appropriate doctors appointments, had all of the right foods and medications.

She even eventually had to assist him with his bath. She was almost professional about the entire situation (Bree- like with more compassion), from having to do almost everything around the house to picking out the suit his flesh would spend eternity in. My older brother is married to a sweet girl. (His first wife probably was too, I just didn’t know her as well and I think she had a little growing up to do). They have a blended family consisting of his daughter, her son, and a little boy together (named after my father).

My brother is the strong silent type, and doesn’t always show his emotions. You will know that he cares about you though because his actions speak louder than his words. He has done a lot for us over the years, and as I type I wonder and hope he knows how much we appreciate him. I have since tried my share of normal life experiences- except drugs. I was never interested in smoking anything- my daddy smoked cigarettes and I just never cared to pickup that particular habit. But I have experienced traffic tickets, falling in love, losing it, getting played, having a best friend and losing one, my first apartment, going to church and then not…

Tags: Brown Girl Next Door, Death, Extrassssss, Family, Growing Up, Love, Relationships

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 14th, 2009 at 3:26 AM and is filed under Personal Stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.