So this has been building up a little bit, my bff from junior high just lost her grandma last week. Because my friend got married last yr, we've basically been having a year long party since her engagement. There were engagement, and halloween, and christmas, and new years parties, bridal showers, bachelorettes, and artsncraft parties, so there were many chances to get together and celebrate life. Her grandad joked that he'd seen more of me in a few months than in the 12 years I've known the family. Last summer, after my friend graduated from college, we found out her grandmother had cancer. I've really felt like they have treated me like a part of their fam over the years and my heart went out to them. She got much worse as her birthday and christmas came up and last month they moved her to hospice.she was a really cool woman. I got to be around her a lot just hanging with the family and I knew she loved and supported her girls. I guess it kinda hit me hard cuz I've been where they are. I really felt for my friend and her sisters, as well as their mom, and grandad.
Last week while I was attending that funeral, my grandad called to tell us his barber had died of a heart attack. He went into the shop saturday mornin like he's been doing at least 30 yrs and when he asked for the guy they told him his barber had a heart attack at home earlier that week. I know you're wondering what that has to do with me, but this dude was practically MY childhood barber. And considering little black girls don't get their hair done @ the barbershop, its saying something that he meant so much to me. When I was little I probably went to his shop every week between my grandad going there to get his hair cut or going with my cuzin/bestestbud/practically big brother, Sam. He was always nice to me and let me watch cartoons while I waited. His shop was litterally next door to my great grandmothers house. My parent's first home was actually between the two but we lost it in a fire. We moved away from town over 10 yrs ago, but everytime we went back, if we were near the neighborhood, we'd stop in and say hi. There were times I didn't even tell family I was in town, but i'd still stop in to say hi. He'd always ask my grandad how I was doing, or tell the story of how I had an imaginary friend named 'sam-ray' when I was like 3 and it took them all forever to realize it was my cuz sam.
It probably sounds stupid that I'm getting emotional even now just writing this. Oh well. I'm really grateful that I was able to grow up with that small town feel and sense of community. I mean there are people who aren't even related to me that were integral parts of making what I am today. I still know my 1st grade teacher, she's sorority sisters with my grandmother; her daughter went to school with my aunts, and she threatened to come down here and whup me when my college grades dipped!
Like I said I'm just grateful for these people who care about me and they seriously give me all the more motivation to succeed. In what? I'm still tryna figure that out lol. But when I do, for all the aunts, and grandparents, and cuzins I'll thank, there'll be space as well for the teachers and barbers :) it really does take a village.
rip to lawerence, K's grandma, and my cuzin deedee
we got home and tell my mom she was on the radio, but she keeps interrupting us and jumping to conclusions, so when she asked what we called in for my sis says, 'it was about gay teenagers' my moms like 'who's gay?' And my sister and I are just laughing. My sis say 'im not gay we were just calling in, I know gay people' an then my mom askes me, "wait you're gay? How could you come out on the'whatever' show and not tell me?' She starts saying how I never tell her anything
we are rolling by now, and I tell her "I didn't come out on the radio show and you already sound like you're mad" she still doesn't get it and just says " well I can't be mad about it" then we explain the whole thing again, and I tell her I'm not. It doesn't help that my kid sister can't stop laughing the whole time.
so after this my mom went to take a shower and I'm in front of the tv thinking this is probably the best opportunity ill ever have. When she just previously thought i'd come out, she seemed ok, so I may as well strike up the conversation. There was no stress of oh I've been keeping some big secret or trying to do it during the holidays, it would just be me walking into her room and mentioning it like it was no big deal
so a little while later I went and sat in her room while she watched fringe cuz I knew she would start asking me again why I'm not dating or never tell her anything etc and I'm 24 so I should have a boyfriend. She was like 'have a bf or a gf or whatever, I don't care'. So I asked if she really meant it cuz she's been insiuating it since I was 12 and she said she was fine if I was gay. I started laughing again just because of the previous episode and then I told her I'm not gay, I do like guys but I also like girls. She asked if I was confused and I said of course not I know who I like. And then she got into that whole mom thing and how I should be dating lol. And it was pretty rad actually. I don't know why I was scared that it wouldn't be. But I'm glad
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