I remember you.

Hello Beautiful Souls! Today I wrote a special piece. Here goes…

Although it was a movie, I got a really profound message from The Equalizer 2. One of the characters said that if you don’t remember your loved ones out loud, then they die twice. Well… not on my watch! Because I remember you.

I remember you grandpa. Well, grandpas although one of you more vaguely. I remember sitting on your lap at about age five rendering your cheek a kiss. I remember you grandpa- he was cleaner than the board of health, read his Bible every morning and produced some exceptional men.

I remember you uncles. The great cooks; the storytellers. The rambunctious ones, and the ones who stood for what they thought was right. Even if it was wrong. I remember you.

I remember my beautiful aunties. Some with sweet love, some with tough love, some with laughs and bear hugs. With perfect flapjacks and hearts too big for their chests. With the best quips and sugar cookies. Some with genuine love buried deep beneath their traumas and insecurities. I remember you.

I remember you cousins. Some practically strangers, some adults while I was a kid, some bikers, some dealers, some cousins that aren’t even cousins. And then some who dance seamlessly. Who were their own trend and never spoke a cross word. I remember you.

I remember you sister. Who was her own party and dynamic. Who was secretly much more envied and admired than admonished. Who’s heart loved deeply. The one who knew who she was and couldn’t fully see who she was all at the same time. I remember you.

I remember you comrades. Who were heroes many times over. Who made mistakes and was making amends, who were let down, who were lost and forgotten, who just needed a chance, who were excited about the future that never came, who were just about to start a business. Who couldn’t bear the pain. And those who were suddenly taken- I remember you.

And last but oh so certainly not least. Dad- I remember you. You. Who cradled our concerns and made us laugh. The one who made us feel like everything was gonna be okay. The one who caught busses and walked on broken ankles to work a full shift fueled solely by pure, passionate, relentless, unadulterated love. The love of one woman’s life for over 40 years. The brother, the son, the cousin, the cool grandparent, the true friend, the uncle, the big homie, the great singer, the coach, the wise philosopher; the comedian. The one who had his own unmatched, understated swagger and magnificence.

I remember you.

I remember you.

I remember you.

And as long as I live…you will not die again.

Until next time beautiful souls! 💜✨ Mimi