Mauntie
Mom- Auntie... for the phenomenal woman who raised me
Here's to the light of our entire family. Even though you didn't birth me physically, you birthed me mentally and spiritually into the woman I am today. When you look up the definition of strength, your picture comes up right next to it. You always say " Your my favorite niece!" joking because I am your ONLY niece, but I know that you mean it even if I weren't. Before I came into your world like a scene from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, you held it down! You raised 4 kids all on your own, and instilled into all of them (myself included) responsibility, strength, drive, independence, and tough skin.
Each one of my criblings (Cousin Siblings) show attributes of you! Since I can remember you always were a hard worker, a loving mother, a loyal friend, and giving family member. Anytime anyone needed help, you made it happen. You took me in at the most crucial time in my life, I was 13 years old when you became my "Mauntie". My parents were both on their own personal journey's, and you seen I needed care for. I can never give you what you had given to me; its priceless. You seen your niece, a broken, lonely, severely introverted, shy young girl, and gave me a home with 4 siblings to round me out. I was no longer lonely, because I had them. I was no longer broken, because you gave me stability of a permanent home. No more moving around due to the military, just a place to grow up in. Even though we had to share rooms, and were practically on top of each other in that condo, it was then I was most happiest.
From 13 until even today, you have always taught me to be a person of integrity, strength, and be giving. You taught me how to save my money for things I wanted, and to be responsible. You helped me get my first job, car, and apartment. Even when I got pregnant at 18 years old, you never turned your back on me. You helped me with all my dr's appointments, and even took me to the hospital the day I gave birth ( Even if we got lost lol). When I met my now husband, even though some of our family didn't care for him, you did. You loved him, because I loved him. You set me up to be so strong and independent as I now look back, I give gratitude.
It wasn't until the day you got severely sick with Pneumonia and Covid-19 that it really hit me. You were standing on death's door step, waiting to be let in. I almost lost the strongest woman I knew, and didn't realize it. I took you for granted in a sense, because I had my own life and family. I had missed your birthdays, holidays, weekends with you etc. How could I have been so careless?
Life is a gift, with most gifts once received, the appreciation for it devalues. You sometimes forget about that gift as you go through life. It never fails, The man upstairs always shows up to remind all of us that life is such a precious gift. It isn't a privilege, it isn't promised, it can't be refunded or bought anew. The life you are given, you cherish every moment he allows you to have. My whole world came to a complete halt the day you fell sick. Out of no where I had taken on your roll for the family, and on the inside I felt like I was not coming close to filling your shoes. We needed you, I needed you. While outsiders were counting you out, I prayed daily for you, and your life. The odds were against you BUT GOD said otherwise. Your strength shined through yet again, and you beat it. I witnessed you go from an induced coma, to now being in a rehabilitation center preparing to come home again with your life restored .
You work 2 jobs, and still planned a beautiful party for our grandmothers 80th birthday. You brought 3 generations together, I know it was no easy task with all the opinions being thrown around, but you made it happen so effortlessly. This photo I cherish deeply. Thank you for who you are, and all that you do for not just me but the entire family. Our days are much brighter with you back in them. I love you Mauntie.
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