Cuz of them...

Dark periods occur from time to time, but we always find our way back to sunny dispositions. Last night while on the phone with my brother Brian, the conversation catapulted me completely out of my dark place. No, not because he said anything particularly uplifting, but because of what he made me remember.

     I mentioned lack of support, etc., and B asked me why should I care. "It's not about them, keep it movin'." And I remembered. 

     I remembered my Mama working two jobs, wearing the same coat for years, and never complaining. I remembered my Uncle Donnie dealing with his own struggles, but still devoting himself to us, teaching us style, etiquette, and to always believe in ourselves. I remembered my Aunt Carol constantly saying "Jesus is the only boss," whenever someone was called a boss. I don't call anyone "Boss" ever.

       My grandmother, Grams, proudly wore a picture button of me to her dialysis treatments, regaling the other patients with stories of her grandsons. Yeah, I remembered.

        So how can I possibly ever consider giving up or quitting, when I am the embodiment of the dreams of those who came before me? Not only those I mentioned, but uncles, aunties, ancestors who sharecropped, were lynched, and struggled, so that one day Marlon S. Hayes would have a chance to do whatever he wanted. I humbly acknowledge that I have to keep trying, striving, and achieving, because I owe it to them...

msh