“B,” as I so affectionately called her, my cousin, my friend, will be sorely missed by all whose lives she touched. As cousins, “B” and I became close in junior high. I can remember many things we did together. I especially recall when “she and I double-dated on several occasions." Even though we both knew that staying out beyond our curfew would get us in trouble with our parents, we did it anyway. We got whupped and giggled about it the following day. “B” moved to New York after her son, Tyrone was born.
Upon graduating from high school, I moved to New York and reconnected with her. As luck would have it, I lived with my brother, whose home was within walking distance of hers. In fact, my bus stopped directly in front of her building, which enabled us to spend lots of fun times together. At that time, “B” was busy raising her two younger children: Gary and Monique.
For the most part, "B" easy going but spoke with boldness whenever she had something to say, even if she “shot you first and asked questions later.” After I returned to school and started working evenings, she and I seldom saw each other, but boy did we talk frequently on the phone. And don’t even think of calling her after 8:00 PM because she would ask, “Why are you calling so late?” “Child, I’m sleeping and I’ll talk to you in the morning.” I often reminded her that given my then busy schedule, she should appreciate that I had been thinking of her. Later on, I learned that her primary reason for going to bed so early was to get up at 4:00AM to feed herl strayed cats and rumor had it that there 19 of them. Oh yeah, “B” was a cat lady.
She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister and aunt and visited with her family every chance she got. I would be remissed if I did not mention “B” was also a caretaker. I especially recall watching her struggle with her own asthmatic condition in and out of the emergency room two-three times a week, while at the same time caring for her late husband. I used to say to myself, boy she's good, there's definitely a reward in heaven for her.
“B” loved to cook and she was quick at it. She and I always went grocery together especially around the holidays. She cooked American meals while I cooked her favorite West Indian dishes. She was an avid reader and could always be found reading a book, which she often read in a day. She and I enjoyed discussing politics and the election process. A couple of years ago, she and I spent the day working together at the polls in my neighborhood. The last time I saw her was when I was downsizing from my house. I can recall she helped me pack quite a bit thaat day while we both caught up on family life. I remember we took a break, had lunch went shopping for her grandson -- I believe that was Zane. She wanted to head back home a little early to feed, you guessed it, her cats, so I dropped her off at the train station.
When I received word of her sudden illness, I was astonished because I was certain her illness had become one of her past. Since then she remained constantly on my mind because for one thing she and I are only several months apart in age. I visited with her a couple of times and although they were sad visits for me, I am so glad that I did. Most recently, when I learned that her condition had begun to decline, I visited with her. As I was arranging to visit with her yet again, I received the news that she had gone home to be with the Lord. “B” put up a good fight, but she is in a much better place now. May her soul be at peace!
