I Love THAT SMILE.....That Aunti-Jo Smile.... Makes me smile too.

I miss Aunti Joes Cornbread dresing at Thanksgiving time.
I miss you much especially during this Thankxgiving season. 

Remembering Aunti Jo: 8 years ago, I passed thru Los Angeles with my puppy dog Giovanni. We stopped by and spent the night with my Aunti Jo. Even tho she hated dogs, she let us stay anyway. While there I had to step out of the room for about 5 minutes and it was then that I heard Aunti Jo, yelling at the top of her lungs, "GIOVANNI, GET OFF OF MY COFFEE TABLE". I was so frightened when I came into the living room and saw my Aunti with her fists on her hips and face was beet red and she was yelling, GIOVANNI""GIOVANNI, GET OFF OF MY COFFEE TABLE". I didn't know what to do. I was Frozen in my steps. Giovonni was wagging his tail and it looked like he even had a smile on his doggie face as he stood in the center of Aunti's coffee table. She then said, she must really love me because anyone else would have caught you know what for letting their dog climb up on her coffee table.
Eight years later this year, Aunty Jo asked me, "What ever happened to that dog Giovanni?"  And I told her he was sitting right here with me. 
I Knew she cared not only about me but what was important to me even if she did hate dogs. She CARED!!!!! THAT'S LOVE!
I'LL MISS YOU AUNTI JO. Thank you for loving me and not killing my Giovanni. 

I first met Virginia Taylor Hughes when we both worked at Washington Preparatory High School, but knew of her indirectly through my son Mahdi Henry.  Mahdi worked with Youth Services at Western Avenue School where Virgina conducted an after school program.  Later, she was instumental in pointing him to a job at Southwest Airlines where he's been employed for twenty-five years.

I was her computer instructor in an inservice program for the school staff and learned of her Black History Parade. I offered a few suggestions about using computers to streamline the parade work,  provided her with a directory of schools  from the County Office of Education, and began to assist her with the mailing to schools and organizations.  The next thing I knew, I was driving my convertible or another car  in the parade, and before long, I was on stage at 54th and Western announcing  the many fast-moving  participants in the parade. After announcing only once, I told her I would do anything but announce!   (I once failed to appear for a parade when it was pouring down raining and was told,  "The parade goes on rain or shine!" )

Over the years we became "sistahs": laughing together, crying together, dining out together, enjoying movies, plays,  and concerts, and sharing our testimonies.  And yes, I too became a collector of pens.  Sistah V taught me about community service and helping those in need. I worked at her gift wrap booth at the Slauson Super Mall and served with a group of ladies who prepared meals for the homeless and hungry. When my nephew Maurice died in an automobile accident, she called mortuaries for me and arranged with Inglewood PD to keep an eye on his funeral service at Inglewood Cemetery.  Recently, we discussed offering a workshop where she would teach how to get "things done". 

Sistah V was a most generous person who enjoyed finding the perfect gift and seeing the bright smile from the recipient.  At our Just Because monthly birthday luncheons, she gave each person a special bag of goodies, including, of course, a pen. She ended each telephone conversation with, "I love you". 

She added this line from the movie The Help to our good-byes, "You is kind. You is smart. You is important. You is loved."  Good-bye V, oh ye of silken tongue.

MY Aunti Jo shared this song with me on 59th street.  She loved to sing and she introduced me to "The Mighty Clouds Of Joy - Walk Around Heaven All Day".

And in that Great Gettin Up Morning, at the last trump  when the dead in Christ shall rise first, may we meet in Heaven and walk around all day Aunti.  Love You.