Aunt G – Our rock of kindness.
I never met my grandmother. She passed before I was born. But everyone tells me how kind and generous she was. I believe in the power of generational love that was passed down from my grandmother to many of the phenomenal women in my family, especially to my Aunt G. She the rock, the web, the glue that bring everyone together, the honest most truthful lovely woman I know. When I see her, I see strength, wisdom and most importantly the same kindness and generosity that makes everyone feel nice. The last time I saw Aunt G in person was August 27th 2018. I was spending time in Harlem in the archives and I asked her if I could stay with her for a week. Her answer was yes of course, even though it was so last minute and she had renters. She picked me up the train station and took me out to the Olive Garden. I felt so loved and cared for. Aunt G always made you feel loved and cared for. When I arrived at her home we talked all night as I looked through all the beautiful family pictures. She spoke of the beautiful party the family had put together for her birthday, one of her fondest memories and how her place was “pack up.” Everyone was sleeping everywhere, and she said it did not matter, as long as everyone was together. I realized that everyone “pack up” her place because of her warmth, because she is the glue. She is the glue that keeps up all together. After a week of wig, shoe and body soap shopping, eating out and in, late night conversations and I was so so sad to go. She gifted me some Afro-centric jewelry and clothes as I made me way to the airport and all I can think about was wow…what powerful bloodline of love.
Aunt G. We miss you. I cannot believe you are gone. I heard of the news as I flew from Vancouver to Toronto. And I did not want to believe it was real. See I was looking forward to visiting you again when I went to NY. We are so sad that we cannot hug and kiss you and wig shop. But we are so grateful for the precious moments we share with you. You remain our rock. You remain the example of what God’s love is suppose to be. And whenever we struggle, we fight, we get upset as a family, we must remember…our rock and smiling down from heaven…telling us to be kind.
We love you, we miss you Aunt G.
Patrice Allen