Virtuous Women

After a relaxing and fun filled weekend I returned home to my problems and my burdens. I know for a fact that over the course of this year the change in my desire to share my story with the world has come from the loss of many people that were special to me.  So many great people are no longer here to share the milestones and love we all take for granted. I decide today and every day to choose joy instead of despair.

It is hard to find your joy when life seems so hard. The reason I seek it out daily is because
I refuse to live each day sad.I have done that for too long. I try so hard to be positive, it is a struggle. I feel so overwhelmed at times. Raising a teenager, maintaining EVERYTHING, being a passenger on some one's journey. Yet these challenges that I face, women I loved, respected and admired are no longer here to experience life's trials and tribulations.

A former co-worker and friend of mine Audrey Harrison passed away after a heroic battle with Cancer a few years ago. She was an excellent writer and created an in-depth journal about her fight from her initial diagnosis to her last updates weeks before she passed. I connected her with a Breast Cancer Survivor Crystal Brown-Tatum. Audrey fought such a valiant fight and though she succumbed to this disease she left behind two magnificent sons that she raised into fine young men. They still are dealing with her death as is expected. I pray for them always and know their Mother shines sun on them even in the rain.

This journey I AM ON called life is guided by the spirits of many. My girlfriend Sonna Owens who was the brightest light in the world and her smile lit up EVERY room she was in. Fiercely devoted to her family and friends, God decided to call her home and it broke all our hearts. I remain in contact with her wonderful Mother Sharon Owens-Duff. A former English Teacher she saw the best in me and my talents before I recognized them. She always encourages me and I not only see her as a Mentor but like a Mother as well. Losing a child is the hardest thing anyone has to face. Ma was determined that Sonna would live on through her and her resilient commitment to that is so BEAUTIFUL. Jermaine and I ALWAYS say God sent us to each other Christmas Night. Sonna always complimented me on my appearance and I ALWAYS told her" You're the beautiful one, look at that face". I would joke to her about I can always get a man, but never end up wanting them. Sonna and Jermaine have the same birthday, two days after mine. We made plans to celebrate together with our Sister/Friend Celena that year and unfortunately she passed away shortly before we could. I met Jermaine that year. I believe NOTHING is coincidence.

NATASHA. Tashi's life and death represent so much of who I have become. Natasha was my Ace Cherylann's friend. We were co-workers at Verizon for many years. We weren't Besties. I respected her so much because she was the same person every day. A rarity in that Call Center. She also was one of the few people I worked with who reached out to me during my disability. Fiercely private I watched her fight against that horrific disease(her description). She rallied time and time again. I went to visit her and had a conversation that I hope one day to see immortalized on-screen. It was a day I will never forget. I met her beautiful friend Shelly and witnessed the love her partner Rodney displayed on a daily basis.They cemented my belief that you take the love with you. SHE WAS A VIRTUOUS WOMAN IN EVERY SENSE OF THE TERM.

My Aunt Bessie has been gone for sooo long. My cousin Travis is her son and she died
when we were children. She was so good to me. Not in a way that you remember people that pass on positively. It was the truth. I am not very close to some members of my family.I never spent much time with them during my childhood. Aunt Bessie took me EVERYWHERE. She always made me feel like a

Princess. It broke my heart when she went away. That's how it felt, like she went away.....

 Tyneesha was my son's cousin's mother. Jarid isn't ONLY David's cousin he is one of his best friends. Kazia is besties with her daughter Shalaila. Jada is my baby girl.Their Mother was my friend.Tyneesha who everyone called Tiny was so BEAUTIFUL inside and out. She always loved to laugh, joke and eat my fried chicken. She was the best person to go shopping with. We ALWAYS had the best times. Her girls are so BEAUTIFUL.

The reason I wrote this today is because today is Jarid's 18th birthday. His mother just passed away and I am heartbroken for him and his siblings. Tiny's Mother passed away when she was a child and of course this impacted who she became. All of these beautiful, courageous and captivating women had possessions and all the marvelous things that come with being the Regal Women they were. In the end NONE of this mattered. The loved ones they left behind mourn them.The kisses they no longer can give. I am such a materialistic person. I admit that. I LOVE my things. They are just that things. I realized that each time I had to say goodbye to someone who was so in love with life. When I thought we had a gas leak in my building, I grabbed my Cat.


There are no do overs in life. We don't know the day nor the hour. I am just happy to be here. Problems and all. I am thankful for each sunrise. No MATTER what you are going through, give thanks in all you do because God gave you the gift of today. Enjoy it.