This is my Grandmother, whom I love so dearly: Lillie Adelaide Allman Owusu. She is a caretaker, friend, confidant, philosopher, historian, strong woman of God. She can't cook a lick (I get it honestly) but she knows how to keep her family motivated and always striving. We have gone through a lot but nothing can compare to the situation she was born into down in Popular Bluff, Missouri, just a second generation freed Negro. She went through so much to become the Woman she is now. I'm so proud that she has lived long enough to see Barack Obama run for President. She is so proud of Barack. And she is also (surprisingly) proud of Halle Berry. She sees all the stress and heartache that Berry has gone through in trying to find real love. I think she can identify with Halle Berry in that most of her life she has felt misunderstood. Now, finally, through her battle with cancer, those closest to her are revering her for the Matriarch that she is. Never one to be conventional, she traveled to Africa in the 1950s when Black people thought going to Africa was like "going to the Moon." She was always making her own way in the World, but never wanting to enjoy the fruits of her labor alone. She sacrificed a lot for her children, and in turn, she recieved the rewards that can only come from watching your quiver become more and more full as the years go on. On behalf of your eldest Grandchild: I just want you to know that we love you, support you and stand with you as you win the battle against Cancer and continue raising the next generation.
Love, Margaret (Oscar) Cogdell, [Tanikka Catriece Price {Kalia Monique, Kaissa Imani Assata, Jamir Malachi Israel, Mikaya Christiana Marie, Kiara Amari Mika'el}, Larry Ali (Kenisha) Price {Nathan, Natalia, Nikolas}, Jermain Eric (Hendretta) Scott {Jermain Malachi Israel}, LaShawn Matthew Scott], Benjamin Owusu, [Dante Lamar Anton Owusu {Dante Quameer Malik, Kwamir, }, Michael Owusu, LaTasha Ann Owusu, Khalil Bass Owusu], Lillie (Willie) McClure, [Marquita Dominique Wilson {Eric Eugene Jones}, Edward Alexander Robinson, Briana Arlene Robinson].

Your children are arrows in your hands...Your children's children are a heritage from the Lord. I bless God for you in everyway.

Living Life Like It's Golden

One thing we should have learned by now is that life is too short. We can think of plenty of people who died too young and we shook our heads and thought surely it would never be us. We think of our own mortality and the inevitable ending of those we love the most. But sometimes it is a shock when we have to face losing those people who mean the most to us. This is the way it is with my Grandma. She's 85, which is old to a lot of people. But her mother lived to be 100 years old, so my family has an unnatural idea of how long people should live. However, over the last couple of weeks I was forced to deal with my Grandmother's mortality. I took her to the ER after she seemed to be battling the flu/gastrointeritis. It had hit the whole family but she was having a hard time recuperating. A CT scan of the adominal showed Colon Cancer. Initially, I was in denial and refused to believe that she was that sick. However, after the tumor was removed in surgery two days later, a biopsy confirmed that it was cancer. I've been in shock and trying to deal with the implications of a woman I think is so strong being weak. She came home in a week and is recuperating, but she's not the same Grandma (yet). I remain optimistic, but I also remain dedicated to the fact that each day could be the last (for any of us) and that I need to live each day to the fullest. Who is on your list that you have not called yet, or emailed in a while, or kissed, hugged or spent time with. God is good and always provides what we need when we need it. I'm not saying it has been easy. But each day gets a little easier as I see God's hand carefully guiding my family through yet another storm. I had to return to this blog because 'soaring through the storm' has certainly been the teme for the past few years. In His Love....Nique