Good Old Friends
Life can be whimsical at times. In 2017 and once more in 2022, I found myself in Jamaica. The first time, it was to celebrate Cousin Ashley’s Sweet Sixteen and to meet my extended family for the very first time. It’s moments like these that urge us to pause and truly grasp our emotions. Sometimes, understanding how and why we feel a certain way eludes us, but in moments of quiet reflection, clarity often emerges.
In 2022, at this very same time, I stood at my father’s funeral. Papa, Dad’s lifelong friend from their younger years, had passed away just two days before. Today, in 2023, marks a year since Dad’s funeral, Papa’s departure, and six years since I first met my extended family – Sanjaye, Mark, Eric, and Lisa. New bonds have formed, and generations have moved on. Tell me, don’t we all need a bit of faith? I certainly do.
I’d like to honor the enduring connection between my father, Wesley, and my step-grandfather, Harold. This month would have marked Papa’s 90th birthday and Dad’s 81st. In their final days, they managed to exchange a few words, a testament to their enduring friendship. In this lifetime, we encounter numerous individuals, but only a select few friendships endure until the very end. So, in this month spanning from August into September, I’ve chosen to celebrate the essence of friendship. Yes, tears may fall, but from their lives, I draw profound lessons about the significance of these enduring bonds.
