Your son in law could not comfort me because of the greatness of his grief and it was then I discovered being truly alone for the first time in my life.
My daughter smiles when she tells me I’ve never lived alone first with you and then with my husband but I felt alone for the first time while I grieved for your immediate presence.

I have aged greatly since that day and when passing the mirror sometimes say quietly look at Lucy’s girl she has become an old woman and I hear you saying softly
When are you going to grow up and stop building air castles as I contemplate my latest venture..

Destined to forever chase rainbows I whisper to you I’m going to be all right don’t worry about me so much, and I feel your love embracing me forever trying to do across time what you were always unable to do which was to protect me from life.

My mama left me six days after my birth it’s true but the greatest gift of my life was having you step in and take her place.

So I remember your birthday today and wonder what you would have thought of the past 18 years since you left.
My daughter and granddaughter are two of my greatest joys, a few close friends,
And as always my dear husband of 48 years who has stood the test of time.

He is ill now but still my protector, there to soften the blows in my life and we both talk of life without each other as we savor with gratitude each passing day.

You taught me how to love and it is the greatest legacy that I can leave behind.
Happy 100 th birthday Auntie no one could ever hope for a better mother than you. This is my south, this is my celebration of the Black family.