It was at this point that I began to feel accustomed to the check-in process every quarter at my son’s HBCU. It was harrowing and stressful every single time. We never had a smooth transition into the semester because there was always some extra housing costs or some expense they’d say was due prior to him clearing into his dorm room. I learned that private schools are money traps and the kid refused to transfer. Alas, it’s his life right? His circle just buckled down and helped him. He also began dating someone! I was really happy for him because he’d always wanted a girlfriend and I knew this experience would mold his connections in the future.

This was a tough year for me personally. I lost my Papa. It was tough to be in a place where my Grandmother and Grandfather gave me the gift that was their love. Because of them, I got to experience a love that I should never had been afforded. My Mom was adopted essentially by older family members and those beautiful people loved us like we were theirs. Losing the pair of them in such a short period of time was unfortunate and hurt like hell but life is for the living. I have to keep going. We all do.

And then I could feel the natural degradation of my former romantic relationship. I didn’t realize it at first because I was too busy feeling bad about my life in general. It’s hard to focus on building relationships with others when you’re too busy blaming them. For what exactly? Who knows. Sometimes, we allow semantics and logistics get in the way of progress, but I digress. As sudden as it seemed, it was a long time coming.

Last thing I did that year was visit my brother in New York for his birthday. We got pedicures and went to the movies. I rode the bus and walked for miles. My brother loves walking through the city and there’s plenty of it. I went to the club and guarded the bags and coats with my life because that’s what I do. I’m learning to let go and enjoy myself but then? Nah…

P.S. That year felt fucked. I couldn’t get out of it fast enough. But BayBay?!? 2024 came through and tried to kick my teeth in out of the gate. This is the real beginning…