2017 End of The Year Wrap Up

Well, where do I start?  2017 was filled with so many ups and downs, changes and movements.  I'll just spotlight the lows and highs for me.

Lowlights of the Year include:

Saying goodbye to Bentley (our dog) and Onyx, Kitten and Larry (our cats) when we moved back to Boston.  Our hearts truly ache for the losses, but it was the only option.  Thankfully, Onyx and Kitten (now Trouble) have been rehomed with my forever daughter Char, after spending time with cousin Keisha and then Aaron.  So we can still at least visit them and see pictures of them.

My health has taken a real hit this year.  With multiple hospitalizations and one stay in rehab.  At one point, I was in a wheelchair because I could not walk on my own.  It was scary and it's been frustrating, but I am still standing!  And I have great health care.  And for the first time in many years, I know WHAT is going on with my body and WHY.  And those were things that I did not know.

Housing.  Without going into too much detail, the gist of it is that moving to Boston left us homeless.  This has been a very painful year for me personally.  It's difficult to go from being a self sufficient, independent, grown ass 50 year old woman, to not knowing where my family would be laying our heads.  Although the move to Boston was necessary at the time...I've hated the move and miss the South very much.   At the end of the day, I  was much happier with housing choice in SC and think it would be a better place for the boys to grow up in.

Not working.  This is the first time in many years that I have not been able to work.  I've finally had to accept that due to my health issues; working full time or even part time is just not an option.  As someone who began working at 14, this has been very hard to accept personally.

Now, for the positives!

Highlights of the year include:

The birth of my second grandson, Na'eem Xavier on August 9.  He is such a laid back little dude, whose smile will melt your heart.

The constant growth and changes that my grandson, Bryson Timothy exhibits.  His little personality is so exuberant and loving,even though he seems to be entering the "terrible two's" a few months early.  He and Na'eem have healed my heart and spirit in so many ways.

Being back among my family and best friend in Boston and seeing them on a regular basis.  This alone has made the harder times more bearable.  I have truly missed them and there is such a difference when I can just jump on a bus/train to see the people I love, as opposed to driving for 17 hours!

Auditioning for and being accepted into the Oscar Mischeaux Theater Company.  I've been away from theater and singing for too long now.  When I lost Aja, it just felt like my life force had been stripped away and I no longer desired to perform.

Being back among world class doctors and health care. For both Bryson and myself.  Although this year has been one of my worst health wise, the care I have received and the timeliness that I've received it in has been first rate.  The same goes for Bryson and Na'eem.  The healthcare they receive is exemplary

Being allowed to start up a Boston Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children.  This was something I'd hoped to be able to do and there were many steps, but I accomplished my goal.  I look forward to growing the chapter and making connections in Boston so that the chapter can reach anyone who needs it.

Overall, it's been a year of change, growth, sadness and fear, but also of hope.  I have hope that 2018 will be another year of change.  Change for the better.