I have far too many mothers to count for several reasons. The most obvious being that I was born into a family dominated by women. My mother has a sister; several female first cousins who are surrogate sisters; no less than a dozen aunts; and a gaggle of girlfriends. They all touched my life in some significant way and nurtured me as only women who love you can. The one who has had the most profound impact is my mother's sister, Jane.
The circumstances surrounding my birth were not unusual, especially by today's standards. My mother was 15 and in high school... my father denied paternity... I was raised in the home of my grandparents... I don't think I need to list anything else. It's clear that I wasn't the first or last kid to come in under those conditions.
My mother, sweet girl that she is, was ill-prepared for her new role. Essentially, she was still a child herself. So a whole heap of black women got together and raised a baby. My aunt Jane, who was attending graduate school, shifted into mommy mode immediately and made sure I had everything she felt I needed.
For one of the first Christmases I can remember she bought me a little red Corvette convertible to drive around. It was battery-powered and handled like the real thing. I wish I still had it. It didn't go very fast, but was definitely fuel efficient. The other thing she did was get me started on receiving a good education. At the time, she was working on becoming a teacher and before I could talk she was reading or singing to me. I had every Sesame Street recording and can still sing all the songs...
And who could ever forget?...
Once married, she periodically took me to stay with her, sending me to a head start program near the old Hayes Homes projects in Newark's Central Ward. It all paid off as I was printing my name before I went to kindergarten and could write script before it was taught. I can truly say that without her New Growth would not exist. She's done so very much.
In addition to getting me educated, she took me to my first concert at the Garden State Arts Center. I can remember laying on a blanket between she and her late husband. I'm not sure who the act was, but I was there. Once they had children of their own, things didn't change much. We would all go see the Globetrotters at the Garden every President's Day.
She continued to be a constant source of encouragement throughout adolescence into adulthood. When I moved away to college, it was she who drove with me to Boston to move into my dorm. She was also the first to visit and check up on me regularly. She still does.
She is now nearing retirement, which gags me because I can remember her so clearly in her twenties. Sometimes, if I squint real hard and tilt my head a little, I can see her skinny legs doing the Slop or the Jerk or the Mashed Potato while The Contours sing "Do You Love Me?" She still does all that too.
On every major holiday I can depend on her laying out a sumptuous meal and feeding, not only the family, but any strays we might happen to bring along. If you have no where to go on Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas, let me know. You can come along.
I know I can every repay the debt I owe her, but she will always have my undying gratitude and love for simply being the very best aunt.
For one of the first Christmases I can remember she bought me a little red Corvette convertible to drive around. It was battery-powered and handled like the real thing. I wish I still had it. It didn't go very fast, but was definitely fuel efficient. The other thing she did was get me started on receiving a good education. At the time, she was working on becoming a teacher and before I could talk she was reading or singing to me. I had every Sesame Street recording and can still sing all the songs...
And who could ever forget?...
Once married, she periodically took me to stay with her, sending me to a head start program near the old Hayes Homes projects in Newark's Central Ward. It all paid off as I was printing my name before I went to kindergarten and could write script before it was taught. I can truly say that without her New Growth would not exist. She's done so very much.
In addition to getting me educated, she took me to my first concert at the Garden State Arts Center. I can remember laying on a blanket between she and her late husband. I'm not sure who the act was, but I was there. Once they had children of their own, things didn't change much. We would all go see the Globetrotters at the Garden every President's Day.
She continued to be a constant source of encouragement throughout adolescence into adulthood. When I moved away to college, it was she who drove with me to Boston to move into my dorm. She was also the first to visit and check up on me regularly. She still does.
She is now nearing retirement, which gags me because I can remember her so clearly in her twenties. Sometimes, if I squint real hard and tilt my head a little, I can see her skinny legs doing the Slop or the Jerk or the Mashed Potato while The Contours sing "Do You Love Me?" She still does all that too.
On every major holiday I can depend on her laying out a sumptuous meal and feeding, not only the family, but any strays we might happen to bring along. If you have no where to go on Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas, let me know. You can come along.
I know I can every repay the debt I owe her, but she will always have my undying gratitude and love for simply being the very best aunt.
With my friends on Easter 2005
4 comments:
She sounds like the type of aunt many of us had - not just you. I think scenarios like this are very constant among us as people. Kudos to her for doing what she instinctively knew she had to do!
I think I had 2 aunts like that. One was there financially and one emotionally. They both stopped just as I began to remember events.
::Shrug::
Oh well! Cherish that woman, they come a dime a dozen!
This is what I hope to become to my sisters unborn child because LAWD knows my sis will need the help. She's not young...she's just LAZY! Let me not even get started on her! LOL!
I can't say that I had anyone like your Aunt Jane growing up, but your Auntie sounds like a real treasure!! Hopefully my future niece/nephew will be able to say the same about me.
PS: Don't you all look cute cheesing it up for the camera! *smile*
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