My in-laws are in town this weekend. My father in law has a good friend whose family threw a surprise 80th birthday party for his wife. The missus and I were invited to the celebration.
It was lavish and fun! Catered food at a large home in the Emory area. Africans know how to celebrate! But about 5 minutes after entering the home, i literally saw someone that looked like my deceased maternal grandmother.
I stood there, in shock! I couldn't stop looking at her. She had a full head of gray hair that was combed upwards into a shorter afro. Her hairline resembled my own hairline. She was dark skinned and her mannerisms were just like my Nana. I could feel the tears swell up in my eyes.
A flood of emotions came over me. Mostly happy memories and feelings. I started to recall how as my grandmother's only grandson (at the time), I always got to sleep in her room when my sister and my other two cousins would stay at her home when we were kids. I started recalling climbing the big oak tree in her side yard, that no one else could climb it. I remembered all the dogs she ever had and running around the backyard with them. And there was the convenience store shortcut, behind her house through the woods, that eventually became my haven for play.
By the end of the night, I gathered the fortitude to reach out to her and share with her the similarities I saw in her with my Nana. She was 80 years old and so appreciative that her presence was able to bring joy to a complete stranger. And no, she is not family (lol). I wished her well with her travels, she offered a hug which I gladly accepted.
Thank you Nana for appearing in human form as a reminder of the strong bond we still share. U were loved by many and u made all your grandkids feel special 🥰 Your memory and the energy u poured into me, I'll never forget the life lessons and I hope to pour that same energy and passion eventually into my kids/grandkids.
