My grandmother was my rock. She was my best friend, my mentor, a woman that made me my favorite foods, because of course she was the best cook in the world, she was a hard worker, a clean freak, and the most fun. I learned how to experiment with my hair by watching her color, cut, and curl hers. I learned how to pay intricate details to my home by watching her do the same with hers. She was a big comfort to me as a kid. I can think about my grandmother right now and get all happy and warm on the inside.
My Aunt Joan is another huge influence on me growing up. She would always throw the biggest birthday parties for me. She honored me and helped me to understand that it was always okay to celebrate ones self. She lived in the big cities in California and always brought me the most interesting things back. We would talk for hours on the phone and even in my adult hood, we can talk for hours and hours. She was one of my safe places as a child.
My aunt Patricia was like a beauty queen. Because there was a big gap between the sisters, my aunt was not too much older than me, maybe about 15 years. I thought she was cool. She let me hang out with her sometimes and she even brought mine things, like: Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five, it was a joy of music that I remember from her and also getting to go to my first concert. I remember learning that someone can do something nice for you just because from my Aunt Patricia, she, like my other aunt, is one whom I talk to regularly and for long lengths of time, especially in the wake of me losing my own dear mother.
My uncle Louis was my favorite uncle. He was wise beyond his years. He introduced me to funk bands, and broad ideas that the world had. He would have these debates with his friends and the other members in my family wisely countering any argument with a cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth. He was the kind of wise, that even early on, could start a lively debate, and by the end of the conversation, have the whole room hanging off of his every world. In adulthood, before his passing, I would still enjoy hanging around him to watch the effect that he had on everyone and listening to his wisdom. I would also admire his fantastic art work. My uncle was a truly gifted artist.
There were more influences on me of course, but for the purposes of this assignment, I picked out four that had some major memories attached to them. This was a great trip down memory lane, LOL~
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Frederick Douglass
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/children.html#oSL7Btdu9THlCUem.99
Frederick Douglass
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/children.html#oSL7Btdu9THlCUem.99
