Left: Caison Michael holding his basketball trophy proudly with a semi-toothless smile. Right: Jernee Timid resting on my cousin’s floor
I woke up with his face tattooed on my brain; such a handsome boy with a smile to shake the world. He gives me hope. He lends me peace. His innocence is contagious.
My old girl rests her tired body on my cousin’s carpeted hardwoods; a full morning of racing through time has drained her. She calms my nerves. She centers my spirit. She saves me from myself.
And as Sunday kicks off with temperatures that have tanked overnight, I wonder what the constant change of weather will do to my head and heart today, but I’m still smiling because of a growing boy and an aging dog.
1. Tattoo#7, “October Star” for my cousin, Chrissy. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
2. Jernee Timid in Red. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
1. October Star. The first image is my latest tattoo which is a tribute to my cousin Chrissy who passed away on February 18, 2022. What you see before you is “October Star.” Chrissy was born in October and she lit up everyone’s life. I dubbed her our October Star and she will always be that to me/us.
For those of you who do not know, I also compiled several narrative poems, lamentations, and memorial works along with colored photos for her, aptly named, October Star. Information for the book can be found here.
Making this tattoo number 7 for me was a no-brainer. It seems right. It feels right. And I have a feeling Chrissy is smiling and is also pleased with it.
2. Jernee Timid has two new shirts. Since it is getting just a bit warmer, she doesn’t need to wear her sweaters or her hoodie, so I purchased two new T-shirts for her. One is light grey and the other is red.
She is casually donning her red shirt in this photo while commandeering my chair and electric blanket. She likes both shirts and gets aggravated when I take them off at night before she goes to bed. She wants to sleep in them, but I know she’ll get overheated during the middle of the night.
There’s never a dull moment with Jernee, and I have to say, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Every Tuesday, I will share a favorite photo Iβve taken within the week with all of you. This week, it is . . .Β Jernee’s Box. I will go into depth with this one just a little. Jernee is getting older–she’ll be 16 on April 06, 2024, and I am a preparer by nature.
Therefore, my very GOOD friend Zainey had this small box made for me last year by an Alaskan artist, and I intend to use it for Jernee’s ashes when she has been cremated. I think the box is perfect and is themed appropriately to hold my baby’s remains when that day comes.
I just wanted to share this with all of you. Stay tuned for next Tuesdayβs snapshot.
1. brave is a poem that came to me this past Sunday evening. Words are funny in a way for me; they come tapping at my brain unannounced, and I have to lend them the attention they are seeking to move forward with my day/night.
I think if more of us were brave enough to love hard–truly love at our most vulnerable and genuine selves, we’d get rid of some of the tragedies that befall this world. I am still praying and hoping we can move toward this form of bravery.
2. A James Baldwin quote … if you’re not familiar with Sir James Arthur Baldwin, I am unsure of how to give you the details you need to become familiar with a forceful voice, poetical talent, and literary icon who only graced this earthly space for sixty years.
He was an activist and outspoken about the various racist acts that plagued our nation and world during his time. If you couldn’t glean where he was coming from by reading his work, you could definitely feel his passion and understand his dedication to righting the wrongs that were in place by watching some of the interviews he agreed to do.
I’ll leave you a snippet from one of his interviews below so you can see for yourself.
A Cornered Gurl 
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