Showing posts with label cousins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cousins. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Opened Boxed of Darkness #andothermistakes

My cousin is a healer. She is a nurse and a lawyer. I admire her so much for this (and other reasons). She has the perfect mix of empathy and accountability, especially in relationships, that she could probably give Iyanla a run for her money. But my cuzzo ain’t got time for that because she is actually fixing lives with pain meds and billable hours. Wait, whoa…I just realized right now that ALL OF HER HOURS are technically billable hours. Wow. My cuzzo is on the come up for real. Yall, my genetic lineage is full of greatness. *insert a Kendrick lamar ‘damn’ here*

But, relationships. She reins Queen above all us peasants when it comes to closure. Again, admiration, and a little adoration. She does this so well because of all her formal and informal training #SheWasRaisedRight. She will heal you emotionally because she really cares. Let you get all of your feelings in order, all the time you need, be all the understanding there is in this dying world, THEN order you to render that which is hers unto her in the form of admitting all the ways you effed up (or having her do it – she’ll let you choose which way to pay).

‘Cause all accounts come due eventually, and just like student loan debt, even if you file for bankruptcy, you still owe bruh.

I, on the other hand, do the exact opposite – because while I was raised as rightly as she, I am no healer. If you leave me, then, well, eff you and the horse you rode in on too #butstilliwalked. Hell I look like closing something already closed? #NahSon

I feel like forgiveness and closure goes as far as me not praying for bad things to happen to you. Also, never ever praying for good things to happen to you. Like why in the world would I do that? What sense does that make? See, if something awesome happens to you after you leave me – Look at God. And, when you reap the awful you sowed after your departure then – Look. At. God. #WontHeDoIt? #OhYesHeWill

Who am I to interfere with the majesty and mystery of the Lord? His will be done. He ain’t never needed my help or intervention.

Why in the world would I make you better for another person? So you could be better to them? My name is not Chuck... #AintNoGoodLuckBih That sounds dumb as hell. What about me, fam? I didn’t deserve the better version of you? Sure, everybody ain’t for this one somebody, and you can learn a lesson from every relationship regardless of how it ends, but uh…you gonna need a tutor brah-brah. The only meds I take? My wine club membership...and if you think I’m sharing that with you see: sweet potato cookies.

What’s the point of brining this up now? Well, I tried out my cousin’s advice. I sought out closure when an opportunity presented itself. Presented…because I did not seek such a “gift” out. No sir. No ma’am. No mx. I put that little box of darkness in the closet with all the others and kept it pushin.

This last time my lil raggedy feelings got hurt, I let it go. It was actually how I “welcomed” the New Year. Side Note #1: I have taken SO MANY L’s this year…2017 is a bih. In the most adult way I could (read: teenage way, I am no adult) I helped myself build a bridge through it – acknowledging how I felt and not rushing myself across. Then, I ignored it completely, and folded some cranes in the skies over me hoping to feel something like healing.

He called. Months and months later. Good morning summer and heart ache – there was no sunshine. Called for no other reason, I suppose, than to disturb my attempting peace. The call ended strangely, without ever speaking to elephants in our respective rooms separated by time zones. Days later, I took my pain meds and disturbed his actual peace. I told myself I would ask the ‘what happened’ question and let him answer. Whatever he said, I would hear it, and I would move on. Because that’s closure, right? Side Note #2: I never actually asked my cousin what went into ‘closure’, like the actual steps in the conversation or process. I totally winged it with a glass of Riesling. While I still haven’t inquired about this, I think I know that the last part isn’t supposed to be part of the process. This is why I’m adult-adjacent.

The level of pissedivity I felt on the phone using my free minutes for a phone call I made but would not hang up cannot be described with my current level of literary skill. Where is Terry McMillian? I was a montage of so many emotions that I finally understood what my Daddie must have felt when he tossed that cat into a pack of dogs. I wanted to do awful hoodrat things all alone for the sheer pleasure of others suffering in the most excruciating ways – and live long enough to tell my kids about it, laughing. Because, #EffYoEffinFeelings. At one point in the wasting of my free minutes he brought up my not following up on things I said I would do when he straight up ghosted me. 

This fool wanted me to be like, hey, I know you don’t talk to me anymore on purpose, but um, here is all the stuff (read: benefits of being WITH me and/or calling me with frequency) I said I would give you and do. Have a blessed day that the Lord made. Be glad in it. Yall, the devil comes for my neck and my back and my cell phone reception regularly. How much more shall I render unto ‘ships that have that have long since set sail? I prayed to never know what he was whispering, ‘yonce. But, there I was, right there with you, listening…and praying, oddly enough #fordifferentthingstho.

So, pissed, petty, and full of pain meds I stayed on the line. Eventually, he realized that this wasn’t the best idea so he ended the conversation. I knew when I called this was dumb, but science #TestTheTheory. I guess that’s part of closure, though. One person being adult enough (because neither of us were very adult) to just end it.

What did I learn?

I am better off not praying either way for you and letting God have His way. It helps me enjoy the Riesling so much more than this ‘talking about it’ mess. I will just leave closure up to the experts – like my cuzzo. She got the right stuff in her to do it. Sure it’s hard, and when it’s hard and challenging it’s worth it. But do you know what’s more difficult than that? All the Riesling being gone when the conversation ends. There was only red wine left, yall!!! *angry emoji face*

I never want to know THAT kind of pain and heart ache again.

Anyway, I’ve never been one to mourn dead things – even the things I loved above all others. And…I have, well, you know what I have in me. That and sweet potato cookies are really only good for a party.

So, I should just do that. #GameNightComingSoon

Friday, November 13, 2015

We Did The Dash! #WeDidTheMonsterDash

You would think that people would have me figured out by now. Obvs, no. Because, even if I’m coming to your city to visit at the last minute, I’m definitely going to see if there is a running event. And hello…there is always a running event around major holidays. So… #LaceUpThoseRunningShoes #TheRunLeaderIsInTown #Plus,INeedMoreStates #15in2015 #CauseIGaveUpOnTheMilesPart #WhyYallDidntTalkMeOutOfThat?

...because I need another challenge! #Yassss
Well, one of the other things that I do…I sign people up for running events unbeknownst to them. Because, medals. It’s a thing. So, I’ll be doing RnR NOLA in 2016. The half marathon, of course. Because I think it’s super awesome to go to awesome cities and sign up for athletic events when I could be French-Quarter-Side with beads and sweet potato cookies.

Goals. Ugh.

What was I saying? Oh, yea, running events. So I signed up my cousin and one of my friends for the 10K because I think it’s a great idea for the both of them to do a 10K while I’m doing the half. It’s amazing how much personal information your family and friends will give you without knowing the complete reason why. I’m so trustworthy.

Anyway. A last minute trip to Texas turned into #StateNumbah2 and #5Knumbah1 for my cousin! I had no idea it was a first one! Had I realized that, instead of being all caught up in this wonderful thing that I was doing for the both of us, I would have made a bigger stink about it. But, there’s always #NOLA.

We picked up our packets…which came with awesome jackets. Okay, when it comes to race swag, a jacket is always winning! Sure I basically paid for the jacket…but there was a medal too, so #MoreWinning.

Of all the things I did check, the one thing I did not check was the weather. Why would I check the weather? I live on the sunny side of the world where weather isn’t a thing so…what in the world are these rain clouds doing here? We’re supposed to be running.

START: Yea. I should probably check the weather and prepare more. I wonder if there is one of those weather app thingies?! I should look for one. Or nah.

Mile 1: Lord, if you love me…well, like me a little bit, please Jesus don’t let me slip and fall.

Mile 2: OMG, I think I’m almost done. That was like the longest 5k ever. Wait. Why is everyone not looping around to the finish. #FollowTheSignHolder

Mile 3: Yea, I should probably not think that I’m fast. It really messes up my ability to finish a race well. Why did I think I was finished that fast anyway??

Mile 3(0.1): I wonder if that cute guy in the #Reno911 costume is still around. *looks left, looks right*

FINISH: I’ve got to get a picture of her finishing! That would be soooooo cute! OMG! Get ready!

…and I waited for My Cuzzo to be great! And she got it! She achieved her goal, she felt good after, and darn it, she’s so photogenic! #ItsAGurleyThing #ButApparentlyItsARecessiveTraitInMe

She debriefed her performance. Feeling really good. Feeling less anxious about #RnRNOLA. Feeling like a 10k was manageable. Feeling encouraged about living life as a runner. Feeling like, she did that…being her First 5K and all…

Wait…wheeetttt? It’s your what? Your first 5k? HOW DID I NOT KNOW??? I usually ask more questions. I usually prepare lovely gifts. I usually…I USUALLY BE AWESOME WITH GREAT SURPRISES AND WHATNOT!

And just when I thought I had a great day figuring out how not to fall down, roll my ankle, and/or hurt myself in some unpredictable and inconceivable way, I messed up. I mean, everyone else got the pomp and meanwhile these circumstances got me all unprepared. #BadRunLeaderMoment

But my cousin loves me. And we had a great weekend. And I got another state. And she is really proud of herself. Like she crushed her goal. And smiled all the way through the finish. I got the pictures to prove it.

And there is no way, as hard as I could have tried or surprised, that I could have made that happen for her. She did that all on her own!

In True #GirlieGurl l fashion!

#15ThingsIn2015 Challenge
5 new states (Louisiana, Texas – 2 down, 3 to go) #iShouldWorkOnThisOne #2MonthsLeft
4 new friends (OldieButNewbie #RunningHubby; My Child; WickedWineRunCrew (6 people!); Ragnar Napa Valley (10 people!); Cuzzo – 19 down)
3 new running events (Shamrock Half; St Charles Road Race; Orange County Half; Wicked Wine Run; Ragnar Napa Valley; Let’s Go 510…5k; Monster Dash 5k – 7 down)
2 back-to-back running events (Rock N Roll San Jose 5K & Half; Ragnar Napa Valley & Let’s Go 510…5k – 2 down, 0 to go)
1 Half Marathon PR (Rock N Roll San Diego! 6 minutes! – 1 down, 0 to go)