Last week while I was at the doctor’s office, assisting my aunt at her follow-up appointment. While going to the truck, I saw a cousin who I haven’t seen in years! He said
You know I see you!!
That’s his jovial way of saying
I recognize you from anywhere
He was a few years older than me. We always had fun together growing up. He was there because his wife was pregnant and had a
False alarm
I was glad to see him. I then reminded him this was the time of year when we got together! Immediately our minds went back to the sights, sounds, and fond memories of the 4th!
The 4th came with a Smell
When you walked into Momma Nita’s house (My Dad’s mother) you could smell the holiday! It was a smell laced with
Chicken
Ribs
Brisket
Potato salad
And Uncle Sam’s pipe!
And I loved it!!! The aroma was full of love and hope.
The 4th came with a sound
The sound of joy, laughter, and conversation.
The sound of
Dominoes slammed on the table!
Dishes clinking
Aunties gossiping
The sound of
Maurice talking trash!
But the one sound I could hear above all else was
My Grand Father’s laugh!
The man would be in mid-conversation at the domino table and would holler out laughing!!!
My cousin said
Man that Cat Fish!!!
The same man who was full of laughter brought us joy when he presented to us his specialty
Cat fish!!!!
The World War II Navy Vet was methodical in his catfish cooking process, and I enjoyed it.
The food is ready and Grand Dad (knowing the crowd) he would give the shortest prayer ever it’s either
Lord thank you for this food we are about to receive for the nurishment of our bodies for Christ’ sake
Or the crowd favorite
Jesus wept
The 4th came with Sight
To come and see our loved ones in the summer was amazing. We already had summers off but to see our cousins, Aunts, Uncles, and friends all in one place was a sight to see.
As I got older with a family of my own, I see the future of my family and my community. At one time we as children went into a secluded room to take a nap. This evolved into us bringing our children to an aunt’s room for a nap. Now our youth are bringing their children to our rooms to take a nap.
Conclusion
The 4th is a mixed bag for some people, especially those who are of African descent. However, I can’t help but enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday. These are MY fond memories of the 4th.
Talk to you later
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