family

Gone but Not Forgotten–Happy Birthday Dad!

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dad and me

His name was James Sawyers. He was born January 20, 1943. He was my dad.

No, technically he was not my biological father (that’s another story in and of itself….stay tuned to a later blog), but he stepped into the role with basically zero hesitation when he married my mother. I remember when he and mom would tell me the story of the day I first met him. Evidently I hid underneath the table which most two year olds do, right?!?!  I mean I didn’t even know this guy!

Fast forwarding to my adolescent years, I played pretty much every sport imaginable, and my dad was essentially my personal coach. From basketball to soccer, he was always there to support me, cheer for me and yell at the opposing teams! LOL!  No matter how busy he was, he always managed to be there. He knew it meant the world to me even though I would be embarrassed and mad when he cussed everyone out because the referees would call a foul on me. The nerve of them….Ha!

High school was definitely a difficult time. I was a teenager. Enough said. But no matter how strained our relationship had become, he beamed with pride when I graduated from North Central High School. Go Panthers!

Then came the time for me to leave for college and thus began the most tumultuous yet most memorable years.  

I left college after only one semester. To make a long story short, I had a boyfriend back home and well you know how that story ended. I will never forget dad taking me aside to remind me just how important my college education is and even though I was not in school I still had to work a 40 hour a week job. When I realized just how much I did NOT like living back in my parents’ house at the age of 19, I remembered our talk and very quickly applied to get back into my beloved university. That was the best decision I have EVER made.

Because of my dad and the love of his career, I graduated in 2004 from Alabama A&M University with my B.A. in Communications. Because of my dad, I decided to dive into the world of public relations.

He communicated while he was in the U.S. Navy. He communicated with the media and public while working for multiple politicians. He communicated with at-risk youth as both an educator and community volunteer.  He communicated for a living. Yet, his communication went silent on the morning of August 22, 2006.

2006 was by far the WORST year our family has ever experienced (more on that in a later blog). I remember it like it was just yesterday. On August 21st, dad called me and my brothers (all separately) just to tell us how much he loved us. He randomly made those phone calls so it really didn’t surprise any of us. Little did I know that would be the last time I would ever talk to him.

Dad loved me like his own. He held my hand and cried with me during my darkest hours. He was one of my biggest cheerleaders.

With all that being said, today I want to publicly scream to the heavens HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!! You are so greatly missed.

As always…..these have been just a few thoughts “From My Hart.” 

 

Goodbye 2014, Welcome 2015!

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2015

Well, this is it. The end of 2014 is here, and it has surely been an eventful year.

I lost friendships but gained new ones. I lost weight but then gained it back and then some. I helped to create three mobile apps for my employer (that was pretty exciting)! I celebrated my 34th birthday both in Memphis and Indianapolis (I always go big for my birthday….more on that in a future blog post). I colored my hair red….like serious fire engine red. That was fun while it lasted! And yes, you can have red hair and still manage to look professional. I was introduced to online dating (more on that later). I bought a new car! I had an opportunity to not only attend but give a presentation at a national conference.

This blog entry though isn’t just about what happened in 2014 but what’s in store for 2015! Many new adventures are on the horizon, including my quest to fulfill 35 things on my Bucket List during my 35th year on this earth. I am determined to do things I have either never done or done in quite some time. I am determined to truly live MY life this year. I am determined to smile more than frown. I am determined to laugh more than be stressed. I’m claiming love in my life!

God works in such mysterious ways. As I’m typing this, one of my favorite songs just started playing on my gospel music station. “For every mountain You brought me over…..For every trial You’ve seen me through…..For every blessing…..Hallelujah, for this I give You praise!”

For all things I have had to endure in my short amount of time on this earth, I am truly blessed to still be given the opportunity to see yet another year. And for this, I give Him ALL the praise!

I am really looking forward to 2015! I believe this is going to be an exciting year!

Please be safe tonight and get a designated driver if you are going to drink!

Until next time…….these have been just a few thoughts “From My Hart.”

Alzheimer’s Sucks

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Grandmama and me

Alzheimer’s sucks. Yep, it does. It is a horrible, horrible disease I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. I am pretty sure I have said that at least 1,000 times in the last couple of months but even more so after spending the last several days visiting my beloved Grandmama in my hometown of Indianapolis who currently suffers from the debilitating disease.

So, who is Grandmama? 

Grandmama is my maternal grandmother. She is the heart and soul of our family and is by far one of the strongest women I have ever known. From the moment I was born, she has been my biggest cheerleader….even when I knew I had done wrong. When I have needed anything, whether a ride to physical therapy after knee surgeries or a home cooked meal, she has always been there for me.

It’s Grandmama’s fault I started watching Young and the Restless! We used to discuss those crazy characters every weekend when I was a student at Alabama A&M. (Don’t judge me. Yes, I scheduled my classes around the long-running soap opera). 

Grandmama taught me how to play cards. She taught me how (and why) to cut coupons before going to the grocery store. She taught me the importance of making lists every morning before starting the day. She taught me how important it was to exercise the brain by doing word searches and completing (or attempting to at least) crossword puzzles.

Now, this same woman’s memory is fading and fading fast. 

The last several days has been tough to watch her, but I know seeing my face brought her so much joy. Even when I want to cry as reality slaps me (and the rest of my family) in the face, I find comfort in knowing her memory is not completely gone. She still remembers some people and periods of time.

It’s not easy seeing someone you love and have always admired become the latest Alzheimer’s statistic. 

DID YOU KNOW?

  • More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease.
  • Every 67 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s.
  • Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women.
  • In her 60s, a woman’s estimated lifetime risk for developing Alzheimer’s is 1 in 6. For breast cancer it is 1 in 11.

For more information, visit the Alzheimer’s Association at http://www.alz.org/.