It took an entire day for me to step back far enough emotionally to write this...even chillin' with my peeps at the Fourth Fete, my feelings waxed and waned, as I felt her presence and then she'd be gone just as quickly as she was upon me. SO, after an awesome day cooling out with The Peeps, I came home and began.
Ten years ago, on July 4th 2003, my Rosa Mae Williams made her transition. My Mother and I were born on the same day; she in 1931.
The fact that she made her way on 'Independence Day' is completely appropriate in her case. She was her own woman: fiercely and unabashedly so. Yet her kindness and compassion was just as uncompromising as her toughness.
You see, Rosa Mae was the every man's woman. She could be found rubbing elbows inside the Tudors and Colonials of Upper Montclair, or cooling her heels in a Newark 'hood; dancing with the young ones in Fire Hydrant Rain.
She had a slick charm that simmered behind that dazzling smile of hers; I witnessed its disarming prowess often and bathed in the admiration which washed over me.. She could soften the hardest Hearts and make the most arrogant fool back up and step into their proper place, which was no where near the height of her soaring Spirit, nor could they keep up with her sauntering into the dark alleys and project halls; for they would not match her courage.
I learned so much from you, Rosa Mae. On how TO and how NOT to expose the tricks of the Human Realm. On what it means to be a Chocolate Girl in this Vanilla World. On what it takes to be free in Mind and Spirit, even when the shackles are battering and bruising your body. On being the Sky Walker, the Trickster, the beeeyach, the Guru, the Untamed Woman and Mamma Dukes.
On the necessity of being me, 24-7-365 regardless of who, what or where.
Peace Moms,
it was groovy spending the day with your sneaky self.
Hollah at a Sista next time.
LOL!!!!
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