Tiya Ford

Years of memories

I don’t know where to begin. There are so many years of memories between us. You were there from the time I was 4-18. You were going there for me when everyone else threw me out. You raised and loved me even though you didn’t have the youth in you to rise a 4 year old. I remember when I first came to live with you I was just a scared 4 year old that was broken. I had watched the murder of my grandparents about 6 months before you got me. I had been bounced between foster homes then you came along and adopted me. I remember the ride to the airport I was sad and scared. You were a stranger and for I knew you were kidnapping me from the only home I had known. We walked hand in hand through the airport in silence. Once we were checked in we walked together somemore in silence to the gate. We had sometime to kill so you brought out some cards and we played go fish. We talked a little but it was mainly silence between us. Then it was time to board the plane to go to my new home in California. I started crying on the way to plane knowing that I was the last time I would see my old hometown. Once we got in our seats you helped me buckle up and get comfy. I remember playing more card games and looking out the window until we landed. We got off the plane and walked to the baggage claim I had never seen so many suitcases before I was amazed. After we got out luggage we went to the car and drove home in silence. As the days turned to weeks then months then years we created some amazing memories and had so many laughs. I remember the long cold winters nights sitting on your lap wrapped in a blanket watching little house on the prairie. That was your favorite show in the whole world. I sat through it even though I thought it was dumb I did it for you because I knew it made you happy. In the summer we would always take a trip for a week to our favorite lake called Blue Lake. Oh we had so much fun with all our family. I remember the late nights with all the cousins sitting around the campfire telling stories and eating s’mores. I still remember to this day you asking me why they called them s’mores. The answer you gave me was because you always want s’more. I loved when it was summer time. Summer time was my favorite season. We would stay up late and watch the sunset on the back deck while watching the deer graze so peacefully in the meadow behind us. Or how you use to take me to the community pool and watch me swim for hours on end with my friends. My favorite holiday was Christmas, all the amazing times we would cuddled up on the chair drinking hot chocolate and eating Christmas cookies while watching Christmas movies. I still remember your gentle soul comforting me when I would have to go to the hospital because I had pneumonia. You always stayed by me and made sure I was ok. You never left me.