10 Burning Candles

Like all brothers and sisters, they have a unique twist to how they think. We laugh, we cry, we are close and yet we are distant for so many reasons. Very similar to other families, we didn't agree on everything, but we have a unique task ahead of us all. Growth so that our candles continue to burn and allow the legacy to burn on within our children. We all had our own connection with our mother during her time here on Earth. I can tell that they were not the best connections one would think about having with a mother, but no one is perfect.

When I was younger, I could never understand the relationship she had with my older brothers and sisters and had envy toward them for their relationship with her. As I grew older and started to see some situations that had too many factors to even begin to sort out with what could have happened and what should have happened. Unfortunately, a situation like that could never be sorted out. We did not have the opportunity for the ten of us to grow up under the same house. Even if we were close in age, the possibility of that wouldn't have been so because of some hardship problems my mother had in the past.

It was a hard time for her, and I don't know the complete details but if I heard anyone make a state of regret, it was my mother saying that she wished that she hadn't asked her brothers and sister to help raise her kids when she wasn't able to. If any of my brothers and sisters read this, I'm not pointing blame or looking for solutions. It's my wish that we grow together in forgiveness in all things. I cannot replace your pain, nor can I understand what you went through, but understand that I am your brother.

Something that grew with me that I have done with each of them at some point in my life, and I hope to one day do more because as we already lost a brother, we don't have the luxury of time. So here is something I have to say about you all and still hope for that picture of all of us together.

Imma hold ten candles, Imma hold ten candles and remember the days I smiled and cried with each and every one as I reminisce in the middle of the night, walking without my sandals!

Now the first that blows and burn in the night, I often saw him when I was watching Sanford and Son at night. Use to brag, how long his curls were, use to brag how long his curls were! I use to laugh and say chill bro. Even though he is old as shoe, I remember that ad in magazine and he thought he was GQ. This cat was funny in many ways. I blame Dean for my encounter with MD 20/20! Well, he was there because I was going to drink it anyway if it was with my high school friends or him. Always admire his style of dress. I guess that is where I got my style from and knew how to put a suit combination together. I remember the days of going to Todd's in Northland Mall to his job and seeing him as a salesman in the menswear store. I took my sense of dress from him and always cherish the significance of a man in a suit and tie. Hey, whatever happened to that poster Montana and Lott signed when the Niners were in town for the Super Bowl?

Now take a look this candle that rekindled in God's time, I remember when he ate all the ribs way after bedtime! Everyone was hungry and I wanted to put my hands on that man; now I laugh because he was sitting up looking like Brah man. Missed my brother JB and glad that we are in contact with each other again. He was always trying to be the strong Kung-Fu man of the family. I can remember going to see Star Trek, The Wrath of Khan at the movies with him. Even at the time of not really knowing that my big cousin was really my big brother taking me to the movies, it was a time to remember for me. Somehow after the movie, him and his boys went to Wendy's and we got a bunch of free food. I was to little to remember, but his buddy Skip was changing his shirt in the drive-thru and getting extra burgers from the lady in the window.

In the middle of the night, you could see this patch of a candle like a skunk in the night, but things in Fort Bend he made it alright! Bad kids on lockdown, Dennis didn't play around. Sorry militant midget on that court, I had to beat you down. Now this cat was the first to introduce me to the Wu Tang Klan. We took a road trip to Atlanta from Houston, TX. I wanted to make an effort to gain a stronger tie with brothers and sisters and doing a few road trips with "Michael Evans" were cool to remember but showing him my skills on the court was always funny to me. Now he would tell you that he won our one v one matchups, but his memory is fading. However, he's good for all the eating spots in Houston, but don't depend on him playing defense in a pickup game of five-on-five basketball.

Oh no, candle getting hot, here goes to the fourth one, on Saturdays we pretend we were deep in Shaolin, and he would play the role of the monk. That 🧀 had those track skills by way of moving his feet, I was too busy brushing my waves in the Michigan heat. Spencer was too laid back at times. However, he was the closest one to me of them all. I took a road trip or two with him, but the funniest of most was driving from Atlanta to Houston to visit "Michael Evans". On the way back to Atlanta, we were pulled over by a cop with nothing to do. With Spencer and all his reserved ways, he picked a perfect time to argue with a cop on a dark I-10 highway road outside of New Orleans with 4 other patrol cars as "back up". We survived that trip and our days in the ATL was one to remember. Learned a lot about life after the Marines and my influence to move there was all connected to him.

Got to take you to the old one, the silver fox of the crew. Just old as that lady that lived in a shoe! Now we call her Oprah, trying to organize everything. I bet she got one of those bougie things, when she wants your attention, she makes it rain! Sister CLO had me scared out my wits one day! I drove a car to pick her up in New York to drive back to GA. My dear sister and I paid a visit to her hair salon in the South Bronx. Well time was spinning, and the light were dimming. Now I have been in some not too safe areas growing up in Pontiac and Detroit, but the South Bronx had a look that wasn't relaxing to my eyes. New York, New York. A nice place to visit, but I really never cared of living there, so I was glad to take my sister and cousin Pat to GA and get back to familiar settings.

This candle has to show, this candle has to show! She probably has many stories, even bout the time of the Jack Branch snow. Her son called me and said, your sister has to quit! I said hang in tight nephew, just let her get tired and then she'll eventually sit. I often think that if my sister Ardray didn't live deep in the woods of Santee, SC, her quality of life could have had a different spin on it. Not too many memories about her other than the times we visited SC and she was fussing about who consumed all the Kool-Aid. I talk to her from time to time just to check on her. Often, she reminds me of momma always fussing at my nephew about something. Sometimes I would talk to them both just to see if I can play the peacemaker.

Before leaving this place, before I make way and exit and leave this place. I laughed at the frown on my sister's face when I was the one that took momma's place in the cake making space. Now she tries to cook all the time but keep begging me to make dessert. Back in the mind knowing she can't make cake it must hurt. I try not to let Connie know too much of what's going on in my life because she thinks she's momma replacement. She has been there through time and even when we didn't see eye to eye, the love we have for each other always kept us. She thinks she can drive, so I just let her keep thinking that. I took a couple of road trips with her (as you can tell we are some driving people) and between you and I, I drove the bulk of the miles to save the day. Like the time we drove from Detroit to New York when Pops was sick. You would think after me getting off a plane from California to Michigan, she would drive her fair share. However, leave it up to me to save the day and hit the road like BJ McKay.

This candle number eight, candle number eight! Always thinking of things to burn and learn, baby bro is making the best of his turn! Use to think he was from New York, and use to say things were "jelly", now he is changing diapers and holding his nose to things that are...... Mr. Adarryl Hussein Collier could be the most intelligent of us all. Really proud of how he turned his life around and hope that he continues to make positive strives to be a private piolet. Never knew what it felt like to have a little brother because we grew up in a different household. With most of our greater days behind us, I wish that we could all live closer together and make up the time we missed with each other. Life has taken its toll on us all, but I admire D's strength and his willingness to carry on.

I had to save this last, I had to save this last! As I think about the time that his candle has to go slow, pour me some crown on the ground.....nah, imma drink it real slow! Mo thought he was cool, drinking by the Florida pool! One wrong slip, he couldn't swim....that wouldn't have been cool! Have to remember your light, have to remember your candle. I remember you use to call me to kick those girls out your house you had a hard time to handle! Maurice was the most colorful one of us all. His adventures in Plantation, FL and I know the angels are shaking their heads asking for one last chance for forgiveness. Now his drink was the Crown Royal and coke! "Mo" thought he was the international lover! Rest his soul and I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to spend more time with him, but I have to leave you with this story. "Mo", my mother and I was picking up my niece in Oklahoma once. We were on a massive road trip that covered three cities in four days and over two thousand miles. Well leaving the hot and nice Florida weather, we had no idea that the temperature was going to be different in Tulsa, Oklahoma. My mother (who we pick up in Atlanta) had the only coat type material between the three of us at the time. Well, "Mo" had to make a stop before leaving Tulsa and it was cold. My mother gave Maurice her purple coat with CZ diamonds all over it for him to put on to bear the elements. If I only had a video of "Mo" walking to the administration building in the cold Tulsa weather looking like Liberace.

Oh, wait a minute! Forgot to talk about me. I was my mom's favorite! No need for words for me. My picture says it all!