"I'll always Love my Momma!"

18MAR2022; 0022, FRI

I'm supposed to be practicing for my first karaoke night performance, right this very moment; along with listening to No Agenda, writing letters, organizing my room, and/or celebrating exactly one year with my latest romantic interest. Also, I originally planned this piece approx a couple months ago; as, "A very late Festivus [of Seinfeld fame] celebration."

That was regrettably the working subtitle for this post back then. I dare not publicly reveal what I was strongly considering for the title.



Suffice it to say that I was going thru a severe rough patch with Mom Dukes around that time. Matter of fact, we had a "knockdown drag out" less than a few weeks ago.



Praise to the Heavens, we used said experience as a wake-up call; and have resultantly been growing immensely closer every since. We resolved to resume our monthly lunches even; several days after the hugest argument we've ever had.



There's no way that either one of us can hope to initiate some semblance of a recollection as to when we last broke bread together in public. Full disclosure: We can't even aspire to lay the blame solely, or even primarily at feet of this toddler aged pandemic.



Fun fact tho: This is roughly the 13th blog post in bout 27 days that I had absolutely no intentions of sitting down to hammer out when I awoke, the morning of said typing. I could feasibly do a whole "story" on the significance alone, of those two numbers in my life; haha!



For the time being: Ma was born on the notorious date of Friday the 13th. Also, she tirelessly supported my brief military career; which I officially began on 27AUG2007.



I could've chosen practically any MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) in '07; when I knew I was looking at least one tour in Afghan, and/or Iraq. Imagine my Mama's dismay when she realized that instead of National Guard/Reservist computer tech, like we discussed briefly, I chose to be an active duty, U.S. Army 11 Bravo; aka a Grunt, a Certified (Killer), a Trigger Puller, an Infantryman (Wonderful Women weren't allowed in the U.S. military Infantries back then).



To boot: I'm pretty sure that she knew I only did it because I was hoping to go to Sniper School and/or be a BAMF (BadAss MoFo) like my recruiter (also a Grunt) was. If "I'm finna make sure I disappoint my Momma" was a person; haha!



This brings me to quite feasibly the most magnificent segue I've ever had: My Moms (sic) and my bio(logical) Pretty Precious Princess scared the bejeezus out of me, several hours after I started this blog post; by making sure that I didn't sleep in too long. For context, I finally zonked out while typing, again, around 0115 (1:15 AM); or almost an hour following the initiation of this very "Love letter".



Not only was I able to teach the two of them a lot about learning from one another, bike riding, as well as hydration necessity and such. However, I was able to ensure that they both knew about the imperativeness of requesting help when circumstances dictate; on top of the fact that I finally told them the tale of the time that I blew out my knee during Basic (Training [aka Boot Camp]).



I made sure that they were well aware of how my perseverance; adherence to medical advice; and probably some guardian angels, made sure that I was still able to eke out an on time graduation from the U.S. Army's Infantry training. Had I given up and/or not graduated on my first attempt, I'd have likely never received my ~$27k ($27,000) bonus, nor been an American Sniper in one of the best (I'm biased) "Mechanized" units of all time.



Of course, we were 3rd Brigade back when I was still in the service. Conversely, if I was never sent to the 2nd Infantry Division's 1st Striker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT)...



We were the very first unit to receive the extremely versatile, and incredibly beloved APCs (Armored Personnel Carriers) known as Strykers; so, yeah. I kinda see the thought process of whatever general signed off on that decision.



Enough military talk tho. I'm mainly using this "brief" note to highlight the beauty of the serendipities I've been noticing left and right as of late.



Had "Little Mama", as she's sometimes affectionately known, taken the time to hear me out on my ostensibly outlandish/outrageous Coincidence Theories back in '11, when I got out; we likely would've been on an unfathomably different trajectory. As the colloquialisms go: That's "no cap"; "no question"; and "no funny".



Granted, we might could've (sic) been one of the most legendary Momma and son dynamic duos of all time. On the other hand, we very well may have ended up blacklisted (not just blackballed); like so many other Americans who had a nearly uncanny affinity for Unity via Love, Freedom, and equity.



For example: MLK (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. [aka The King of Love]); El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X); Ida B. Wells; Billie Holiday; Medgar Evers; Assata Shakur; etc. May the dearly departed, legendary Revolutionaries Rest In Power; 'cause I highly doubt that their souls are at rest peacefully while looking at humanity's plight today...



On a lighter note: Mad Love to my sister-in-law and my older brother for having the intestinal fortitude (or guts) to name their daughter after a living legend who may/may not have been in the immediately preceding list. Two words: Parenting. Goals!



Seriously tho, shout out to them for doing everything that is objectively moral, and in their power, to ensure that Big Bro's current campaign for mayor of DC is a complete, as well as successful, victory. Again, if/when he wins, the nation's capital will revert from its current pejoratives of "The Swamp"; and "Washington 'Don't Come', DC".



It'll once again be known as Chocolate City; Washington, District of Columbia; and/or some other variation with at least a semblance of positive connotations/reverence. As we local slang users often state when riding around in the former, and even recent "murder capital" of the United States: "That's on everything [that] I Love!"



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Edit: When I first decided that this wouldn't be a "tell Ma all about herself" (or disparaging; rather) essay, I planned to title it "Why I'm glad Momma waited about a decade to try & understand my contrarianism". Bear in mind, frequent miscommunication coupled with disagreements regarding finances are a recipe for disaster; if you ask me, that is!

Regardless, this work's current title is largely "taxed" from the '73 classic by The Intruders; off of their album called "Save the Children". To those 3x OG's from Philly (Philadelphia), I say: All Love, all day; and every which way.

Also, may the Heavens rest the souls of those members of that graceful group who are no longer with us on this earthly plane. This world never deserved y'all, "actually factually" and "truly duly"; far as I'm concerned anyways.

In closing, music is life. And Fam is everything.

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