” Mother’s Day without Mothers or a Brother. “

*disclaimer: I wrote this on mother’s day (obvi), but I didn’t proofread it today because I would likely change it. So bare with any ramblings.

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There are some things/feelings that I wouldn’t wish on the worst people in the world. I hope today – any day I have the opportunity – you make your love known. But I’m content that my Ma knew I loved her and would jump any hoop, run any errand to make her happy. The only person I knew who went harder for Ma other than my sisters is our Brother. He just could not say NO to the lady. If she wanted it – he got it.

I remember this one time when she kept saying that she needed to go to the casino because she was feeling lucky and “God told her she was about to come into some money!” Of course everyone was like nahhh, we are not about to take you to the casino Ma. I know for a least a month and no one would take her.

So she asked JR. And eventually he gave in and said he would take her. What I’m not sure about is how we ended up going in my car AND I’m riding along with them. Because I’m sure I was one of the people who said no also. Anyway, there was nothing Junior couldn’t talk anyone into doing. Now I see who he got it from.

So we were on our way to Vicksburg because “God told us to go”. Junior was driving, Ma in the passenger seat, I’m in the back, and the wheelchair in tow. Believe me when I say, they talked THE ENTIRE trip there! And if you knew either one of them, you know they talk LOUD. I know they got into about six arguments in that short 45 mins because they like to talk over the other person and ain’t either one of them ever wrong!

So we pull up at the casino. Junior takes out Ma wheelchair and he pushes her around the slot machines. He’d give her money and she’d play and lose all of it. He gave her more money. She play, win a little, and then lose it again. That went on for nearly three hours.

For three hours, he pushed her around in her wheelchair and gave her hundreds of dollars to play. But, it didn’t bother him one bit because he was making his Momma happy.

And happy she was.

As clear as today, I can see them both grinning and having a great time! And I can feel the sting from when they ran over my toes with that chair!

It’s funny that I spent the end Mother’s Day last year with my Brother.

I’d been bothering him for months to come and paint my house. I’d spent days picking colors. I know I made at least eight trips to Lowes solely to try different colors and I purchased over 20 samples to find the PERFECT COLORS for rooms. At this point, I’d had it figured out and decided. I just needed him to show up and we’d go by the paint and supplies.

So on this Mother’s Day 2016, I run into Junior at April’s house. It’s around 10pm and I’m fussing at him asking “when you coming bruh! I finally picked colors and I’m ready!”

To my complete SURPRISE, he’s like let’s go now. I’m like, “huh? Naw! I’m not ready! Now I’m freaking out! I don’t have the paint yet!! It’s 11:00pm!! LOWES IS CLOSED!! I know what colors I want, but I don’t have them! No, Junior! We have to wait!!!!”

I’m all worked up, but he nonchalantly responds “If you want me to do it, Imma have to do it now. We can go to Walmart, they 24hrs. You can pick some color and some supplies so I can get started tonight and knock a couple of rooms out. Then in the morning we can get your other colors from Lowes for the other rooms”

Me: REALLY??!! I don’t want no random colo… *he cuts me off*….

So we were at Walmart around 12:30am the day after Mother’s Day 2016 and I’m frowning as the guy mixes my paint color – because it’s not the one I really wanted and planned for that room.

But anyway, just as he said – he painted one room and bathroom that night, Dropped paint on my sectional, he went to lowes the next morning and got the colors I’d previously picked for the other rooms, and he painted those rooms too. He did all this all while I was in bed snoring and sleeping in.

Now maybe I should have gave clearer instructions or got up to help because He painted one room the wrong color, BUT he did all of that for me because I asked him to and he knew it would make me happy.

I love my brother so much and I didn’t realize until now, but I think What i loved most about him is how he loved people.

You see, his actions showed you how he felt about you. I never had to question his unconditional love for me because it was obvious in every thing he did.

Speak your truth and keep your promises.