Confessions of a sad superhero book 36

  QUITE THE JOURNEY PART 4:

So the day of the funeral came and it was a heavy day. Thats the understatement of the century I think. First off my father asked me to help him clean off and take some tables to the church where a dinner was gonna take place after the funeral service. He was kinda ticked at me because I didn't  have any dress pants. Only the black jeans I'd brought with me. I mean....yeah he was pissed at me. I think now I realize he was REALLY pissed at me. I saw only one other person at the funeral in jeans. It was a guy and I have no idea who he was. HE was actually wearing blue jeans so that made me feel alittle less out of sorts. Maybe Dad wasn't so much mad at me but just channeling some other stuff. Which is understandable. I guess one reason why I probably stay away from family and people in general is because theres always something that happens to bring the tension. Perhaps the truth is its unavoidable? 

The hearse came to pick us up at the house. My sister Stephanie rode with us. So it was Geraline, Dad. Tonya (my stepsister) and her son. We really didn't have much to say to each other but her son doesn't know me so thats understandable. I did try to be social but....there was no connection. I think I might have a reputation as the weird step uncle who never grew up. The whole time I was in the hearse (I sat in the front with the driver) everything was feeling so dreamlike. It still does in a way. Like maybe it wasn't happening. Like it didn't happen. I think my brain was still in shock. The drive took like forever. That was fine by me. I wasn't in a hurry to get to that church. One thing that was cool was that oncoming cars would stop and park on the side whenever they approached our loooooong line of cars. I am not exxagerrating either when I say Crystal had the biggest funeral I have ever personally attended. Girl touched alot of lives. Its pretty awesome knowing so many people loved her. 

-To be continued-

Confessions of a sad superhero book 35

 QUITE THE JOURNEY PART 3:

My father and Geraline were pretty calm when I first arrived in NC. But the heaviness of what had happened...its the kind of heaviness one can feel in the very air. People were coming by the house alot. There was alot of food. All the Parkers fried chicken I could eat. I guess this was making up for me not having eaten Parkers since I was probably in my early 20's. Parkers has a reputation for their fried chicken and barbecue. I also ate plenty of that during my visit because there was so much of it right there. Usually I avoid pork! There was cole slaw...hushpuppies....and sweet tea. There was banana pudding and all sorts of cakes. Folks brought us breakfast too. 

Some people came by to pray with the family. It was truly heartwarming to see so many people concerned and stopping thru to spend time with Geraline. Making sure she was alright. I think folks just wanted to make sure she wasn't alone too much. I have never seen such an outpouring of love and support. My father has a pretty big family so I expected folks to be coming thru but Geralines family and church family really went above and beyond in looking out for her. 

I'd promised my father I would go with him to view Crystal later during the week. I remember going with Louis to see his father many moons ago and it didn't really bother me. But they brought her by the house in a hearse one day and they never opened the coffin or anything but Dad for the most part held it together. I think he cried just alittle but maybe a day later when we actually went to see Crystal at the funeral home he and Geraline just lost it. I'd never seen my father cry but the pain of seeing his child there laying in that coffin was just too much. Something no parent should ever have to experience really. Crystal didn't even look like herself to me. But then again mostly no one ever seems to you know? I think the last time I'd actually seen Crystal alive was when she was in her mid teen years. Thats how long I'd been away from home. I know I need to do better than this. Dad did at one point in my trip say something about something like this shouldn't be the reason I come home. Its a wake up call to me that I need to work more on my family connections. People are getting older and time is just flying by. One thing that worries me alot these days is the fact I have a younger brother who barely knows me. He's around 27 now and I'm gonna have to put in some work to fix our relationship. Some of his life decisions worry me too so a trip to Florida sometime this year is on the top of my to do list.

-To be continued-

Confessions of a sad superhero book 34

QUITE THE JOURNEY...

PART 2

The shuttle came to pick me up from my job around 4:45am-ish. It was supposed to be there at 4:30am but there was no problem with me getting to the airport on time. Its crazy that the super shuttle type services I usually use for flights have now gone bankrupt or apparently out of business. At least thats what the driver told me. When I got to the airport I had to get one of the associates to help me check in because now you can't just simply do it on the kiosk with your credit card. I heard fraud is the reason. Leave it up to stupid humans to ruin things. I  checked in the luggage case the cute guy sold me. I just packed it with clothes mostly. I put all my electronics and gadgets in my big backpack. (I still miss the one E-Zilla gave me years ago) I didn't take my laptop or any electronics out of my backpack as I hate putting my shit on those nasty ass trays I never see them sanitize. But they did kinda bug me about it because they needed to look inside my backpack. Honestly I think I hate checking in more than anything else involved with catching the plane. Surprisingly I slept much of the plane ride. I was pretty tired. Not just physically but emotionally as well. 

The flight to Charlotte was like 4 hours and the connecting flight to Raleigh was around 30 minutes. Dad and my nephew Semaj picked me up at the airport. I think the drive back to his place in Robersonville took around an hour. We talked on the way and I asked my father some questions about Crystal. Mostly I just wanted to know the whole story. Dad and another person had to break into Crystals house when she didn't answer and Dad found her unresponsive on her bed. He tried to give her CPR and when the ambulance came they did the same thing but were unsuccessful. Dad was pretty calm yet I could see he was dealing with alot of stuff in his mind. I think the shock was still in effect. There was pain and weariness in his voice. He'd already lost a sister days before and now this insane tragedy was happening. It still seems like some terrible foggy dream I wish I could wake up from but it hasn't happened yet.

It was nice to see Geraline again. Geraline is my Dads wife and she is my second mother. I have so many fond memories of this woman who wrote me such a heartfelt letter years ago when I fell out of touch. Geraline would make banana pudding and marshmallow treats for me, my stepsister Tonya and Carlos Tonyas cousin. Geraline witnessed some of my epic childhood craziness as well. Like that time I caught this huge snapping turtle! Come to think of it I was usually getting myself into some crazy stuff. Dumb kid. She recently fought and overcame her own illness. Geraline worked for a company for probably around 30 years. I gotta say it was mindblowing how many people were in and out of that house the whole time I was there. They....we were all gonna need that support for what was to come.

Confessions of a sad superhero book 33

QUITE THE JOURNEY.... 

(Part 1)

I bounced back from a week long on and off headache and got the news that my aunt Rosa "Roquamae" passed. Roquamae was the name I gave her. Of course I have nicknames for just about everyone I know. (Not really sure why I do that) Aunt Roquamae basically helped raise me when I was coming up. She mostly helped babysit me and my cousin Rochelle. Her sons "Orange-Dre" and Donte were pretty close to me during those years. Particularly "Orange-Dre" (Andre) who sometimes took martial arts with me from  the same teacher "Jasperzilla". Andre's dad Willie died like a year or two ago. Willie was the cool uncle who rode the big ass motorcycle. Aunt Roguamae had/has a heart of gold but she was one very strict woman. I recall her ironing her bedsheets. She was pretty intense with the cleaning obviously. I regret not getting a chance to talk with her before she passed. She was pretty bad off at some points and then appeared to be bouncing back so I kept my distance. Wasn't expecting her to check out. I kept in touch with "Orange-Dre" though on what was going on. Then the biggie happened....

Just as I had a few days before I received a message on Facebook from my cousin Tanya telling me to call home but this time she told me in an instant message to call my dad. So I did with thoughts running wild in my brain. My father picked up the phone with his usual calm manner but his voice had weariness in it. I asked him what was going on and he said with a sigh "Today you lost a little sister" and I was just numb and in shock at the same time. 

Crystal and I were never close. I can probably count on both hands how many actual conversations we had but over the years I would check in with Dad because her health and that of her mothers began to fluctuate. Her mom was able to bounce back from a disease that devastated her body. First I think Crystals issue was diabetes then she started having some issues with blackouts. Maybe headaches too I think. We spoke on the phone when things got particularly hairy and I think I asked her the same thing I asked Dad....if they were getting second opinions on what treatments were being used. Then Crystal's condition got so bad she needed a kidney donor which she would eventually get and reject. Then later on just like my cousin Montressa she needed an amputation. (I will be so glad when science catches up with science fiction and we have fully functional prosthetic limbs like Steve Austins) What happened was that someone came over to check on Crystal and they couldn't get in the house so Dad came over and they broke in the house and found Crystal cold and non responsive on her bed. Dad did CPR and the ambulance came to continue attempts to revive her. Nothing worked however. 

I think my mother called shortly after I got off the phone with my father because she'd heard what happened and wished me her condolences. Everything seemed a blur to me. In fact I am still processing everything and trying to come to terms with this double whammy tragedy. Trying not to be mad at the doctors. Trying to make peace with the fact the human race has basically failed so many people with radiation,chemicals and pollution....all these things that are rampant in society and harming the healths of so many and its pretty much accepted. Just drug us up and send us home. I think in many cases we just take the docs words without doing research or getting a second opinion. I was sitting down eating when my sister Stephanie and her son Semaj messaged me on Facebook. Semaj told me during our conversation that it would mean so much to my father if I came home because he needed me. It was then I realized I had to go home. Now was the time after almost 20 years. It was time for me to make that return journey.

I'd already missed a week off work and most of my sick days and vacation/personal time off was spent but when I called my boss and told her what happened she let me know all the employees are given 5 days of bereavement time so I asked for the time off and got approved instantly. She was very understanding. (She'd lost her mother last year to Covid) In fact all my bosses or supervisors were understanding. I had to work two days basically by myself because the officer I had the epic falling out with last year was off that Monday and then Tuesday when he came in due to pain from a hernia he wasn't able to do patrols. (Interestingly enough he didn't give his condolences but anyway....!) That Tuesday I only worked until 4:30am since my flight was at 7:30am. I'd packed after quite the adventure finding a travel bag. (A cute Armenien(?) dude saved the day by selling me a bag because the one I'd ordered from Amazon was just too big) I'd barely managed to pack in time and almost lost my keys. In fact I left a bag of oranges on my bed because I was rushing to get out the house to leave for work after packing and the LYFT was waiting downstairs about to leave my ass. Thankfully that night at work before my flight was a quite uneventful one. 

Confessions of a sad superhero book 32

 (Listening to the "Depeche Mode" station on Pandora)

The last week has been so surreal. My Aunt Rosa passed and I was home trying to get over a headache and some depression over things then days later my little sister Crystal passed. This is really a devastating horrific turn of events and it was a very easy decision for me to make that I needed to go home to be with my father whom I've not seen since a 2005 visit to Atlanta. Crystal and I have never been close and in alot of ways I feel like I barely know her. This is what happens when one moves away from home and rarely visits. We didn't exactly keep in touch either but we did talk a few times over the years. I feel bad and when I talk to others about how estranged I feel from family they remind me the ball swings both ways in regards to keeping in touch. My cousin Heather was the only family member who came out here to see me. I just have to remember that. Crystal and her mother have had to deal with some pretty epic bouts with sickness over the years. I mean at one time Crystals mom was really in considerable danger. Geraldine contracted a very rare illness that affected her to the point she was in pain. Had trouble walking and at one point needed to eat from a straw. She was able to bounce back from this ordeal which she explained to me in vivid detail. What my stepmom experienced should be one of those inspirational lifetime movies. Seriously. Most of Crystals problems came from being diabetic. She got so bad off that she'd come to need a transplant. Unfortunately she rejected the donated kidney and had to be placed on dialysis. But she had some other problems too. Something was going on with her brain and she would experience blackouts. With all the weird stuff in our foods and pollution along with all sorts of freaky energies we're being exposed to it doesn't really shock me that folks are having so many health problems. 

It hurts though. And at the same time I feel kinda numb. I wish I'd talked to her and kept in touch. I wish the same thing for my aunt who helped take care of me when I was a youngin. I made sure to reach out to her son "Orange-Dre" my cousin. I have also kept in touch with Donte "Orange-Dre's" little bro who used to cry like it was going out of style all the time as a baby. Their father Uncle Willie started reaching out to me maybe a couple of years before he passed. Aunt Rosa went into a coma after dealing with some health issues I only recently found out about. When she seems on her way to recover I guess i made the assumption she would be fine and didn't really push the issue about getting her on the phone. I wish I had. They had her funeral over the weekend. My father and his wife didn't go because they were already dealing with Crystals sudden passing. I for the longest have felt bad about missing "Graham Crackers" funeral (Grandma Mary) and I knew that Crystals funeral wasn't something I could miss. My father needs support. I have never heard him sound like he's in such pain and yeah it does worry me. So I booked my flight over the weekend because I just didn't wanna keep waiting around for them to tell me when the service would take place while those plane ticket prices kept going up. I'm just glad I had alittle money saved up. I was trying to save up for moving or any possible rainy day but this is an emergency so it couldn't  be helped. Goodbye stimulus check. I already started pre-packing. Gotta make sure and bring allergy medicine. I am so glad my job is understanding and that had enough vacation,sick and personal days to cover my time off. I also have bereavement time off. 

Was feeling so funky and out of it these last few days and these sudden passings didn't help. I seemed to be coming down with something but thankfully I bounced back from that shit whatever it was. Honestly the thought of quitting my job has been so strong on my mind these last few months but I'm really trying to hold on not just because i have projects that are unfinished but also because i need to put aside money to tide me over when I do decide I am ready to quit. The last few years have been a trip. Losing "Daughters of Legend" then there were all the incidents at work with "that other security guard" which almost got me fired. Then Covid happened. Then there was that incident at work with another guard who went off on me for relieving her a few minutes late because I had no idea her relief didn't show up so she missed her bus. Then theres the person who doesn't speak to me. Its as if I committed some horrible crime against him or something. Honestly I suspect he overheard me complaining one night about how hard it can be working here with how some people act at times. Another possibility could be that someone is whispering in his ear. Possibly a mutual acquaintance. Another person in his department has been sorta distant after one night I complained to another guard how hard it can be to connect with folks here. Sometimes I do feel like people are so distant and that I don't really fit in or belong here. After watching some videos on youtube where folks were talking about not having friends or coping with loneliness I realize....well I realize this is becoming a common topic. I think just like with mental illness folks are starting to open up about these things they once would hide or keep inside. I don honestly wish I had a snuggle bunny or someone just to hug during these crazy times but I'm starting to understand as time goes by and I get more used to dealing with shit I won't really be so much wanting a relationship. It seems like mostly everyone else has convinced themselves that they don't need anybody. I don't really think I wanna be like that honestly. Seems the norm for plenty of gay men. So many of us seem to be looking for this musclebound perfect man. All the photos I see gay men lusting after....so many of the men in those photos are just so fucked up. Emotionally unavailable. Also many of those guys are STRAIGHT. I swear sometimes I wish my feelings for women were stronger because I am so tired of dealing with with these gay men out here. So many of them I think will be 60 years old before they are ready for any kind of meaningful relationship. Even Captain Liberia confuses me sometimes. I feel like when I show I care he pulls back and when I am not really caring he's interested. (Yeah he does seem spurred on at times when he sees others might be noticing me) I do care alot for dude. Sent him some cool gifts recently and wish I could do more especially since he is having a hard time in school right now. Then there are the men in my life I know who are secretly gay or bi and think I don't know. Not that I am big on making passes at anyone but I made a promise after what happened  here at work that I would NEVER  show feelings for someone who hasn't shown me any. Why waste energy on whats at most a stupid fantasy? And plus....well you know what they say....Sometimes you have to let something go and if its meant to be it'll come back to you. Over the years family has been there and I have been guilty of pushing them aside. Dealing with personal shit. Thinking they probably wouldn't understand. Yet I can't say that they ever really made me feel unloved. Going back home is kinda scary because I gotta see all those who have become strangers. Some will be new faces I've never met but (my brain is trying to recall a dream now) most if not all of those faces will be smiling at me. Even though we are grieving we'll be overjoyed to see each other....regardless of money....how inshape or out of shape I am....no college degree or fancy car..... I think I need to be more mindful of how fortunate I really am.