Both my Grandfathers were hustlers. They did what they had to do LEGALLY to take care of their families. Thirty five years ago my Papa told me while driving down I95 that when he was younger that was mostly dirt road and Jim Crow was in effect but he always drove to New York before he migrated up here from Murfreesboro, NC because “New York was where the money was at.” He used to let me listen in the car to ballads and LITE-FM on the way back home from the Bronx while I did my homework and wrote my stories because he said “whatever makes you write Kim.”
And you KNOW I forgot about the money Pop Pop gave me when that first Bell Atlantic check was taking too long and David needed pull-ups, Capri sun juice boxes and Happy Meals while I worked. I got my hair done too. Being the Father to thirteen kids, countless grands and great grands must of been stressful at times yet God was greater because he lived to be ninety three years old. Being married to Nana was a job in itself yet they loved us all equally and unconditionally. Halloween costumes, Christmas gifts, birthday parties, school events.
David came home from the hospital in the outfit that Nana bought him. She came strutting down the hallway in stiletto heels talking about “my great grandson has arrived” looking like a bag of money.I got to pick his birthday in advance and Uncle Poopa had just died and we called Nana from the hospital and she said “give him his own birthday pick the 1st” I was still walking around calling David “Aaron” and she was like “name that boy David after his father but give him our last name. See my Paternal Nana was born Betty Jenkins. My Maternal Papa’s name was Ed Lee Jenkins. Nana said we was destined to be Jenkins. WE ALL Jenkins EXCEPT J.J.....
Uncle Poopa’s birthday was May 3rd. HE was the ultimate Hustler shit I could write a tale about that man. He was a real life Donald Goines character. I was just old enough to see it in living color and young enough to still see it as all bliss. I’m SO grown now and REAL recognizes real I loved that man he gave me so much time, knowledge and support. I think he is why we are givers. He made sure everyone was always good. Rest well Uncle you, aunt Bessie, Mommy, Daddy, Aunt Sharon and Uncle Norman all together. I know y’all having a fabulous time. You always said our family was unique. T.J. is traveling the world and I’m right behind him.
The Tribe you surround your children with defines who they are. My Father demons and all was a real man. No matter what he was going through he loved and took care of us. And if he briefly couldn’t his family did. They still do. Helen is Granny and Papa meshed together in the body she has been taking care of all her life. Bert and Ebonis house is just like Baisley Blvd that’s why everyone LOVES it there....the MONEY for me is in my writing....a wise woman told me the other day that you can ALWAYS travel abroad with your children if it’s for WORK. This is my Blog Post but I hope it resonates with someone and you ANSWER your calling....
And you KNOW I forgot about the money Pop Pop gave me when that first Bell Atlantic check was taking too long and David needed pull-ups, Capri sun juice boxes and Happy Meals while I worked. I got my hair done too. Being the Father to thirteen kids, countless grands and great grands must of been stressful at times yet God was greater because he lived to be ninety three years old. Being married to Nana was a job in itself yet they loved us all equally and unconditionally. Halloween costumes, Christmas gifts, birthday parties, school events.
David came home from the hospital in the outfit that Nana bought him. She came strutting down the hallway in stiletto heels talking about “my great grandson has arrived” looking like a bag of money.I got to pick his birthday in advance and Uncle Poopa had just died and we called Nana from the hospital and she said “give him his own birthday pick the 1st” I was still walking around calling David “Aaron” and she was like “name that boy David after his father but give him our last name. See my Paternal Nana was born Betty Jenkins. My Maternal Papa’s name was Ed Lee Jenkins. Nana said we was destined to be Jenkins. WE ALL Jenkins EXCEPT J.J.....
Uncle Poopa’s birthday was May 3rd. HE was the ultimate Hustler shit I could write a tale about that man. He was a real life Donald Goines character. I was just old enough to see it in living color and young enough to still see it as all bliss. I’m SO grown now and REAL recognizes real I loved that man he gave me so much time, knowledge and support. I think he is why we are givers. He made sure everyone was always good. Rest well Uncle you, aunt Bessie, Mommy, Daddy, Aunt Sharon and Uncle Norman all together. I know y’all having a fabulous time. You always said our family was unique. T.J. is traveling the world and I’m right behind him.
The Tribe you surround your children with defines who they are. My Father demons and all was a real man. No matter what he was going through he loved and took care of us. And if he briefly couldn’t his family did. They still do. Helen is Granny and Papa meshed together in the body she has been taking care of all her life. Bert and Ebonis house is just like Baisley Blvd that’s why everyone LOVES it there....the MONEY for me is in my writing....a wise woman told me the other day that you can ALWAYS travel abroad with your children if it’s for WORK. This is my Blog Post but I hope it resonates with someone and you ANSWER your calling....
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