Grief Lessons from Chadwick, In Sickness & Health

Between 9 and 9:30 pm August 28, 2020, I saw the post from the Boseman family that Chadwick, the beloved actor had passed away from Colon Cancer. I didn't speak to anyone for an hour. I was stunned. He had been battling cancer for 4 years. On Twitter & Instagram, I shared these thoughts.

It was surreal to see this news that Chadwick Boseman had left this world. I was legitimately sad. The song All the Stars from the Black Panther Soundtrack was making me cry. I was hanging onto his inspirational words. And of course, I was upset with the chatter about his weight loss & look in latter days. Maybe this should make people stop being so meanly mouthy about their speculations anyone's life.

Then I saw the first picture on this post on Instagram and my sadness came into focus to me.

• A Person in My Age Group Died From a Disease
• Representation Matters
• Cancer Sucks 

Chadwick Boseman was sick. And anyone of us could be. That's heartbreaking but earnest to realize

Colon or Colorectal cancer is thought to be an older person's illness. However, medical research tells us that age has been getting younger since the 1990s. People my age especially black men are getting this disease. Early detection is Very important. And though we were so happy to see Chadwick Boseman "play icons to become an icon himself" we now have to let him be an illustration of mortality. There is no purple heart shape herb to bring him back. Boseman is now with Jackie Robinson, James Brown, & Thurgood Marshall in New Life.

I wish he could have been open about his illness. I can imagine the awareness that could've been brought out. The work falls on us, now. As we remember Chadwick Boseman's legacy, let's let him energize us to be our healthiest. And finding out our own health status with physical & mental check-ups should help honor his memory. He left this world, knowing and working on his, It is Our Turn.

Rest in Peace Chadwick Boseman
Thank You for Everything You Gave to This World.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!!!

You're Absolutely Right to Use Yours

Alright, both Democrats & Republicans have had their conventions. They have laid their appeals at our feet to choose. And yes, it is time for that choice. It is time for Our Vote!!! It is time for us to vote for the President of the United States of America.

During one of the conventions, I read an article about a man who ended up paying $64 so he knew his 2020 Primary vote counted. Read about it HERE. Hey, sometimes it cost what it cost. Voting can cost time, money, and even life. It's a sacrifice many knew about. 

The political & civil rights worlds lost 3 men, Elijah Cummings, John Lewis, and Herman Cain(literally left this world because of his beliefs) in 2020. Yes, one was not on the same side of the aisle but all three worked hard to use their right to vote. They understood about the casualty all too well.

So, make sure you VOTE !!!

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms!!!

Well... Amen!!!

Amen is an expression of approval or permission. It means “it is so” or “so it is" in Hebrew.

They say representation matters. It does! And it is good to see your story even in the midst of chaos. As an 80s kid, I liked the comedy, Amen. I could identify a few people I saw at church (even my sarcastic grandfather) on-screen Saturday nights. Even now when I watch reruns of the show, I still see more people and situations I can relate to my life. Decades later, I did the same with the drama, Greenleaf...Saw Me. Most people watch Greenleaf on OWN and saw a story about a mega-church family. I saw it as a love letter to church kids. A little note to say...We See You, Too. Because trust me when you grow up in church, people assume your story. They never take a full gaze at it, not even other church kids. And even as Adults, Grace, Jacob, & Charity Greenleaf still needed to be seen.

I've always thought of church assignments or positions as titled crowns. Some fit and some don't. Some are earned & some are taken. Some fight for them. Some can be taken away. Some are wanted & some are needed, even if just for a moment.

Poor Charity! She was assigned a singing crown, wanted a preaching crown(since the 1st episode), took the one she wanted, got it snatched, and eventually properly offered the crown she wanted. Charity's issue was how she presented what she wanted. But Charity had to grow up & grow into a mature emotional vocabulary. Just annoyed me that it took the whole show for her to do so.

The ministry crown fit Jacob, nicely. The issue was he didn't want to wear it as others wanted him to. Ministry is not all about preaching. And Jacob knew that and wanted to explore & work in a more benevolent position. It was that simple. But sometimes society's definition of success causes a fight with the meaning of the easiest things to understand.

Grace rightly had a pastor's crown given to her by the Bishop(her dad) and the church. She could preach the house down and pastor the church properly. But how long was she needed in that position? That's a problem everywhere. Needs can have time limits. And it's for us to hear the alarms going off.

And that's why I appreciate the show, Greenleaf. It could've relied on the rape & molestation, possible murder, IRS corruption, & infidelity in the church storylines. But it didn't. It gave the characters complex lives. More than the stuff that many think the church is about.

Amen Greenleaf, Amen!

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!!!