Because I Love You

Aunt Witt at Fred's House July 2024 I always enjoyed listening to my Aunt Witt tell me stories about her and my father growing up, how much they loved each other like brother and sister, and playing going to the refuneral. This is how I imagined it. Little Witt and Little Buddy were six-year-old cousins but loved each other like sister and brother. Their mothers were sisters and they all lived together in a big house. Witt and Buddy did everything together, like watching the circus parade and jumping off the garage with umbrellas, but that’s another story. Witt and Buddy had a big family with many aunts and uncles, who lived on farms, in big cities, or other faraway places. They only saw them during special occasions like funerals and family reunions. Going to the family reunion was a fun time. Witt and Buddy’s mothers would fill the house with sweet smells of cakes and pies cooking, hot breads baking and all kinds of good foods cooking on the stove. Sometimes relatives would drive...

ChatGPT generated image Once upon a time there was a family of brothers, Jaden, Larry, Melvin, and Michael. Jaden was the oldest, next was Larry, then Melvin, followed by Micheal the youngest. One day, they went fishing with their father, something they all looked forward to whenever their father had the time. Their father was a great man in the town, the Mayor, and he rarely had time to spend with his family, but Sundays was his official day off. “No city work tomorrow,” their dad would announce on Saturday nights. And when his wife was away for the weekend visiting her relatives and not taking the boys to church, he would add, “I’m taking my boys fishing!” The boys would squeal with glee, especially Jaden and Michael. Jaden always wanted to drive. “Can I drive, please?’ “No Jaden, not until you get your permit.  “But you started driving when you were 15.”  “That was a different time, son. One day you will be driving your brothers around, just wait.”  Their father’s word...

I wrote this tribute the day I was hit with the devastating news of my father's passing, Thursday 11/2/2006. Looking back, writing has always been my response to life's greatest challenges and blessings. Today, is the 19th anniversary of his passing. Last year, I posted a story about him, but I didn't share this tribute.  Contemplating A Life Well Lived, written November 2, 2006, Thursday My father, Elza “Buddy” Cannaday, was born on August 20, 1922.  He lived for 84+ years and died on November 1, 2006. Correction…My father’s spirit was conceived sometime before August 20, 1922.  His body was born on August 20th.  His spirit and body sojourned together for 84+ years.  His spirit and body embraced life.  He took a meager beginning and drafted it into a life spectacular; a life of love of self, the love of his mother, finding the love of his life, love for his family and friends, love of God, and forgiveness for others. When Daddy’s body contracted leukemia, ...

Good morning God! Thank you for this excellent day! Thank you for answering my prayers yesterday. Thank you for providing everything needed today. Please continue to watch over, protect, guide, and bless us.  Please help us all love more lovingly today. Writing is a spiritual process for me. I have the opportunity to be a channel for God's love and light to be shared on Earth. We are spiritual beings, it’s in the water. Our bodies are 60% water. According to ChatGPT, we are about 60% water, which varies by age, gender, and body composition: Infants 75-78%, Adult men 60%, Adult women 55% (body fat holds less water than muscle), Elderly 50-55% (decreases with age) Most of the water is inside cells (intracellular fluid), and the rest is in blood plasma and other bodily fluids (extracellular fluid).  We are spiritual beings, and we must live spiritually as well as physically.  Expressing our spirits is necessary for a full and healthy life. A spiritual process is something we...

Today eighteen years ago, at 5:30am EST / 2:30am PST, my father transitioned from his earthly body to the Heavens. Elza “Buddy” Cannaday became a saint and joined the other saints.  I believe Dad knew what was going to happen to his family, after he died, and he made the choice to come back to try and help us.  Some of us needed him in a special way, a way that only Dad could fill.  I believe he decided to visit me because he felt he owed me more time, and he knew I was about to make one of the most important decisions in my life. Perhaps, Dad’s arrival into Heaven went something like this: DAD’S INTERVIEW AT THE PEARLY GATES – MAYBE? Normally I could pull out a few pictures from my wallet and show you, my family.  “Ha, ha.”  I’ve never left home without any money in my pockets let alone no pockets, or pants. Now that’s funny.  My Grandkids would be asking, “Papa, where’s your pants?  How come you ain’t got on no pants? You told us never to leave home ...

Image from sarahscoop.com/symbolism-of-a-star   Good morning God. Thank you for this spectacular day! Momma Mamie says every day is her birthday. My father used to say, “This day was made for me.” I’m beginning to know what they mean. Today is a new beginning, a rebirth from our night of slumber. Today is a gift from God, to enjoy, to live spectacularly. So today is my day. Today is a day of abundance, and it does not depend upon my physical circumstances (if I feel well or not), my financial circumstances (no matter if I can pay my bills or buy things), or my family circumstances (if we are in love or out of love, near or far away, living or deceased). No matter what circumstances we have, we are loved, blessed, and living life like it’s Golden, according to singer Jill Scott; but it is!! I am celebrating my birthday on March 24; I will be sixty!!!! I love the sound of that! It sounds like I have finally arrived at an age of substance!!! I am beginning to celebrate each day, to tr...

MRI machince picture from Torrance Memorial November 10, 2023 - Afternoon of the MRI Procedure I just had a miraculous experience unexplainable by my physicians. Today I had an MRI with contrast for my neck area. I was diagnosed last year by Dr. “T” with an aneurism in a blood vessel on the right side of my neck after a CT scan with contrast. Dr. T wanted to do a follow up scan to investigate the status. My nephrologist cautioned me against having another CT with contrast to avoid potential harm to my kidneys, and Dr. T’s office suggested an MRI with a less potent contrast. My nephrologist approved. The MRI was scheduled for this morning, 11/10/23, and I had a miraculous experience.   I was told to lay flat and still. Inside the dark narrow chamber, I kept my eyes closed to reduce any anxiety or claustrophobic feelings I may have. The IV port was in my right arm, and I held the emergency buzzer in my left hand. To calm myself, I began signing, “The Lord is my Life and my Salvation....

God’s blessings come too fast for many of us to fully comprehend, and if you’re like me, you want to catch them, pause, and hold them in your hands for a detailed analysis.    I wonder if God’s blessings are like fire and light, that cannot be held and studied. Perhaps that’s for later when you reflect upon their experience. Maybe God’s blessings are like sweet air you inhale or a delicious drink you intake. The best we can do is pray for the blessing and accept it when it comes.   I received a disruptive blessing this week. My latest film produced with RIT Diversity Theater, DEAR ELEANOR, was nominated for Best Score and Best Editing at the Diversity in Cannes Film Showcase. When I received the news, I was shocked, elated! But I never dreamed I would attend the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France where the Showcase was to take place. But then I received other messages from the Showcase with event information and requesting attendee confirmations. I began to imagin...

  Happy Mother’s Day! Me and my newest granddaughter Ellara Zoë, born 3/6/23 Humility  - to place the value of others above one’s own; a virtue, a strength; to free oneself from pride and arrogance -  especially in a world full of boasting to get ahead of others in rank, stature, and popularity (Webster’s Dictionary and Momma Tina).   Jesus humbled himself by taking on the nature of a servant, and humbling himself even to die on the cross for us, committing the ultimate act of humility - to sacrifice oneself for another.   Placing the life of another above one’s own is a transformative experience. I didn’t think I could ever do something like that, or ever want to. But that was before I became a mother. I learned that mother’s put their lives on the line for their children.   My realization came through a dream, but it was real to me at the time. It was 37 years ago, and I never forgot it.    I was a first time mother to a beautiful baby boy. When...