As the season changes from fall to winter, I’m sitting here thinking as usual and listening to music. As the song ‘That Girl’ by Stevie Wonder is playing, and I’m thinking about my Aunt Mary who died the same year when this song was released. And my other matriarchs.

I wonder if they are proud of me. The woman that I have become. The mother I’ve been for almost 40 years. I’m not perfect and lord knows I’ve made plenty of mistakes but I’ve tried to do my best.

I wonder if they know how much I love them and honor their memory. How I wouldn’t be the woman I am if it wasn’t for them. The love and nurturing they gave to a fatherless little girl. How much I believe that they are still with me, guiding me, loving me from the beyond. How much I miss them.