#kamauakabueze

[onein12]

TODAY'S FORECAST

"Today's Forecast"

All Rights Reserved

© 2011 Kamau Z Akabueze

[trytodunk]

TODAY'S FORECAST

"Today's Forecast"

All Rights Reserved

© 2011 Kamau Z Akabueze

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[onein12]

RISE

RISE

[trytodunk]

RISE

RISE

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[onein12]

The Softest Rock On Earth

Currently that substance is called Talc. But today, I am petitioning for it to be renamed Mabel. Like Mabel, Talc is known for its versatility, and its semi-transparency. Mabel was quite versatile - a parent, wife, homemaker, gardener, entrepreneur, believer, survivor, card shark, comedian and caregiver. In her later years, she was flat out transparent, but for many a year, her wit was as sharp as a Hattori Hanso, so much so that you might not even know you were cut until well after the blow.

Mabel Harris is my grandmother. We lost her today, March 16, 2011. She was 94.

She was a rock, and had a rock-like appearance just like Talc, but upon further inspection you learned so much more. We are blessed to have been able to see her from all sides.

She called me Todd (pronounced TOOOD! in Mabel-ese). That was my middle name before I changed my full name nearly two decades ago. I’m not going to say that she was the only person on earth that can call me anything other than my chosen name, but she surely is one of the only people on earth I would never purse my lips to debate the issue with.

Grandma was suffering from acute Dementia (as is my other still-living Grandmother), heart issues and other ailments. She was in a rehabilitation facility in Pittsburgh after her most recent debilitating medical concern. We all knew that she was most likely there for good (read: as long as her body would last). Today it gave out for good and for the best.

Watching a rock like Talc crumble and erode in nature can be a beautiful thing because it is just nature’s course, you feel like you are watching something that is supposed to happen. Seeing Grandma’s mental and physical erosion, was different. You know the human form isn’t permanent in the same way you know the rock’s isn’t, but the human form is a lot harder to let go. Especially when she has been such an important part of your foundation.

I was fortunately able to spend the past couple of weekends with Grandma, my Aunt, Father and Stepmother. We cared for her, observed and comforted her, and prayed for a peaceful transition.

These are photos I made during one of my last visits with Grandma, on a day when she was particularly tired - of everything. However, through all of that exhaustion and pain, she gave us one of her brightest moments - one which I will never forget, one not pictured here.

We gave her a card from my son that stated that there was a hug inside. It had instructions on the inside, and she followed them to the letter. She raised and pressed the card to her face, and sqoze on both sides. It brought a huge smile to all of our faces as well as to hers. A moment of complete lucidity, humor and softness in the rock I knew as Grandma.

Mabel Harris 1916 - 2011

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[trytodunk]

The Softest Rock On Earth

Currently that substance is called Talc. But today, I am petitioning for it to be renamed Mabel. Like Mabel, Talc is known for its versatility, and its semi-transparency. Mabel was quite versatile - a parent, wife, homemaker, gardener, entrepreneur, believer, survivor, card shark, comedian and caregiver. In her later years, she was flat out transparent, but for many a year, her wit was as sharp as a Hattori Hanso, so much so that you might not even know you were cut until well after the blow.

Mabel Harris is my grandmother. We lost her today, March 16, 2011. She was 94.

She was a rock, and had a rock-like appearance just like Talc, but upon further inspection you learned so much more. We are blessed to have been able to see her from all sides.

She called me Todd (pronounced TOOOD! in Mabel-ese). That was my middle name before I changed my full name nearly two decades ago. I’m not going to say that she was the only person on earth that can call me anything other than my chosen name, but she surely is one of the only people on earth I would never purse my lips to debate the issue with.

Grandma was suffering from acute Dementia (as is my other still-living Grandmother), heart issues and other ailments. She was in a rehabilitation facility in Pittsburgh after her most recent debilitating medical concern. We all knew that she was most likely there for good (read: as long as her body would last). Today it gave out for good and for the best.

Watching a rock like Talc crumble and erode in nature can be a beautiful thing because it is just nature’s course, you feel like you are watching something that is supposed to happen. Seeing Grandma’s mental and physical erosion, was different. You know the human form isn’t permanent in the same way you know the rock’s isn’t, but the human form is a lot harder to let go. Especially when she has been such an important part of your foundation.

I was fortunately able to spend the past couple of weekends with Grandma, my Aunt, Father and Stepmother. We cared for her, observed and comforted her, and prayed for a peaceful transition.

These are photos I made during one of my last visits with Grandma, on a day when she was particularly tired - of everything. However, through all of that exhaustion and pain, she gave us one of her brightest moments - one which I will never forget, one not pictured here.

We gave her a card from my son that stated that there was a hug inside. It had instructions on the inside, and she followed them to the letter. She raised and pressed the card to her face, and sqoze on both sides. It brought a huge smile to all of our faces as well as to hers. A moment of complete lucidity, humor and softness in the rock I knew as Grandma.

Mabel Harris 1916 - 2011

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[trytodunk]

Wonderful time shooting the incomparable Kahil El'Zabar+Crew last nite @ Lincoln Center's atrium http://bit.ly/fbQAV4

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[trytodunk]

All Of The Lights

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[onein12]

All Of The Lights