This morning, the hug I knew I needed showed up warm and comfortable slow and lingering cozy and familiar Like the pink and grey loppie sweater my Nanny Baker knit for me when I was 7 that made me feel soft and pretty.
This hug didn’t come from any one person, Instead, it arrived from within an echo of our mother’s motherhood the manners that she insisted upon integrity, carefully installed. This hug came in the form of thriving saplings sprouted from seeds of attention and kindness. Now, evidently rooted within my children.
This embrace, cradled me with hope for our community reflections of pride ripple in and ripple out of our village Good humans the spread of joy contagious laughter. A kiss on the lips from a handsome and loving husband leaving for work.
Today, I feel like I am still seen from above as so below.
~Rachelle M. Turple-Christmas
*Written after reading a social media post praising the polite behaviour of students from Sir Robert Borden Junior High School at our local Randy's Pizza place in Cole Harbour, NS. I'm so proud of the kids, namely our youngest son, the "tall soccer player". This comes 2 weeks after the passing of my mother and felt like a warm hug. The tears of joy were welcomed.
We come from a place called North Preston Bedrock hilltop Majestic woods Ancestors, descendent from slavery Stolen People with few worldly goods.
Heading North toward the colonies, hope-filled Humans toiled and made their place. They prayed that going North would promise freedom for our “race”. The settlers tried to prosper through adversity and strife They fought to persevere and chose build a better life.
Our people worked hard to have a place to call their own Freedom was their blessing and North Preston was their home. Come Sunday, they sang spirituals and they prayed on their soul search. They fellowshipped together in St. Thomas Baptist Church.
We come from a place of community where neighbors know us each by name We must strive to live in unity, of our history, unashamed. We’re proud of our “Up Home” by none but God it was predestined That we would be a legacy of freedom in North Preston
BlackLit101 