Today I went with my mom to the University of Maryland homecoming, her alma mater. I also participated in a Zoom call to celebrate Mimi’s heavenly birthday on October 19th. It was a really special day. The Zoom call was at noon, and we all shared some special memories of Mimi. Then, we each spoke about a part of Mimi we see in ourselves, and finally, we talked about what we would say to her if we could speak to her now. I always feel encouraged and inspired when I interact with my cousins and brother (who, as we’ve gotten older, I now see as often as a cousin). They are all great people, full of love! No matter how much time we spend apart, we always pick up right where we left off, because everything just clicks—because we’re family. We just get each other.
After the Zoom call, I went to the game. My mom is such a great friend (similar to how Mimi was a friend, something I mentioned on the call). We pre-gamed with some childhood friends—Ms. Toni, Sydney, and Ashley—all very sweet girls. We walked around the Maryland campus, went to a few tailgates, and met up with some of my mom’s old friends. It was such a blast! We even met some former football players, and my mom’s friend Dana, who was the only Black gymnast at Maryland during her time, was hosting a tailgate that we attended.
Then came the football game. Maryland played USC (Southern California) and won! It was a nail-biter, and it came down to the end, but the Terps pulled it off! I didn’t think they had it in them, but sure enough, they did, and they won. USC is such a respectable school with a highly regarded program, so a win against them is always worth celebrating, and we definitely did. It was also great to see the diversity on the UMD campus. There were all sorts of people, and the college atmosphere, especially at a state school, is amazing. The mix of different age groups, the quality architecture—it was just an incredible environment, and it was a beautiful day!
I’m so blessed to have a mom who includes me in so many fun activities, and I’ll make sure to do the same. She’ll always cross my mind when I think of people to include in fun times. Happy birthday, Mimi—we love you! And go Terps!
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