My dear Lorinda, here’s to you
Some words of praise I feel you’re due

Too often quick to criticize
Much less likely to emphasize

The abundance of kindness, love, and grace
You thoughtfully grant those in your space

And opposite your gentle side
You’re a lioness who protects her pride

With fearless strength and fortitude
You don’t back down from any feud

I’m proud of the human you strive to be
And know you’ll continue to work on me

So, just like mom oft says to you
I love you so, Lorindy-Lou

Dearest vibrant, beautiful, magical Sofia, when I first laid eyes on you, I instantly felt and saw the kindness, strength and grace you hold in your being. It would be my greatest honor to be given a chance by you to stand in the divine masculine role of protector and support to you. I long to know you deeply, and to consistently show up for you in a way that fully allows you to be in a state of love. My strong hands eagerly anticipate your he moment our fingers intertwine. I vow to you, my beautiful wise love, that I will be ready for you, and I will bring my authentic self to our divine union. I can feel the love I have for you expanding and I so look forward to helping you o create a healthy and stable family dynamic for your children. I want to be a healed male presence in your and your children’s lives. I can’t wait to take you on romantic dates and magical vacations. I really love your parents, especially since they brought you into this world. I am so glad we connected in the right place and time. I love our life together. My love for you expands infinitely, I look forward to being with you soon my love.

Dear Gerald,

Loving yourself
is like putting a warm blanket
to shield me from the brutal cold
that’s eager to enter my place
and take over my space

but my increased self-love
from above
inside my mind
reminds me
to protect the warmth
I have inside my vessel
and keep my heart alive
from those who wish harm and hate
to crush my mental state
and conquer me

like a conqueror wanting new land
to bring his/her band
to rule in sinister ways
and cause darker days
for the conquered

self-love
is a must for us all
to stand tall
in the face of adversity 
that will persist to threaten our peace
and try to cease
the love 
that we worked hard to keep
for ourselves 
and show others the way
to love themselves all-day

self-love is a non-stop process
that we must maintain to have success
in loving ourselves 
 On your self-love journey
I wish you well
so that you can have a self-love story to tell

This may come as a shock to some,
Maybe not to all but,
I’m just now learning to love myself.
Was never taught so
I am just now,
almost 21 years on this earth
Learning to love & appreciate
Me.
This past year has taught me
So much about myself.
About what I’ve let slide,
Underappreciated, taken for granted.
Even up until the very night
The clock struck 12.
I don’t know what has come over me
These past couple months
But
I yearn to know more about me.
Instead of looking at my life
Through a 3rd person lens,
Puppeting around with no mind,
No control.
Epiphany after epiphany
I step more and more into the position
Of living my life as I please.
Doing things that I’ve convinced myself not to.
Leaving when I’ve had enough,
Saying how I feel as soon as I feel it.
These are the things
That say “I love you”
In many different ways.
I am still learning what it is to
Prioritize
Me.
But it feels too good not to.
I’m becoming comfortable with the fact
That
Not everyone is going to be happy with me
All the time.
That
The sky doesn’t fall forever.
That I am the one living my life
All I have is me,
Why put myself through things
That I don’t see for myself?
Why struggle?
What more can I get?
What more can I have?
I have always craved more,
I’ve just always been too afraid
Of the pain
Of shedding skin.
Of change.
I love that I’m learning to hear my intuition
More clear.
I love that I’m doing the things that make me anxious,
In a healthy way.
I love that I am learning to speak my mind,
Regardless of what the other person may
Think or feel.
I love it all.
A retired people pleaser in the making.
I still have long to go,
But the journey feels too good already
Not to finish.
I have all my life to learn
More
Different ways
to love me.

Dear Unsealed,

Why do i love myself begins with why do I need to accept myself as the first step in why we are all here as human beings on Earth.

Growing up in a patriarchal society there were many times I hated myself. I grew up fast and looked like a woman at 11 years old. So, let us see that it was then 1961.

Now I am 74 years old and not sure if I would go so far to say I love myself, but I do like myself. So, I will engage in why I am my own best friend. I am learning to love myself.

The spirit of learning to accept oneself as themselves is tricky. As human beings we are always comparing ourselves to other people. We want their body shape, or their wardrobe or face and body characteristics. The first process in learning to accept oneself is to not compare oneself to another human. We are all unique in body form, speech, clothes style, food tastes and how our brains reflect upon everyday activities and our personality styles.

I like myself because I like my DNA of worldly all over the globe style. I like myself because I do not live in a boxy world of thinking. I live outside the box. I like myself because I love to wear boho flower child clothes as well as my décor must be boho. I like myself because I have a well-rounded education in different professions. I am a multi-tasker. I love music, art, writing, movies, computers, photography, and life.

I have learned to accept my empathic abilities. This was not an overnight decision, due to being an empath with high sensitivity is seen as a weakness by bullies and other controlling personalities. I love my vivid dreams that I have nightly. I dream of faraway places, new people, and environments. That is strange to many people. It is a gift from my ancestors. I love that gift that was passed down from ancestors and the Universe. I sometimes see spirits and I also have learned to relish this gift.

I love my crazy curly long hair. I just love to try new color gels on my hair. To some people it is a crazy thing to do. To me it has been normal since I was a teenager. To others it is a shame I do not act my age. Since I was told that as a young teenager, I figured out what they meant to say is do not do anything that irritates them. If we as one human being listened to every negative comment mentioned to us, we would sit in a corner just staring at nothing because that is where the haters and narcissists want everyone to be that does not think like them. However, I focus on positive critique not negative opinions. I like myself because of faith and concentration on healing and light.

I love to talk about healing, love, and light to everyone. I was told by a person who scolded me for loving the light and healing, “Oh you always want to love everyone. You will soon learn not to do that.” I did not listen to that remark. I remember that remark but considered it to be nothing.

I love myself now as I think about my resilience to bounce out of depression and illness. At 74 years old I survived long Covid and major surgery and almost dying. My philosophy of love, light, healing, and peace was expanded after the illness into another realm of living with empathic gifts.

If we as human beings learn to have a good relationship with each other instead of forcing others to walk and talk like the hater, then humanity would be at peace not war. However, that is a fairytale of sorts that we as empaths and healers must take with a grain of salt.

I have also learned that the more one listens to haters the more one will hate themselves just as much as the haters hate themselves. So, now I love myself as I complete this letter to explain why I love myself. I cannot be anyone else nor can anyone else be me.

I believe learning to love oneself can be difficult especially if one is depressed. I have a wonderful therapist who gets me.

May we as a human being species learn to love one another as we are unique, eccentric individuals who were created by the Universe to live and breathe on Earth.

I remember a song I used to sing to myself in the 70s as I marched for equal rights, “I am Woman, Watch me Roar.”

Sincerely,

25 December 2023
Christmas Day

“Weeping may endure for a night
But joy cometh in the morning.”

Psalm 30:5

My Dearest Sean:

As I was reading our friend Lauren Brill’s website, the community was invited to reflect upon and write a letter about our favorite day of 20
23. Sounds easy, right? Sometimes, as we enter the holy season of Christmas each year, we often reflect on the totality of the year. However, as a grieving mother, I found myself a bit challenged to write this missive as just 18 months, 13 days ago, you left this earth and transcended through the clouds, the galaxies, and the stars and onto God’s Paradise. It almost feels like a betrayal to feel joy but the reading of Psalm 30:5 lifts our spirit to do otherwise.

After much reflection, I chose Wednesday, 23 August as the day and date as the single day that brought much joy and therefore my favorite day of 2023. This summer day was the selected day that the inaugural Sean Scott Strother Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser was held. The scholarship was created in loving memory of you as a beloved son and amazing father. Additionally, you were such a “teckie” and enjoyed all that technology had to offer and that was manifested in your home life, your professional career as a software solutions engineer and in your extracurricular activities, including using technology to track biking with GPS. So it was apropos that we had envisioned a bright future for young scholars who plan to pursue a career in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) field, with College Now Greater Cleveland Inc. managing the fund.

The event Committee consisted of members of your family and dear friends. We had methodically and meticulously planned out all of the details for an outside event on The Bluff at a venue along the breathtaking shores of Cleveland’s beautiful Lake Erie! We were ecstatic!

Thumbs up! The day prior to the event, we checked the weather forecast and had expected good weather on Wednesday. However, on the day of the event, we woke up to gray skies and gentle rain which progressively became worse. There was significant flash flooding and thunderstorms and the hardest hit areas were along the lakeshore, with five to seven inches of rainfall. You know what I was thinking – that the expected guest list of 50 plus would begin to diminish.

Good news! As we entered the venue, a young server introduced himself to me and shared an inspiring word. He said, “Is this your event?” I answered affirmatively, apparently with a look of pensiveness. The server continued, “Don’t worry. Your event will be just fine! And, we’ll have a bit sunshine.” Unbeknownst to me, the venue staff had transformed the mansion to accommodate my event to a glorious indoor event! With that, guests who were not deterred by the ferocious storms, gray skies and flooding began to trickle in. Close to 80 individuals joined us – family, friends, colleagues, and your BFFs. Miraculously, at one point during the event, like magic, the sun was shining which afforded our special guests to venture out of the mansion and onto “The Bluff” overlooking the picture perfect Lake Erie. I believe that there was divine intervention. What do you think?

The fundraiser was awesome and successful! Every single one of your amazing friends, colleagues, family, new friends as well as event staff contributed to the success of this event! They showed up and showed out! Your closest friends created the most amazing silent auction baskets, lovingly entitled “Sean’s Favorite Things.” These unique baskets each reflected things that you enjoyed – Scotch, Date Night Basket, The Edible Art Experience Cookie Basket, Tech, Travel, Mobile Detailing and a magnificent piece of art by a Cleveland artist.

The keynote speakers, all who knew you personally, shared remarkable stories about your kind attributes, your education at Cuyahoga Community College and its impact on your career and weaved in the importance of education, technology and the STEAM areas as it relates to the economic development of our community. Your unique gift of being able to meet people where they are and go from “the mailroom to the boardroom” was just as important as your technology education.

We raised over $17K which was 59% over plan. As a result of such a successful fundraiser, in 2024, we will be able to offer a selected scholar from the Cleveland Now Strother Scholarship Fund a renewable annual scholarship!

August 23, was indeed my favorite day!

Sean, your influence is enduring as well as impactful.

I love you dearly and you are missed immensely.

All my Love,
Mom
(Janet Banks)

The Strother Scholarship Fund

Sean Scott Strother was born on Valentine’s Day 1982 during an era of the creation and proliferation of the first personal computer, the release of Nintendo, Game Boy, and the rise of the Sony Walkman. Sean’s expanded curiosity into the world of technology began with the arrival and opening of large box, designed with the iconic rainbow apple, containing the hot Apple IIgs, a powerful personal computer! With that, began his successful foray into the field of technology and its impact as well as application in everyday life.
Sean attended Lutheran High School East and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. Sean served in the Ohio Army National Guard First Battalion. 145th Armor Company while pursuing an Associate degree in applied science from Cuyahoga Community College. While employed as a lifeguard at Beachwood High School, Sean was offered the opportunity to join Tremco, Inc. as an intern and later as a desktop support technician. From there, and with increased responsibilities, he joined Novelis, and Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. Sean achieved his life’s career goals, by obtaining his dream job at BMC, a Global Software Company, as a Senior Solutions Engineer.

Sean was a proud dad and loved being a “Girl Dad” to his beautiful girls – Jada and Chloe; stepdaughters, Kamari and Kaliyah. One of Sean’s proudest achievements was raising funds to fight childhood cancers through the Great Cycle Challenge with his employer BMC Inc. team members where he was one of the top fundraisers. Sean was passionate about the Great Cycle Challenge because it enabled him to do what he loved to do, cycle, and raise funds to end childhood cancer and save little lives. Sean earned the respect of his colleagues who shared that he “was extremely smart, dedicated, super fun to be around and overall great person.” Sean had a unique quality in that everyone with whom he came in contact felt special, family, friends and strangers alike.

Applicants for the Strother Scholarship Fund must attend a College Now served high school in Northeast Ohio and graduate in the spring of 2024. The selected student will receive up to $2500 annually. This scholarship is renewable.

Started the year manifesting love and success
I had my share of failed relationships
So finding love in 2023 came unexpectedly
Our 1st official date just so happened to fall
On my mom’s death anniversary
What a hectic day
After my hair appointment
We went to the cemetery to visit my mom
How different that was
I’ve never taken anyone to visit my mom’s grave
If my mom was alive
She would have so many questions
So it was only right
A dinner reservation at Carmine’s
Because we both love Italian food
The rain couldn’t put a damper on our mood
Even though my silk press became frizzy
We took pictures to capture the night
Along the time square bright lights
Honestly that had to be the overall best day of 2023
As the month of June is often bittersweet to me
That day I forgot about the past pain that plagued my mind
Instead I celebrated new beginnings
And toasted to a brand new love that would continue to shine!

Wow! You’re a mom now, and you’re 18 years old. Who would have thought that?

You just left high school and now you’re getting ready to be a mom. How is that even possible?

When you’re in high school, you have dreams of who you want to become as an adult. Being a mother at 18 wasn’t the plan.

July 30, 1994, your first son was born. February 15, 2002, your second son was born. Two sons and they are both great bundles of joy.

The day comes and your son decided to get married. He gets engaged and you’re so happy for him. Celebrating your child being engaged is totally different than actually seeing them get married.

Your son planned a wedding for May 2024, and decided last minute that he will have a small ceremony in City Hall beforehand. He calls to tell you he is getting married a little early.

Wow! Is this really happening? Your son is getting married. Your baby. He’s getting married in 2023. Right now? Today? No way!

Watching your child grow for 25 years and then seeing him carry his dresser out into a moving truck to go on his own. The tears roll down your face. You wipe it with pride. You’re okay.

The day comes and now he is walking down the aisle of City Hall to get married. The tears start to roll down your face again. Your son growing from a baby to a man in front of you daily, is the best feeling ever. Tears of joy is inevitable.

He holds his soon to be wife’s hand, and begins to say his vows. You’re looking and saying to yourself, “this is it; He’s all grown up. He is not a baby anymore. How?”

He looks at her and says “I do”. Tears roll down again. It’s all joy!

He’s married. He’s a man. He’s on his own.
It’s now Mr. & Mrs. This is the best day of my year.

You have nothing to worry about because he’s an amazing man, mature, loveable, ambitious, and resilient. Maybe you can put the mom
guard down just a tiny bit. Relax your shoulders. Release!

Moms, I want you to know that motherhood is ups and downs. It’s not always going to be oxtails smothered in gravy with rice and beans. But it will be delicious. Just make sure you have a tall glass of liquid to wash it down with.

He’s married. He’s happy. He’s smiling.

One of the biggest joys ever. I love you!

This is the best day ever! Congratulations Mr. & Mrs.

I look back to that photo,
The one that’s framed above my desk.

It’s not because we ventured out,
Or because we loved the art.

Could it be the night-lit sky,
Musicians, the star-lit vibe?
Or perhaps it was blatantly
our anniversary.

Looking back I know
it was just that moment.
The passerby, the photographer,
became a witness to that instant.
Capturing the moment, the glim in our eyes.

Arms around my hips
Eyes locked into mine.
Smile awakening dimples
Lashes rising to the sky.
Hearts beating peacefully
yet excitedly.
Yearning to be confined in this moment,
My favorite moment of 2023.

Avoiding my departure,
Detached from visa concerns.
Come to think of it,
The origin of our flags.
Both holding stripes,
same direction, towards the horizon.
Different colors,
apparently a huge difference.
They want red and white.
While his, nature green and sunny yellow.
Stars, same placement
But his, missing only 49.
I think about that every day
Painfully waiting for the approval.
But I didn’t dare to think that night.
It would’ve tarnished that moment.
A perfect moment,
One where we are together.
Better together, just like the song.

Not thinking about our LDR.
Only 2 strangers that had just met the year before.
Look at us now.
2 souls forever in love,
Carrying that moment,
Our favorite moment.

Endless days bleed together
Troubles run one into the next
Drowning in a flood of bills
Home a run-down prison I can’t fix
Watching, waiting for December
To slow the hardships’ steady parade
Biding time to take my flight
And seize just one good day

Tossed and battered by life’s unyielding storm
Guided only by my siren’s soothing song
Twelve months fighting a constant battle
Brought me back where I belong
If I had to starve, beg, borrow, steal,
Or sell all I own, it’d be worth the trade
For this moment shinier than diamond,
Worth more than gold, just one good day

Dying fires of hope rekindle, burning bright
As the lights against a New York skyline
Evergreen eyes outshine the decorated trees,
Seeing past my flaws as they gaze into mine
Those kind eyes and encouraging words
Sustain me until I can find my way
Back to this place in a different time
Reunited for just one good day