By: Simone Coleman July 10, 2024

Dear little me (Simone),
How I praise you, with many thanks that you are my precious inner child. I thank you, how despite that my physical childhood days are over, I can still enjoy adolescent things in my adulthood as well. Honestly, who said that grown-ups hate to have fun? I’m all grown up, and I don’t hate to have fun and I never will all thanks to you, inmost heart & soul. I especially love and cherish you for being the source of my active imagination. Not to mention my immortality fandom for all my favorite cartoon shows growing up. Such as all things Disney, Danny Phantom, Dr. Seuss and even Sanrio; Hello Kitty & Friends.

I cannot believe how paranoid I used to be, as I was still processing through puberty and letting other’s disapproval get the better of me. Remember, when our folks used to lecture us, back when we were 13 yrs. old, about still watching cartoons being “immature”? They used to think that we were watching cartoons so much, that we were not focusing enough on reality, they were wrong anyway. It was even hard to have a good laugh, without our expounding Aunt yelling at us to “Stop clowning!” Let us face it, our endless love for cartoons, from the laughs, and exciting adventures the intriguing characters would have in their stories, have always helped us cope through our depression. The comedy and hilarious nonsense would bring us the best medicine to drink in, laughter.

While reality has often brought us down, and made us feel so lonely in the universe, cartoons have never done that. We both must agree how our active imagination was always our source to “Getting away from it all.” Not to mention how we could often relate to the many figments in our favorite tales, where we felt more welcomed in their fictional world than in our world of corporeality. Furthermore, thanks to our curious, abnormal wonders to the creators of the stories we have known and love, we have soon gained the potential skills to be creative ourselves through literacy and drawing. In conclusion, which is why with these talents we have inherited through our growth and passion for fiction, fun and adventure, grown up me (Simone), plans to spread joy to the children of this generation and the next, with our endless optimism ways, and creativity.

Overall, I wish to also inspire the children and even the young adults of today that fun, love of pop culture, or cherishing childhood memories never had to depart our lives, just because we’ve got responsibilities now. Let us not also forget how even in the bible God says “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:1-3). There is also that to consider, with remaining a child at heart. Let us both remember that growing up (old) physically is mandatory, but remaining young inside is optional.

Accompanied with deep gratitude.
Yours truly, Simone (fully-fledge you).

June 27, 2024

Dearest Great Aunt Dinah,

How I shall miss you, though even so you & I were not as close, as I was with my late Great Grandma Ruth, your little sister. There was still something about you that I cherished that connected, based on her. Impartial to Grandma Ruth, you were a woman of integrity, just like her, you had a smile that could light up the world. Furthermore, fair-minded to Grandma Ruth, you were always happy & excited whenever you spotted your kids, grandkids, and niblings of all ages. You were especially thrilled to see me, whenever I was showing up occasionally, to New Bethel Baptist Church for church services.

Surplus, beyond a doubt you were proud of the times I had helped, at our church for the community involving the children. It was much more fun learning about God and the bible when I could move around and be productive in the matter. I will also never forget when you were proud and ecstatic for the tributing poem I had written and read aloud in memorial honor to your sister Ruth Bell (My Grandma Ruth). You loved the poem so much, that you had begged me to make a copy for you to have as a keepsake. Believe me, I had great intentions on granting your request, yet alas things had begun to get busy by that time. I was a year and a half away from graduating high school, not to mention despite bidding my farewells to Grandma Ruth, moving on without her was not at all easy.

Even today, after it has been ten ½ years, without my devoted Great Nana, the pain still remains inside. It is only because of God & my faithfulness, that He helped me gain through you, Grandma Ruth & even viable Grandma Cookie (Virginia) that I am bearing with this silent suffering, as I continue to move on in life. Thus, throughout our times together, you were well-nigh as the duchess of our church, New Bethel Baptist. Linked to your late husband & living son being the pastors & reverends of our prime house of prayer. You and many others of New Bethel (family or not) inspired me to be proud of who I am, and to love myself as much as the Lord has loved me. Loved me, enough to create me and save me from my sins and temptations of the world.

Finally, I say with a heavier heart, but strong serenity, not goodbye, but catch you later Aunt Dinah. In conclusion, how I thank the Lord for allowing you to be with us on the face of the earth for 100 yrs. What’s more, how my heart soars with happiness knowing that you are no longer suffering, you were blessed to take your final breath in peace, and you are finally reunited with your sister, plus many others you were most likely mourning, too.

See you soon, Aunt Dinah. Good-byes are not forever.
Sincerely,
Your great niece, Simone.