Beautiful Mourning

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Many of us grew up thinking that certain moments needed to be respected in a very strict way. They can’t be tarnished with “insensitivities” that show a lack of respect. The epitome of this surrounded death and the processes that proceeds it. The older I get, the more I realize how archaic and unfounded much of these things are. My maternal grandmother passed away on November 27 and it’s been beyond difficult as expected. But the time we had to grieve her even before she left has allowed us to cope in a way we wouldn’t have otherwise. And as close as we already were, it has brought our main tribe that much closer together. I’m eternally grateful that I grabbed my camera and mic and whatever else I needed to capture moments that will allow me to keep the spirit of this singular woman alive. I wanted to do something that honored her correctly. Us not  mentioning our departed makes us hurt much more than we have to, let’s speak and sing about them. Like I heard one time: “no one comes out of this alive.” So live a life worth being remembered; Mama certainly did that, and we’ll spend the rest of ours thanking her for it. 

Andreza Barbosa Amado Semedo

2/4/41  – 11/27/21