Brother, first of all, my deep condolences for your loss. Secondly, I feel you. I won't go into all the losses I've experienced lately but, I need you to believe the communities you build by choice are powerful as hayell!

My baby grandson turned two this week and my Baby son had the most beautiful party for him. Being a military family that moves all the time, my sons somehow believe TX is their home because that's the place they've lived the most and longest. My Baby has a circle of friends here, a community he's built up by choice and you know what? THEY ALWAYS SHOW UP!!! At the grand baby's party on Sunday, I said as much to Arnold (one of his friends with no kids he's known since they were knee-high to a grasshopper playing football in elementary school when we lived here long ago) -- and Arnold said, "Yeah, Mom (they ALL call me Mom), that's what families do!

And it is, Kamga -- find your people, Brother. Open up, experience that beauty of connection. One of my sisters-in-law passed in May of this year on her baby brother's (my husband's) birthday. When we came home from NY after the funeral, I went to make a drink and pulled out a glass she'd given me. It said, "You're the Sister I got to choose!" My heart felt like somebody was squeezing it so tightly I couldn't breathe -- and then I did, breaking down crying, laughing and appreciating the fact that the 41 years of marriage to her brother, meant as much to her as it did to me. Sometimes, Brother, the family you choose will carry you through.

Blessings...🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾