on turning 18... 10 was to long ago

On turning 18

So far away

But so close at the same time

The number promises us freedom

At least we think it does

But along with freedom comes responsibility

Now I sound like an adult

But it’s true

We wish for it for 17 years

And then when it’s here we only want half of it

Maybe only ¼ of it actually

But once it’s here it’s here to stay.

Food for thought

I love food, my grandma had 6 kids 4 girls and two boys, she could cook and so can ALL her kids, they all have a different style of cooking but all of them are very talented, one of my aunts actually owned her own restaurant in Portland Oregon for a little while. My grandma raised me so I always had a three large meals a day, every day. My grandpa loved her cooking, I remember always looking forward to coming home from school because I was always excited for dinner, and we ate at about 5 every evening. My grandma cooked more traditional food, comfort food I guess you could say, none of it was healthy though. My mom has a different style of cooking she is more into using spicy seasonings, and vegetables. My meal I remember the most my grandma cooking, was roast beef potatoes and carrots, shed put the roast in the oven while we were at church on Sundays so when we came home you could smell it as soon as you opened the door. She’d always cook all of it in one pan and there was broth that she would drizzle over the top. She made green beans and we always had applesauce to go with it. My favorite food personally is fettuccini Alfredo, I’ve always loved Italian food, and it’s so good to me. Fettuccini with grilled chicken in it hits the spot. And some garlic bread to go with it, PERFECTION. I like it so much that last year on Christmas my mom cooked it just for me. My favorite dessert would probably have to be cheesecake, any kind of cheesecake, whether it’s really chocolaty and rich or just plain cheesecake it’s delicious and I could eat it every day for the rest of my life :)

Photograph

This is Dre Allen

My baby, my little piece of Allen Banks himself

His big brown eyes that remind me of my own staring up at me

Looking at me like he’s not used to being around me

But he knows who I am

And his chubby finger reaching out to touch my nose

This is me looking down at him smiling

Seeing so much of my father, myself and my sister in his looks

Thinking of all the things I’ve missed so far in his life

And how fast he has grown up

Remembering the first time I held him in my arms at the hospital

How tiny and pale he was,

Freaked out by how much I already loved him

Like he was my own…

This is unconditional love

This is the outcome of the most treasured people in my life

This is Auntie Love

Forever

From the beginning till the end

Always.