Story 2 of "Here I Am" Series: Emerging Adjusting Learning

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Family gatherings.

You got to love them. Literally.

-because your attendance is dang near mandatory.

Unc and grandpa grilling on the patio

while the kids run around in the backyard.

Old school blues blasting so loud,

You wonder how in the world

are the aunties carrying on their conversations

and actually understanding each other.

For me...

The biggest problem is finding the right spot

Where my presence is known

but I can be "absent" at the same time.

I don't need to sit by the kids because

Too many questions.

I don't need to sit by the elders because

Too many questions.

I hear yelling over this music

Which is surprising

And I notice everyone heading toward the grill.

It's only been an hour-

It's too early for the food to be ready.

Oh no. Family debate.

Apparently, the argument is Bracy's VS Sasha's PorkStop:

who has the best BBQ?

My cousin Justice even turned the music down.

Now, I know it's serious.

From the looks of it,

The aunties think it's Sasha's PorkStop

But the uncles think it's Bracy's.

I haven't had either

so I just stand toward the back of the crowd.

I remember the last family debate.

Let's just say it was more...

intense.

I remember Tasha told Aunt Josephine

that she was becoming a vegetarian and..

somehow that translated into

"Tasha thinks she too good to eat our food."

It became a whole thing.

Our family means well,

but they just don't like change.

"If it ain't broke..."

Has been rooted in everything from

Drinking habits to job choices.

The unspoken rule has been

"You stay where you are, do what we do,

And that's just how it is."

If you do anything other than that,

Expect side eyes and

"You think you better than us" comments.