To my parents (RIP): Thank you for absolutely everything that you did for me. I didn't realize it then, but you made a lot of sacrifices for me, and I want you to know that I appreciate them. Thank you for pushing me to be better than my best. Thank you for encouraging me. Thank you for making college mandatory. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for loving me. I miss you.
I hope that you are proud of me.
To my 3rd Grade teacher: You told me that even if I do really well, I can always do better. I will never forget that lesson. Thank you for instilling excellence in me.
To my 10th grade history teacher: Thank you for preparing me for college. If it weren't for you, I would have never learned how to take notes in a class. Thank you for being hard on us and never letting up. Thank you for introducing us to Ivan Van Sertima.
They Came Before Columbus sits on my bookshelf as I type. You have no idea how that book changed my outlook on life. Because of you, I began to unlearn all of the lies that I was taught. You helped me to begin my journey to understand my own miseducation. Thank you!!!!!
To Keeon Gregory: You introduced me to Wittenberg, where I fell in love (w/ the campus)!! If it weren't for you, my life would be completely different now. Thanks so much for recruiting me and remaining a friend all the years you were at Witt. I wish we had kept in touch, but I hope life is treating you well!!
To Dean Young: Thank you for being there for me when my parents passed. You made that time at Witt for me much more bearable (sp?). Thanks for caring, and doing more than your minimum job requirements. I hope that you are now Dr. Young, but you will forever and always be Dean Young to me!!
To Pastor Huff: Thank you for all the prayers and talks! You, too, made that time at Witt much more bearable. Thanks for helping us try to start TSS (Trauma Stricken Students). While I am sorry that you are no longer at Witt, I am glad that God allowed our paths to cross. God bless you always!!!
To Soror Dr. J: Thank you for all your hard work in bringing me into the sisterhood!!!! I appreciate each and everything that you have done for me. I truly cherish your friendship. You have always been like a sister to me, but even more so now. We grew up together. Remember, I can say I knew you when, even before that PhD!!! I love you!
To Zeta Alpha Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.: Thank you so very, very, very, very, very, very, very much for teaching me the meaning of sisterhood! I miss you all so much!!! I love you!!
To my #8: Beauty, your name personifies you 1,000 times over!! You have a heart of gold! The years that we spent at Witt together will always hold fond memories for me!! I will never forget the ORIGINAL SIX, our days at the pool, in aerobics class, at the gym, in the apartment, spending time with your daughter, trippin off of our roommate. I will
never forget the time we spent together in Toledo. Thank you for being there. I cherish you and your friendship. You are such a great friend!!! You tell it like it is, and you always have my back!! I love you, Sands!!!
To my #15: You helped me survive, and you probably don't even know it. You might think I was there for you, but Sands, you were really there for me. You know that you are always in my prayers!!! You know I have your back, because I AM your back!! I love you girl!
To my other 14 Diamonds: I love you ladies dearly, and miss you even more!!! We are all over the country now, sometimes it saddens me that we may never be together as one again. But we will always have our memories.
To my dear friend of 16 (gotta love that number!!) years, Carla: Girl, we have been through it, and remained the closest of friends. I know we don't hang out all that much, but that doesn't mean I won't miss you when you're gone. You do realize that this will be the first time in YEARS that we will be in different places. Does this mean I'll have to move to Charlotte?
To Novella: You are really trippin, and I'm not even sure what to say about you right now. You are MIA, and I am worried. I can only pray that you are OK. PLEASE let us know at some point in time that you are OK. All I need is a MOO HEFFA! That's it. I miss your funky butt.
To that last Cow: Heffa, you keep me in stitches. You know you are always in my prayers. Remember, no one will ever take better care of the Exquizit One that herself. DO YOU!! Love you!!
To my Sorors Carla and Camara: You ladies have really exemplified sisterhood to me! I have enjoyed all of our dinners and all of our talks. I can't wait til we do it in Nashville!!!
To Loverman: We may have our ups and downs, but I can only say that I Love You!!! In spite of whatever you've done, you have ALWAYS taken care of me. I haven't had to go without anything. If I have ever needed ANYTHING, you have been there. I will always be here for you, and you will always hold a special place in my heart. Keskibutt!!
To my Snowflakes: "Now and Forever, you are a part of me, and the memory cuts like a knife. Didn't we share the ecstacy, didn't we share the daylight, when you walked into my life. Now and Forever, I'll remember, all the promises still unbroken. And think about all the words between us, that never needed to be spoken. We had a moment, just one moment, that will last beyond a dream beyond a lifetime. We are the lucky ones. Some people never get to do, all we got to do. Now and Forever, I will always think of you!!" (-Carol King) ******