I know for sure that I never could have made it without the love of my two aunts, Helen and Carmelita Ruffin. And I know I cannot make it without family and friends and the community of Birch Grove, St. Andrew’s, Grenada. It was a beautiful, rainy day and we celebrated our Tanties. The women who raised me and my brothers and sisters. Their departure from this life last spring was devastating to our family. Coming home to their church was what we needed. And on my mommy’s birthday. Their older sister. The woman they saved and then they saved us. Today was about gratitude. Closure. Tears and laughter, too. Thank you Fr. Dan Duru for a beautiful and special memorial mass honoring them. Thank you to @abiventour and the staff at @punjabigrenada for hosting us after the mass. And thank you to @keredclement @jonty.dream and @kholebaldeoofficial for joining us. Thank you to all our family and friends. Thank you especially to the Charles family. We love you and hold you in our hearts. Here’s an excerpt from the tribute I wrote to celebrate my Tanties: I have been seeking closure for their loss, which was six weeks apart earlier this year, a true testament of their close bond. I knew I could only find it here, at home, in this church, surrounded by this community, by family and friends, by their lands that surround this church and steps away from the house where they were raised then they in turn raised me and my brothers and sisters. Our aunts stepped in when their older sister, our mom, was ill. And they remained a constant in our lives until their last hour. We exists with the ability to soar and help others generously because of the lessons they taught us. Our hearts are grateful. I am grateful for this time and this space to say one more time; Thank you Tanty Lit. Thank you Tanty Helen for showing us the way with love and prayers. We will love you always.