Dear Family,
I was at work when I heard the news. I was calling home and checking on 'Ma' (Lena). I heard news that quickly silenced my already pronounced tone. "Kareem, its my Uncle Reuben...."my mother said. At this point I really didn't have to ask much more. Being that Uncle Reuben was in and out of the hospital lately, I felt right away what my mother was communicate to me. One of the elders of the family passed. The initial feeling that subsided within me was that of sadness. The sadness came from realizing that I would not be able to see him how I was used to seeing. I will not be able to listen to him how I was used to listening. To hug him how I did before. Yes indeed, my granduncle has moved on, but I know for a fact and realize that it is only his body that was tired. Only the physical elements of what I know as 'Uncle Reuben' has simply become too fatigue to continue. Yes today 'Uncle Reuben' became weary of the common ailments that has become all to familiar in our family. I realize now that Uncle Reuben has moved on to the level of ancestry and now I must communicate with him differently. He has now travelled the same road that my father and my grandmother and many other passed loved ones have travelled.
I know that a part of life is eventually death. I know that and understand. But while we are here, while we are in this state of being, while we are able to talk and walk and move about, let us be conscious of our bodies. Lets us take care of the only body that we have. On a conference phone call with (brother) Kurt and my mother, I was at a lost for words after listening to her give him the news. Then that very instant, I said to them both, "This is another omen telling us that we have to take care of our health!" Hearing the wholehearted agreement from their very expressive sighs, I knew they understood the urgency of that simple statement.
Family, I love all of you. I know none of us will live forever but yet and still, I want to be able to pick up the phone and speak to each of you for many years to come. I want to be able to see you all age gracefully. I for one, will recommit myself to taking care of 'me'. I will take care of myself not only for me but also for all of you. So inturn, I am asking each of you to recipricate that commitment back to me and everyone else in this beautiful family.I hope to see you all soon.
Love You All,
Kareem
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