December 2022

A few days after the Michelle Obama event was my father’s birthday. We celebrated with me bringing home his favorite steak dinner, flowers (I personally feel men can have flowers, okay?), ballons, and a birthday card. My father is a very straight forward person: Place him in front of a television with a game being played by his favorite Chicago sports team, his favorite steak dinner, the local newspaper and he is happy.

I wanted to be sure I did all I could do for both of my parents before my father’s surgeries, which went well. I would like to say thank you to his healthcare team.  

My father worked at the Smithfield Plant when I was growing up. He was a butcher and he came home with injuries from his job. I learned to cleanse and bandage his wounds. And it wasn’t just him. Many people in my family worked at the Smithfield Plant and I did the same thing with them.

When my father was in the military, he was exposed to chemical warfare and spent four months in a military hospital where he almost died, thousands of miles away from his family. It was hearing things like this that also led to me becoming a nurse so that I would be able to better care for my aging parents.

During Covid, telehealth had completely taken off. I was able to use facetime technology to check in on my parents. I must admit that if this had not occurred, it may have been harder for me to accept the job I have at Whitney Young High School.

In the end, there was nothing to worry about, but I worried anyway. We were still in the middle of a major pandemic. I am an only child, and these were my only parents.

Tuesday, December 6, 2022, 8 pm

The Chicago Theatre

Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry Tour Appearance

I got my mother her combined birthday and Christmas present by taking her to the Michelle Obama “The Light We Carry” tour appearance and buying her and my father the book. My father was waiting for his surgeries, wasn’t feeling well and stayed at home. I took pictures of her standing under the illuminated Chicago Theatre “Michelle Obama December 5 & 6” sign. We also took selfies together and texted them to my father.

I was grateful we were able to go to this event together.

Dementia runs in our family, and I had a feeling that it may occur with my mother. She was exhibiting the first signs even then, forgetting to close and lock doors and where she placed her belongings.

As a nurse, I’d taken care of patients with Alzheimer’s Disease before. Reminiscing is especially important, so I made sure I took a lot of pictures and video for her to share at a later time if I needed to.

I wore a gold blouse after having seen Michelle Obama in a pair of gold go go disco boots that my mother owned and wore in the 1970s. It reminded me of the Bible verse Job: 23:10: But he who knows the way I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” I felt it was a befitting wardrobe choice after the Obamas’ two terms in the White House.  

My college friend came from Charlotte, North Carolina. She was born and raised in Chicago like me, but her family moved for work and she went with them. We were all looking forward to this event as soon as it was announced in September 2022.

We just made a day out of it starting at 6:30 am with breakfast at a local restaurant, going to Shed Aquarium and then lunch at the Whole Foods on Canal Street.  

We all agreed that Michelle Obama’s interview was excellent as was to be expected and the book she wrote as well as the phony pony and jumpsuit were lit!

DJ Nice was incredible! We called family and friends on facetime for them to dance to the music, even if it was on their cell phones.

I got my mother her favorite hot beverage: medicine ball from Starbucks with extra honey and lemon. As we shared cups of medicine ball together, my mother asked me about my new job. People being curious came into our conversation asking, “You work at Whitney Young High School?’

“Yes!” my mother replied. “My daughter works at Whitney Young High School.”

My mama was proud of me.