Mom Now Has Her Wings

While I have donated to the occasional “Go Fund Me”, I have never placed myself on the receiving end. However, I find myself in a place familiar to many and feared by all. This morning, my mom passed away. She has spent the whole of my life, living by her own rules and following the beat of her own tambourine.

Due to the struggles, she faced (and what I believe to be a life self-medicating due to repeated trauma) for all of my childhood, I constantly feared receiving a call informing me of her death. I think I have been on pause, too busy holding my breath---

This morning should not have been such a surprise. I should have been ready. Prepared. Alert. Expecting. "Readier". Truth is, I just was not. I was adrift. Floating on a waving sky of unknowns and what-ifs. So, with the help of my #1 guy (my heaven sent husband, who encouraged me to be transparent here and I’m really trying), I open this platform for donations.

Now, if you are like me and millions of others and are unable to donate…THAT’S OKAY! We can contribute to each other in so many other ways...by praying, speaking kindly, or just offering a smile.

So, thank you.

Lakisha Marie Thornton-Culpepper

Daughter of the most fly, fiercely right, and repeatedly original woman to walk the world aka Celina Gilmore.

*Writing this was very therapeutic. IJS.