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| Last night my brother Kevin and I kept hearing, "Dems Bea's kids." |
A Life Well Lived
Last night, I attended the funeral of
my mother’s cousin; so that of course makes Sir George McManus, my uncle (yes,
it’s a black thing.)
Uncle Sonny,
as we called him was well loved. He was a retired Navy man, a retired
longshoreman president, a 33rd degree Mason (and wow did they turn
out in full force) a Man of the Sixties (a group of guys who quietly do the
things that the community needs done) and a host of other activities. He was a
husband and father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
To me, he
was a supporter of the arts and humanities and one of my mother’s best friends.
The place was packed and people
laughed about how he was surely in heaven because his beloved Eagles football
team was finally able to win a game.
I saw folks
I hadn’t seen in years and as I sat between my cousin and brother, I was
transformed into childhood and kept looking for my mother every time the two
boys cracked a joke. (It wasn't me mommy.)
Uncle Sonny
was loved by thousands and it was evidenced by the packed house. It became
apparent that you could only be that loved when your life has truly been well
lived.
Folks who
know me know that I don’t care much for funerals, so I was grateful when the pastor; an old childhood friend, announced that we were not
having one. We had a celebration of life.
Last night I got the lessons that
I try to teach each day; get involved with your community, attend to your
relationships, take care of your loved ones and develop your own spirit, mind
and body through the constant pursuit and application of wisdom. When you do, you will have everything
you need.
Live well, and others
will love you even more.
Thank you Uncle Sonny,
for your recipe for living.
Be you, be well, be
lived.
Bertice Berry, PhD.
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