A Legacy Worth Wearing

They said she looked like a little cookie. Her name began as soon as she was born. My Grandma Cookie

It's been two years since I have seen my grandmother alive. It's been difficult to think about the things I've never asked her.

What was your dream job?

What is your favorite outfit? You have amazing taste Grandma Cookie!

What was your mom like growing up?

What advice do you want to leave me?

If I was to assume, I would think she would be short and to the point in what she wants to say. She wasn't too much of a story teller towards her last days. Grandma Cookie was a woman of intention, and it shows. She showed it by leaving a clue in my mother's bible. It was a scripture about worrying. She pretty much wanted to let us all know:

Don't worry about a thing. It's going to be okay without me.

She left us a legacy. She passed down a lot of knowledge as she talked the talk and walked the walk. She showed us how to treat all people, from all backgrounds and embrace them. She taught us the importance of having intention in everything you do as a person. She showed me what it's like to be a proud strong black woman (One of her jobs was working for Boeing and creating these blankets that cover the satellites in outer space. She also moved up to be a supervisor... just picture the movie 'Hidden Figures' and you will see what I mean when I say strong black woman). Grandma Cookie taught us to show love by caring and doing.

I dedicate this fashion blog post to my late Grandma Cookie. I reviewed her photos over the years and she had a way about her. She changed her style with each decade! It was cool to see the intention she put into an outfit. It made me happy to see this, because she never appeared to be 'girly girly' when it comes to fashion and clothes.

The fashion item for #wardrobewednesday is her ruffled rose-pink blouse. Its silky and soft, and it blends well with my skin tone. It's my favorite item to wear as a lot of people ask where they can buy one. It's all vintage. Legacy worn by me.

She also left me a ring I hold dear to my heart. I have another one, but it is not pictured here. This is the one I tend to wear most of the time.

This year when I reflected about my grandmother I wrote this on Tuesday 8/7/2018:

This isn’t just any ring... it was my grandmothers. I realized why I didn’t get a lot a sleep for the past few days. Her two year death anniversary is Wednesday (tomorrow), and I cannot believe time can go by so fast. I want to tell her how I’m doing. I want to wrap my arms around her tiny body and have her tell me “I love you more.” I want her to ask me if I’ve met someone yet because I know this was one thing she wanted for me since all of my siblings are paired off.  She would have encouraged me it’s coming soon. I miss her laugh and her wittiness. You can’t get nothing past her. I miss her generosity, yet I miss being able to help her towards the end of her life because it was hard for her to receive help. I must get that from her. I miss the way she would tell me how to cut vegetables because it’s her way or no way. Placing food on a platter had to be done right: presentation was everything. I miss her sneaking cigarettes in the bathroom and coming out saying “it was just one.” I miss her short conversations over the phone because she didn’t like being on the phone much. I miss her saying “okey dokey.”I miss putting eye liner on her and brushing her long grey and white hair. There was always an intentional way to do something and present something with Grandma Cookie, and I love her for it. Truly I’m sad today, but thankful to have a day I can take time to remember my second mother. If it wasn’t for her, my siblings and I would have gone into foster care and become separated as children. Who knows what would have happened to us if it weren't for her.

I hope to leave a legacy worth living for... just like her.

What do you want to leave as a legacy to the next generation? What have you been left with currently... and are you using the gifts that have been passed down from generations past? I would love to know your thoughts on this below!

#fashion #lifestyle #family #legacy #talents