Unpacking Baggage

Just going through my luggage, clearing out some things to make way for enlightenment

I arrived back at DC National after another Detroit connection. At least I was seated in an emergency exit row. I had forgotten how comfortable all that leg room can be. Not even to mention that you can be first off the plane if you really want to be. Anyway I picked up a car in DC and drove straight back to NJ, trying to catch a glimpse of Edward Jones. When I reached the buiding he was involved in a Q&A session. I addressed him briefly, to let him know I would be picking him up in the morning and punched on home to get some sleep. I was up again at 5 AM because I had two weeks worth of laundry to do. By the time I picked up Mr. Jones I was coffee-wired, but my underwear was April-fresh. It was a comfortable ride and Mr. Jones was the perfect passenger. He can be my road dawg. When I dropped him off at home, he signed two copies of his book for me (Christmas is coming) and I headed on to the airport to exchange cars so that I could grab Bobby and Crofton.

We drove up to Manhattan on Wednesday to attend LeRoy's New York memorial celebration and to empty his apartment. LaRonya and Aunt Judy flew in from Chicago and Uncle Chris, Aunt Yaba and their daughter drove up from Maryland. The memorial service was wonderful. LeRoy has connected so many wonderful people, which I think is the greatest part of his legacy. I plan to honor him by maintaining contact with those who came that night to remember him. There were so many people there that I've long admired and it was a group that only LeRoy could assemble.

We closed the door to his apartment yesterday morning. It's an awful feeling to finish loading the truck and know that you have gathered and contained someone's earthly possessions. LeRoy didn't make it easy for us. His space was small, but he really knew how to pack it in. Reminded me of my great aunt, whose apartment I had to clean out in June. She had four rooms packed into two. Which also reminds me that I have to start my great aunt series, inspired by Grown People's post, She Prophesize Too Much. LeRoy's spirit is at rest, but his earthly shell still lies in a metal drawer. His female progenitor of life offered to sign for the release of the body only if it was cremated. We can't understand that. Those of you who have said it are right. She needs prayer. We spent a lot of time laughing and talking about LeRoy and one of the most comical things I heard was uttered on his death bed. Upon learning that his female progenitor of life was staying at his place, he gathered as much strength as he could and whispered, "Get her out." That says a whole lot.