Old & Wise

Yesterday while waiting for a ride to a party for my cousin. My mom says... "You know Miss Slize died."

Miss Slize is the woman that raised my mom after my maternal grandmother (whom I have never met) died. As a child it was obvious that my mom didn't have a good experience with Miss Slize. My mom usually told us about her when she wanted us to learn some life lesson. Or when she thought we were being ungrateful, in other words when we were being repremanded. The name Miss Slize is one of those names that I heard over and over again. I knew how she cooked, what made her laugh, how she disciplined, how she hated, how she loved. I knew that she had impeccable taste in clothing and style. I new what frightened her and that she was illiterate. I knew that her husband (my mom's uncle) was an alcoholic. I knew all of this before I met her for the first time in 2001.

When my mom left Jamaica all those years ago, she never went back to see Miss Slize. She had all the opportunities in the world, but she always had one reason (never a good one in my opinion) or another as to why she would "go the next time".

I am grateful for this past summer when all of the girls in the family (except mom) went to see Miss Slize. It was obvious to us that Miss Slize would soon have her final sunset. The ravages of old age had definitely taken its toll. I was kind of ticked with my sisters for putting the camcorder so close to her face. I am grateful, because now we have physical pictures along with mental ones.

Miss Slize connected the dots for me. Meeting her somehow completed the picture of my existance. She is my maternal conduit to Jamaica.

Old and Wise

Alan Parsons Project

As far as my eyes can see

There are shadows approaching me

And to those I left behind

I wanted you to know

You've always shared my deepest thoughts

You follow where I go

And oh... when I'm old and wise

Bitter words mean little to me

Autumn winds will blow right through me

And someday in the mist of time

When they asked me if I knew you

I'd smile and say you were a friend of mine

And the sadness would be lifted from my eyes

Oh when I'm old and wise

As far as my eyes can see

There are shadows surrounding me

And to those I leave behind

I want you all to know

You've always shared my darkest hours

I'll miss you when I go
And oh... when I'm old and wise

Heavy words that tossed and blew me

Like autumn winds that will blow right through me

And someday in the mist of time

When they ask you if you knew me

Remember that you were a frined of mine

As the final curtain falls before my eyes

Oh when I'm old and wise

As far as my eyes can see

Rest in Peace Eliza Higgins.