FAMILIAL ENCOUNTERS

The air was dry but heavy as my taxi approached the busy street junction in outer Monrovia. There was chattering and the muted sound of competing stereos blasting over my racing thoughts as I gingerly left the vehicle. I was wearing my very first self-commissioned and sewn in Liberia, lappa skirt suit complete with a headtie which I used as an over arm shawl. It was a warm dry season morning before the sun had reached the pinnacle of it's journey through the sky. A cacophony of activity (business transactions, a week's worth of catch-ups and storytelling)  served as my soundtrack, my legs carrying me boldly in the direction my cousin pointed out beside the Indian operated supplies store. There sat two women selling cold bowl (leftovers from the night before).  It was still early on this particular Saturday morning and my cousin thought it would be a clever surprise to approach without warning these unsuspecting vendors. "What y'all selling today?",  the English words in Liberian colloqua casually tumbled off my tongue with a candor I had been struggling to perfect over the past 2 months of being home.  The 2 women both glanced up quickly and back down ready to resume their preparations. "Palm Butter", one woman says and I reply "That all? No rice or Fufu?". They both look back abruptly their ears finally attuned to the dusting of seres that escaped from beneath my colloqua lingual mask. There stood 3 women staring keenly at each other. The one, searching past my eyes, grasping for something---anything. She finds it! 

She finds it!

& Lifts me off the ground! Meeting my Mom's younger sister for the first time.

Grasping for something...

My Aunt has not seen her sister (my Mom) in over 28 years. I've heard from many family members including her, seeing me is like seeing her. I'm her photocopy they say.

Ma Zuker & I

Both soaking in the moment

A very good Saturday

We made each other's day!

Tears of happiness adorn our eyes & the rest is HERstory.