May 2010 – The Life and Times of Bayoucreole

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Oracle,Oracle 2,Purple Knight (center),Miss Yellow Jacket and Navy Seal

Yesterday, my son and 103 other young men graduated from St. Augustine High School. I can’t believe those 18 years have flown by so fast. As I watched my first born receive his diploma, I was beyond proud…I couldn’t feel anything more than extremely blessed.

Blessed to be able to witness 104 young, beautiful black males receive their high school diploma…and my son was among them. In this day and age when there is so much to distract them from their studies, they kept their game tight and did what they had to do to get that diploma.

The first true milestone in one’s life.

My brother (The Oracle) and nephew (Oracle 2) flew in from Spokane to attend the graduation.It was a milestone for him as well because, my son was only 2 weeks old when we attended his high school graduation from McDonald 35 (three-five, three-five.) He’s come full circle now…ya getting old bruh 🙂

The graduation was a magnificent, solemn event that took place at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Tulane Ave. After the graduation, we did what all New Orleanians do…we went to eat! Deanies in Bucktown was the graduate’s choice and let me tell ya…we had NO RESERVATIONS about eating the seafood!

I would write more but, in this case…a picture really does paint a thousand words.

32193_1491987738954_1211820056_31390933_4385590_n — 2010 St. Augustine High School Graduates

The big moment...receiving that diploma!

Class of 2010 singing the alma mater for the 1st time as ALUMS!

Congratulations to my beloved Purple Knight and to the rest of the 2010 class!

JOB WELL DONE!

*sigh* seems like only yesterday, he was like this.

I’m sitting in my room and the only sound I hear is my baby Sassy gasping for air. I know it’s time. It’s my call, my husband can’t make the call as to when it will happen. So, I sit and watch for any sign that she’ll give me that’s she’s ready. I look around the room and something says to me, “what do you see?” I answer “three dogs and a grown man sleeping.” What do you hear? My answer…my dog fighting to breathe.

I realize that, the most loving thing I can do for her right now is to let her go. I would rather feel the pain of missing her than her feel the pain she is going through right now.

I brought the kids to school, came home and told Navy Seal to call our vet and let him know that it’s time and we are on our way first thing this morning. I had previously thought that Saturday would have been the day but, the look on my family’s face made me give her a few more days. But, that wasn’t to her benefit…it only gave her a few more hard days of coping and trying to be here for us. So, I will do what is best for her and lovingly let her go to the other side.

I keep telling myself this is the right decision. It is a loving decision. I know that it is…I can hear the rales and rhonchi in her lungs as she struggles to breathe. I see her hiding around the room…I was told that, animals do that when they are ill so they won’t be a burden to their pack.

Still, it doesn’t make it any easier because…it was my call.

Rest in peace old girl. We will love you forever… meet you at the Rainbow Bridge. Thank you for 11 years of pure joy.