This is an incredibly emotional day for me in more than one way. It is the 81st birthday of Lilia Castaneda, my mom. I could tell you she is the best mom in the world, but a great many sons and daughters would. I can tell you that she is an incredible and unbelievable woman who has been through so much: escaping Communist Cuba after raising my two older sibling without my dad for years until he could get her out and to the U.S.; raising three kids in Harlem with all that entails; living through the death of my father from cancer while being his caretaker; taking care of my grandmom for decades on her own...the last stretch during which she was bed ridden; always being there for my bro, sis and I; and so much more. So, for this and many more reasons I am happy today and happy to be her son and blessed to call her mom, today and always. Today is also the one year anniversary of the day I (and the world) lost one of the greatest lights it shall ever see, A.J. Anthony Perrelli. I traveled to NY a year ago to see him one last time and say my last goodbye (and deliver messages from friends who could not). While it was crushing to see him in the state that I did, I knew his body could not contain his wonderful soul and that he was with me and with all his family and friends, supporting us in that difficult time as he had done so many times before and continues to today. I feel A.J. all the time and he says hello in countless ways. I miss him terribly and can only imagine what it is like for his parents and siblings. I try to live my life as he did, by attacking it and by being there for all the people that matter to me most, in the good moments and the bad ones. So, today, for me is a celebration of life...for both A.J. and my mom. I am forever blessed and changed for being the friend of one and the son of the other. #LoveYouMom #4AJ #AttackLife
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 13:32:13 +0000
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