7: The Broposals
7
The Broposals
I am getting married. Kind of crazy and kind of cool, right? I
found someone that I believe in, admire, care for, trust and love. Therefore, I
felt that it was time to fully commit to this partnership. Life Partner Gang! However,
this is not about her- so enough with that for now.
This is about some of the people who have meant the most to
me on life’s journey thus far. Many people have shown love and have been
influential and supportive towards me in my lifetime. However, I had to take on
the difficult task of narrowing it down to seven. In the weeks leading up to
today, I went on a quest. I went through the thousands of memories in my mind
via the thousands of pictures in my cloud, external hard drive, cards, e-mails,
letters, and even reminisced on events that were undocumented. This journey
helped me to rediscover many things but most importantly:
“If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.”
-
African
Proverb
As I begin this journey towards matrimony, I know that I will
need some guidance, support, and some mischievous fun from and with a select
and privileged few.
I challenged myself to write about my experience with each
person that I chose in 500 words or less. This is tough- because I could
actually write a book about my relationship and adventures with each of these
amazing people. I always heard that you should tell people that you love them
and give people their flowers while they are here. So I am taking the next few
moments of my existence to do so.
“Tell your mama you love her while
she here.. For Real…
Tell your pops that you love him while he here.. For Real…
Tell your homeboy you love him while he here.. For Real…
One day you here, next day you gone.. For real…”
- Young Dolph
In 500 words or less.. In alphabetical order (last name)…
Cease
So I have to start this broposal
the only way that I know how..
So here we go…
When I first got to UD, I knew a
few people- either from high school or people that I met through Ell. Cease
(and his roommate Kev) were some of those dudes that I met through Ell, whom he
met through his brother. A couple of degrees of separation. So my experience
with him was limited, it was a surface level of coolness between us. So anyway-
it’s like the second week of the fall semester, a Friday or Saturday night. I
was out for a while but elected to take it in early. I walked into the East
Towers and pressed the up button for the elevator. Seconds later the elevator
opened and Cease and Kev were standing there and they both were visibly hype
and upset, but Cease was on level 10. So they were like- “Yo Doe just got into
some sh!t at a party and we on our way there now!” Then Cease asked me, “Yo,
you trying to ride?” Before I knew it, I was in the backseat of Cease car
speeding through campus on the way to the party. So now I’m going to fast
forward through what happened at the party and get straight to the end. We sped
off from the party, one dude with us is coughing up blood, and we just passed
the cops. Cops hit a U-turn, turned on their siren and started flashing their
lights. I’m like damn, it’s a wrap, smh. So Cease pulls over and says something
that you never want to hear the driver say- “Yo, my license is suspended and I
may have a warrant, so if you see me run, you should follow suit.” Yeah, the face your probably making right now, was mine times three. LOL. Fast forwarding
again- Cease is now handcuffed in the back of the cop car, Me and the other
fellas are sitting on the curb of a street off of Main street, in the rain, my hands are zip tied or handcuffed behind my back- and all I’m thinking to myself is-
I don’t even know these dudes, I’m about to go to jail for some dudes I just
met, I just got to UD.” LOL. Yeah, it was crazy. But I sat there with my mouth
shut and hoped for the best. Having our UD student ID’s saved us.
But even with
that situation- I never stopped hanging out with Cease, some may call that
foolish, but I truly believe that it was one of the best decisions that I’ve
ever made. Crazy how life works. We still act foolish from time to time but
only in responsible environments, lol. So many memories- From chasing dollar
and dream shows to POTlucks to drunk nights at Mrs. Cynthia’s to being my
roommate for every trip. 15 years later and we’re still rocking. My guy! I love
him.
Ira
Maannn… I really don’t even know
how to start this. But “Niggas acting like niggas.” LOL. That’s one of the
first memories that come to mind. Ask my mom and Ira about that line. Classic.
Seriously- if you see them, ask them about that story. Especially Ira- he’s a
storyteller.
Ira is my brother for real. I know
that I said that in all of my broposals- but Ira is special, that’s my man! If
I Jaime and I were doing double best men/maid of honors – it would be Fame and
him, easily.
I met Ira in the summer of 1999. He
was this ambitious, self-confident, charismatic, and wild kid and we
immediately became friends. I’ve always said that 1999-2000 was when I
discovered myself, my power, lol. And Ira and I were definitely on the same
page- Girls and Music.
Many people do not know that I have
been writing forever. Started as a poet, then started writing rhymes, then books,
and now I blog. But Ira was the first to be on it. Ira saw that I had a talent
for putting words together and thought that my poetry was outstanding. Not only
was it good- it was provocative. So of course, that part really grabbed Ira’s
attention. So one day- he was like “I’m going to read one of your poems at open
mic”, it was one that our summer program held. I was cool with it and went on
with the idea. So now, it’s show time. Ira jumps up and starts reading the
poem, which was beyond inappropriate for a high school, and had everybody
smiling and giggling with his captivating style of reading. Before I knew it-
they cut him off. And the next day, they kicked him out of the program. SMH
lol. I bet if you ask him- he’ll tell you it was worth it though.
So many memories through high
school that I could talk about- from cash in the bible, gin and Capri suns, to
him being first phone call when I lost my virginity. Smh- and this dude laughed
at me and said finally. LOL. And that’s only part of it.
Even through college- we always
kept in contact and would always link up at parties when I went to DSU or he
came to UD, Holiday gatherings, etc. Ira is one of those people that could go
to my mom’s or my Aunt Vanessa’s house, pop up, and they would make sure he ate
and had a place to sleep- even if I wasn’t around. Real family.
Even with him moving ‘dolo from state to state’, he makes
sure that when he comes home- I’m always on his list of stops, even if his
schedule is full. And he usually comes with a hundred stories (most that I have
no interest in) and some new brews. He has always been an ear I could vent to-
with little judgement. He is always positive and true. Extra as hell sometimes-
but that’s my brother and I love him.
Kamalah
I moved to Stoney Creek the summer before 10th
grade. The neighborhood was small and there was only one other kid my age, Kamalah.
(Even though Cherry Hill was literally in my backyard-, they wouldn’t let me
claim it though, SMH). I was like 14 and immature as hell. Kamalah was the girl
that lived directly across the street, so naturally she received the full brunt
of my menacing. And for that, she despised me. I would harass and tease her in
school and at home for no damn reason, just because, SMH. However, over time
our relationship changed. I believe it started when my nephew Jeremy was
outside with a bunch of kids who were throwing rocks at each other for fun-
weird right? He ran in the house screaming and crying, I ran downstairs to see
what all the commotion was about and saw a deep gash in his forehead. Kamalah’s
family somehow saw or heard about what happened and her mother (a nurse) came
over with a first aid kit to attend to his wound. This interaction soften the
hard relationship and helped to somewhat bond our families. I still was mean,
lol. But one day, I was running late for school and missed the bus. As I began
walking back towards my house, Kamalah’s dad pulled over and offered me a ride
to school (He would drive her to school almost every day). I can just imagine
Kamalah’s attitude when this happened, lol. I accepted the ride and I think
from that moment, I knew that I had to treat this young woman better. And I
did, and soon after that, we became the best of friends. Man... I was at her
house at least three times a week- hanging out and eating! Her pop was a chef
and they kept a full stock of yogurt, one of my favorite snacks. I remember
when she first got her license- I was hype- I knew I’d never have to ride the school
bus again! Lol. Even when I got a job,
she would take me and pick me up sometimes. She loved Tigger (Disney) - I would
get her something Tigger related for every holiday until her dad scolded me for
it, lol. It had gotten to be too trivial for him. I remember the party line days;
we would get on there and act a complete fool. Classic, lol. She also hated every
girl I dated. There was something wrong with them all. Lol. And she had no
problem letting them know exactly how she felt, SMH. Probably messed some stuff
up for me. However, she definitely handled a few situations for me during some
of my wilder days, she was pissed at me for some of it- but she really held me
down. And I still appreciate that. So much more, I could write about, yeah this
would be another book. Kamalah has always been a true sister to me and I love
her for that.
JR.
Junior- my BroDad.. I wrote this in 2007 and it’s still very
relevant. Only right to use this a my broposal pitch…
At thirteen years old, Kenneth Mullen
Jr. could not even imagine the future impact that he was about to have on the
life of his new, baby Brother Keith... It was at this moment, when he
basically had to assume the role of “man of the house.” This new obstacle
was going to be a challenging, significant, and stressful one for him, with
all sorts of pressures no teenager should ever have to deal with.
Especially being that, he did not have a true father head figure for himself,
with the little time he had to grow up. He was forced to mature quickly, and as
a result, his own childhood was curtailed. It is because of his selfless
sacrifices he has made for my family and me in which I am, will continue, and
will always be forever grateful of.
My brother does not only give
definition to the word man, he surpasses it. And by watching his life
experiences, and taking it all in as a learning experience, I have been able to
become one, myself. Without his guidance, perseverance, sacrifices, and
hardships, I might not have graduated from high school, or even so much as
dreamed of going to college. But because of his actions and influences, not
only am I a college graduate, I am also on my next endeavor currently pursuing
my master’s degree in business administration. Since he was not afforded the
same options as I, I feel like he lives his life through mine. And therefore,
when I accomplish my goals and overcome my obstacles, he is achieving his too.
Throughout the entirety of my academic and social life, my brother has always
made himself accessible to me for absolutely everything from advice,
to help, to personal ATM, to even just listening. He has been right there
beside me through every step of my life.
Although everything is not always
friendly and stellar between us, no disagreement or argument will ever change
the admiration I have for my brother. I will always listen to what he has to
say, and I will do anything and everything possible to show my appreciation for
all he has ever done for my family and me. I sincerely love, respect, and
treasure the extraordinary person he is, and for how he has helped me become
the person that I am today. He has been a friend, a mentor, a father, and of
course a brother… my brother.
Fame
It’s crazy how life works, how time changes things and people,
and how sometimes we grow/evolve with people and other times we disconnect.
I met Fame when I first got to UD, sometime within that first
month or so. He was good friends with a few people that I had started hanging
out with. Over the next four years we were pretty cool, we would hang out in
group settings mostly, just a regular and cool vibes. However, we were not
super friends then, just very cool, surface level.
Once WE graduated
from UD, Yeah we’re both alumni, lol. But for real- once I graduated from UD, I
had somewhat of a rough time. The transition from college life to the real
world caught me off guard. I was ready but I wasn’t really ready. Many things
in my life were changing or dissipating- friends, jobs, and more. It was very
tough for a while and because of my struggles, I started wildlin’ for a while. I
was high-strung and had a chip on my shoulder.
So- shout out to Doe. He noticed that I was moving in a
negative direction and reached out. We would hang tough before he moved to
Florida. Before he moved, he went out of his way and connected me with some solid
and real people. Even though some relationships were only built for a season, one
connection that he made stuck. It blossomed and continued to grow.
If you know Fame- you know that he just doesn’t make friends or
already have a bunch of them. He knows and associates with many people. But
friends- nah. So the fact that we bonded- says a lot.
Around late 07-08, I started hanging out with Fame for real.
We were mostly hitting hood bars and ratchet clubs in the area. LOL. So l got a
joke for you- Fame and Keef walk into a bar, one is an asshole and the other is
volatile, what happens next? No punchline, just imagine. Lol.
I’m just going to keep skipping and fast-forwarding. Too much
that I could speak on and so much that I can’t. Lol
Fame and I were hanging tough and then the Rebel opened. I
could stop here, lol. The Rebel was great period in our lives. Many great
memories mixed with some crazy ones. I managed the spot and Fame ran security. We
used to have so much fun and I’m going to be honest- I probably had much more.
I remember Fame shutting down a party because I was in the spot- inebriated and
partying with my shirt off- while I was on the manager on duty, smh lol. Wild!
It’s some more stuff that I want to touch on but I’m getting
low on words. Fast Forward.
Fame is the wisest, loyal, and most genuine person that I
know. He is my go to guy- whether I have an issue, want to ride out, or for no
reason at all. I know that we are grown and the term best friend has been
phased out- but that is what he is to me. I love this dude. My Brother. My Best
Man.
And shout out to V too! Because I can hear her in my mind
right now saying “But you were my friend first!”
Ell
If you know me, you know him and vice versa. Ain’t no way
around it. Our personalities are completely different but we complement each
other almost flawlessly. Balance is good. I met Elliott the summer before 10th
grade at Upward Bound. I already had a core group of dudes that I hung out with
from the previous year but Elliott started hanging with us and it felt like he
was there from day one. We were very cool throughout high school and the first
year of college. We would hang out, hit parties together, and what not. We
stayed at the Crystal Palace every Thursday and then went on a “shopping spree”
at Wawa, SMH lol. But- towards the end of my first year, I knew I needed a change.
Del State was too small for me. I had been there the whole time I was in high
school (stayed on campus each summer), my freshman year, plus my mother worked
there. I knew all the staff and they knew me. I decided to transfer but I had
to stay in Delaware because of scholarship requirements. UD was the only other
real option for college in the state. I applied in February and received my
letter by April. I knew that Elliott was going to UD to; through the parallel
program at Del Tech. I hit him and told him that I was going to UD next year
and we decided it would be dope to be roommates. And the rest is history-
literally, lol. *Side note: His family really took care of me as if I was a
blood member of the family. Grocery shopping, laundry, haircuts and dinners-
they really looked me out.* We were inseparable for the next four years. It was
one of the best times of my life. Especially when I started having a little
money, it got crazy. So many escapades, so many memories. I’m about to put T-Pain
– Buy U A Drank, on repeat for the remainder of this piece. Nostalgia, lol. From
1602 East Towers, Park Place, and Villa Belmont. From Lookin’ for the Chewin’
to G.I.P. Man, we had a ball- I can’t even get into those stories. No safe ones
immediately come to mind. Lol. After college, we fell off for about a year and
half. Due to some issues and tension over a couple of things that had took
place. But one day Elliott came in the Rebel Restaurant, where I was working,
and it was still love but kind of weird. He felt it and I felt it. It was so
bizarre that before he left, we spoke about linking up to talk and hash it all
out. Within the next week, we met up at Grotto’s on Main Street, and we drank
and talked and drank some more. Lol. Since that day, we were back, like there
was no hiatus, as if we never skipped a beat. Real Love. Truly my brother from
another mother.
George
I honestly don’t even remember how George and I became cool.
All I know is that we started hanging out around the end of our sophomore year
in high school. By the beginning of our junior year, we were inseparable. From
2000-2002, if you saw George, there was a 90% chance that you would see me and
vice versa. I remember when his brother went on a military tour and he got the
jeep. SMH, it was a wrap! We were really in the streets then! We used to bang
the Ghetto Fabolous album, from top to bottom. I still remember when Nas –
Ether dropped, how hype we were and how we played Stillmatic on repeat for
weeks. I honestly can’t even get into too many of our high school stories,
because if our mothers ever found out, SMH... It would be devastating to them.
Luckily, the statute of limitations has been up on most of that stuff, LOL. We
used to have so much fun. Wild times- from parties, vacant houses, the mall,
etc., I would really have to write a book. I remember when we were suspended on
the first day of senior year, the first day! SMH, wildlin’. But we ended up
having the greatest day ever. We went to two neighboring high schools, and we
ran in lunches, classes, and the hallways as if we belonged there. Until we
were kicked out or ran out before they caught us. We even went out Del State,
it was a beautiful day, we had the camcorder out, and we sat outside the old
MLK center, hollering at college jawns (promise they was giving us play). I
still remember going back to his house and watching the video. LOL. Fast
forward to a year later, I was jumped in a dorm when I was at Del State. It was
a blizzard, state of emergency, nothing was moving. There were no physical
injuries, but mentally I was hurt. I was pissed and I was dolo. However, as
soon as the roads got halfway clear, George was out there, looking for these
dudes. He came out there once with a tire iron and another day with the burner;
was not playing any games. It was reckless and we were young, so I am thankful
that nothing costly happened. For a while we chose two different paths, I went
to college and he went to the streets and eventually prison. I would write
letters and send cash to keep in touch. When he got out, he used to come out UD
and party sometimes. He still struggled with the streets for a while but he
came to a realization that set him on a better path. His journey turned him
into the great man, father, and husband he is today. He has always had my back
and I appreciate it. All love over here. My family, my cousin for real.
Sunglasses and Advil.. The next 16 months are about to be mad real…
September 1, 2019
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