Dia de los muertos

Eulogy/reflection

The person that passed away in my family was my Grandfather Steve McCarter. To me, he meant a lot and was like a second father. As head of my family he had so much wisdom and insight. Every Time I went to visit I would leave with new knowledge of the world and bit by bit he was telling me what to expect. I decided to create my sugar skull to reflect him because he just passed recently and I thought it would be a perfect way to honor him. The anniversary of his death is also coming up. Remembering him seemed like the right thing to since he is the most recent family member I have lost. He was loved by all of my family on my mother's side and he continued to make everyone he was near smile. He drove my grandmother crazy, but even she knew how special of a person he was. My Grandmother was the saddest at the funeral and still probably the saddest today.

My Sugar skull represents him mostly because of it’s hair. My pop pop’s hair was always slicked back and he always had on a sharp hat whenever he left the house. Even in his late age with his silver hair he would still slick it back and was proud of it. He always used to express how happy and lucky our family was that no one on our side has gone bald. He was never shy and never afraid to speak his mind, he was an inspiration and while he was alive I made him proud. I would go some time without seeing him but that just meant when I did. He had a lot more to tell me about life as well as his own life. As long as I can remember he has always been there. From when he used to babysit me with my Grandmother to hen I went off to high school. When someone is always there it’s normally hard to imagine them gone.

I still think about him. I still envision him in his pop pop chair at his house watching sports and old western movies. even though he’s gone it never feels that way. I guess that is the hardest part. STill, it feels like he just went on another doctor trip or he’ll be back. My grandfather was a true gentleman, always telling the young men of the family to always carry a handkerchief. To always respect and care for women and to always carry the family name with pride. Even when he spoke to me, he didn’t care that my father decided to give me his ;last name, as far as he was concerned I was and still am a McCarter.

Dia de los Muertos has opened my mind to celebrating rather than grieving. With my Grandfather’s anniversary coming up I was originally sad and dreading the day it comes because I am forced to think about the fact that he’s gone. My Family and I never handle the death of a loved one well, yet we love to remember them. Personally, I try not to think about the loved ones I have lost, I just think it is easier on me emotionally that way. I think that dwelling on it too much doesn’t serve any other purpose but to make me feel emptiness and sorrow while I think about that person as they once were. Dia de los Muertos has taught me that it’s ok to remember. That it is ok to talk about someone who has passed in a positive way and that it doesn't always have to be a sad depressing time when you talk about the dead. INstead, it can be filled with nostalgia and happiness as people honor the dead. I love the thought of keeping the dead alive and not letting them completely die. Remembering can be healthy and it’s a new idea that I am still getting used to. But I will slowly get better when talking about the dead or even acknowledging that they are gone. Both are very hard for me personally. I appreciate the opportunity I was given to remember and honor someone important to me. To give my loved one significance. I think that this is the best way to honor the loved ones who have passed.

Hola, mi nombre es Sulaiman Hadi. Yo soy de Philadelphia, PA y yo soy dieciséis años.

Mi abuelo fue de Cincinnati, Oh. Se trasladó a Philadelphia cuando él era más joven para iniciar una vida mejor para su familia.

Fue un buen atleta y un buen padre. Su nombre fue Steve McCarter.

Mi abuelo fue alto y atlético. Tiene buen pelo y su sonrisa todo el mundo hizo sonreír.

Ahora, estoy en un lugar tranquilo y relajado. Estoy bien con dejarlo ir y lo acepto.

Me siento triste pero también me siento feliz. Porque sé que vivió una buena vida y le dio todo lo que pudo.