Forever in my Heart: Nick Swanson

It pains me to write this. Yet, I feel if I don't I'll keep thinking it's a dream. My best friend's brother died the other night. I grew up with them. Over the years, I've come to know them as my second family. I'm at a lost for words. Our relationship was rocky at times, but there were many, many good moments.

Nick, I'll always remember our childhood.

Summer days by the pool,

The first day of school.

Mario kart sessions and I was continuously beat by you and Corrin.

When you taught me the Pokemon game,

Always getting me in trouble with your mom,

I'd try to pout about it for the whole day, but then you'd do something or say something funny and I just had to laugh.

Trick or treating in our elementary school days,

That one Halloween when you dressed as a woman and you bravely walked on to the playground. Epicness.

Your vivid imagination,

Chilling in the barn,

Walking through the wash,

Teaching me how to make Wolverine claws with the bamboo leaves.

Telling me that my voice sounded like Alicia Keys.

All of this and so many I'll remember. I am praying for you and your family. Rest in peace, my friend.

To My Uncle...

I found out my Uncle died. Now, I didn't know the man very well. Strange, I could hardly remember his face. But I do remember his booming voice that came through the phone whenever he called and it was often, for he and my father were close.

I don't like that I can't be there in person for my family during this difficult time. But, I dedicate this post to my Uncle Rushnel. May your soul rest in peace, dear Uncle. Although we didn't see much of each other in person, I will always remember your voice and the joy I felt when I heard you say hello or when you inquired about my life at school and growing up.

<3

Family is everything. I am because of them.

Cornrows? Nan de?

I'm getting bored with my hair. All I really know how to do is a twist-out or a braid-out. So, today I decided I ought to learn some new tricks...that I probably should have learned a long time ago, but whatever!

And I am also the only black person on this island and I doubt I'll find a Japanese person on Iki who knows black hair. I may be wrong, but I have yet to meet this person. I kinda hope they're out somewhere....

And! I'm not spending oodles of money to go to big cities like Osaka or Tokyo just to get braids which also cost an insane amount of yen!

No! My friends, I must learn to do things myself! *Sorry, that was a lil dramatic.*

Here's my first attempt at cornrows that turned into a weird mix between twists and cornrows. Meh.

Uhhhhh, cornrows?

Epic fail, but I'm still cute about it. =)