WS Chronicle

By Busta Brown

I visit my mother Deborah Brown twice a year in San Francisco, Calif. She has a few illnesses that God is in the process of healing.

Last week’s visit was different and the most memorable. It was my 7-year-old son Nate’s and my fiancé Mary’s first visit, as well as my 19-year-old son Cameron’s second in 15 years.

She knew we were coming this month, but I didn’t tell her when because we wanted to surprise her. We did!

On August 14 about 7 p.m., we walked into her room at the nursing home. At first she had an expression of shock. Then her eyes lit up like a trillion-watt light bulb, followed by the warmest, biggest and most beautiful smile. She asked the nurses to position her so that she could look at us. She lay there for a few minutes, just smiling at us. Then she told Mary how beautiful she is, and how much she looked forward to finally meeting her.

Nate said, “Hi, Grandma. Are you okay?” She softly replied, “Yes, Nate. Thank you for being concerned about Grandma.”

Of course, Mary’s and my heart melted. 

She gave Nate a warm smile and then stared at him for a few seconds. “Hi, Nate. You’re such a handsome little boy. You have a great personality like your daddy,” she said softly. Nate blushed, and giggled.

She then looked at Mary. “Nate has Manard’s nose and everything else is yours. He looks like both of you.” Mary blushes and turns red. It was just the way I imagined their first meeting would be. “I heard your voice all these years, and now you’re here,” she told Mary, as both of their smiles lit up the room.

Mary told my mom how much it meant to her to be sitting in the same room and to be able to hug and kiss her. “You’re just the sweetest thing,” mom says to Mary. 

Then she turned to look at Cameron. “Look at Cameron. You’re a handsome man now.” Then she began telling him about the first time she met him. “You were about four. You came into my house and asked if I was your grammy (yes, grammy!). Cam started laughing and blushing at the same time. Then she shared how much fun he had at Christmas in 2004 at my sister’s house, with my nephews Wellington and Phillip. Cam said, “I remember that day, Grandma.”

She smiled and told him how mature and handsome he is now, that she’s seen the videos of his concerts, and how the staff at the nursing home loves watching his performances. She told them some of my childhood stories, and of course it was non-stop laughing. I get my sense of humor from my mom.

We told her about our day, their first time at Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, and how much fun they had. A few hours later it was time for her dinner. I fed mom, made sure she got her meds, and was positioned comfortably so that she would sleep well. Mary, Cameron and I gave her a big kiss on the forehead and said goodnight. Then it was Nate’s turn. Cameron picked him up and I was blessed to witness their first hug and kiss goodnight … but definitely not their last.

Priceless!