Only.

I may have been an only child, but I was, and have, been blessed with many mothers.

My grandmother being the Queen Bee, ofcourse my mother, duh, and my aunts coming in close seconds.

Recently I lost 2 out of 3.

Luckily I still have one Mama left.

My grandmother was the OG.

The GOAT.

Yet, my Aunt Cindy, my namesake, she was a different kind of special.

I will never forget going to a family wedding event when she "styled me."

I wore Gauthier pants and she lent me her Theirry Muigler top.

I felt like a super star at 16.

She would take me to Hancock tower and let me pick a Muffy Doll for my birthday.

She let me sit on her bed, and let me play "princess" and try on her jewelry.

Even when she wasn't well, she would call me, and make sure I was ok, even if she wasn't.

Our relationship?

Special.

The magnificent mile wasn't anything without her, more like mediocre.

She would take me shopping, and make me feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

But, she was critical.

But then again, that is a trait that has a deep lineage in my family.

Things being said like, "that doesn't fit, your attitude needs adjustment, your manners could use an upgrade, and what do you think you are doing?" common, and normal.

Amongst a few questions, and or criticisms, I received?

Perfectly normal, no need to stop and look, just heed said advice and keep moving.

That said, just like all the women in my family, they all have a place on a podium in the hall of fame of amazing women.

They are smart.

They are sharp.

They are silly.

They are savvy.

They are savage.

They are strong.

They are survivors.

And most of all they are sharers of sage advice.

There has never been a bigger group of women whom were non proponents of NOT gatekeeping.

So I will try and protect that legacy.

It's all I can do at this point; for them and all the ladies (and gentlemen) to follow in these lost footsteps that are beyond hard to fill.

So I will criticize, cry, and try to recreate the eternal legacy you founded.

For you, for us, and for the future wonders we call our family.

Love you all.

Xoxo,

C.