Good morning…
After yesterday’s post, Stoop Down. Reach Out., a friend texted me immediately: “Oh my goodness!!!! I’m so sad over here. When do you go downtown for group? I can send a zucchini bread for Mike Mike! (The same delicious zucchini bread she made our friend’s 80th birthday party last Thursday.) Maybe if you go to drop it off he’ll decide to come with you to group? I’m really carrying this burden with them. Huge prayers.”
Then I texted Mike Mike, our friend who found his mother murdered in her bed on Saturday morning: “Just checking to see if you changed your mind and want a ride to group. I could pick you up on my way to PAWkids.”
I got no response, but before I left our house, I texted again: “I have homemade bread for you and your family made by a dear friend. Might I bring it to you after group?” He texted back: “Ok.”
Calling to see where he was staying, I talked to Mike Mike, his sister and his brother-in-law, who I have known well since 2021. The plan was set. I would take bread to Mike Mike after our therapeutic community group.
As we gathered around the big wooden table at PAWkids, like we do week after week, each person shared personal thoughts, feelings, concerns. Memories from the weekend came trickling out, painting a picture of the shock and the devastation experienced by the whole Grove Park neighborhood. Everyone loved Miss Tracey, Mike Mike’s mom. Everyone will miss her, daily and deeply. “The last time I saw her, she was just so happy,” echoed many.
As we were talking, the door opened and, to our surprise, Mike Mike walked in. A friend had dropped him off at our group, a group Mike Mike has never missed. We all took turns hugging him, then he sat beside the therapist who runs our group. He talked and talked, recounting the horror he cannot un-see. He cried and cried, pained he will never wake up to see his mom again, never again tell her he loves her. He poured out all of his emotions, one by one. Collectively, we caught and carried his heavy burden. What a privilege to be part of this sacred circle of love.
After group, I dropped Mike Mike off at the Grocery Spot, a food distributor where his brother-in-law was working. Josh and I shared a long hug, as I expressed with my whole being “I am so very sorry.”
I hugged Mike Mike one last time, then handed him the zucchini bread, a symbol of all the homemade prayers being lifted on behalf of this grieving family.
A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity (Proverbs 17:17, NRSVA).
…Sue…
P.S. As we were leaving PAWkids, LaTonya Gates, the founder and Director said to me, “Sue, we will be feeding Tracey’s whole, big family for a while, as they are being housed in three different places. If people want to know how they can tangibly help at this hard time, we need gift cards from Kroger or Publix to buy them their groceries.”
I am happy to gather your gift cards and take them to PAWkids.
You can also go to the donate tab on the PAWkids website to give a monetary gift or to send a check. Please indicate “Support for Mike Mike’s family.”
