family

On Friday I was hanging out at a little mini-party Rims was having at his place.  His girlfriend had gone out of town and he was home alone with the baby, so I guess he figured this was a good time to have the guys over to drink.  Right.  So anyway, I was the token woman at the gathering, meaning the minute I walked in the door 4 month old beautiful little angel Savannah was thrust into my arms.  I didn’t care, it’s been so long since I’ve held a sweet little baby.  She had such chubby cheeks and thighs, soft black hair, big eyes that she stared up at me with. 

Savannah and I became fast friends.  She didn’t make a peep, just listened as I talked to her and smiled when I urged her to do so.  When I put her down for a minute she became unhappy, so I resolved myself to holding her until she was ready to go to sleep. 

My uterus hurt.

While I was there I got a text from Ex-Husband telling me that he was having people over on Saturday to watch Ghana beat the US in the World Cup.  I had a pretty busy day planned for Saturday, so I just responded “Ok”, but I didn’t plan to go.  I had too much to do and watching the game wasn’t top on my priority list.  But then Saturday evening I got another text from him telling me that his niece “wants to see her Aunt Barista”.  That got my heart.  His niece apparently adores me, which I think is precious since the last time I saw her she was 2 years old (she’s almost 9 now) and she still asks about me every time she sees him. 

Had I realized that his niece was in town I would have made an effort to go over there Saturday, but he had failed to mention that little tidbit.  I thought it was just him and some of his friends.  I met them Sunday afternoon while they were brunching at a restaurant close to my place, and I was surprised when I walked in to see his older brother, sister-in-law, niece, his little sister, her husband and their cousin all sitting at the table.  They all seemed so happy to see me, especially his niece, who jumped up out of her chair to hug me.  I made my way around the table to greet everyone then sat in the only empty seat at the head of the table across from Ex-Husband.

I spent most of the time chatting with Ex-Husband’s sister-in-law, as we’d bonded years ago when they’d visited us in our home for Christmas.  She asked me when she’d get to try the delicious cupcakes she’d been reading about on facebook, so I agreed to make her some that afternoon.  I rushed home, whipped them up, then headed back to Ex-Husband’s house.

I’d fully intended to just drop off the cupcakes and go home, but Ex-H’s sister wasn’t having it.  She insisted I stay and eat some of the Ghanaian food she was cooking.  I couldn’t refuse.  Ex-H poured me a glass of wine and we all sat around chatting and laughing.  Since I’ve been away from my own family for 14 years now it really makes me happy when I’m welcomed into someone else’s family.  It’s really a big deal to me.  And Ex-Husband’s family felt like my own, just as I know my family feels like his own to him. 

While Ex-H and I were married I wasn’t very adventurous with food.  Sure, I could cook (well), but nothing like I do now.  And I never, ever, ever ate spicy food.  I wouldn’t touch it. Now I love it.  So when we’d visit his cousin’s house (the only family he had in Atlanta), I’d rarely eat.  I was afraid, I guess.  The food I ate Sunday was freaking incredible!  Like I was actually mad that there wasn’t more!  I wanted to keep eating.  It was so delicious.  After we finished I asked his sister to teach me how to make it and paid very close attention as she explained it all to me.  They were all pretty tickled to see how excited I was about that food.  But damn!  It was so good!

Before I left his cousin made a point to tell me that the next time we meet it would be in Ghana, and that I must come visit.  And I agree.  I must.

I feel so lucky to still have Ex-Husband in my life.  He’s a really good guy and his family is pretty great, too.

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