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A photo of the stages of butterfly metamorphosis.

Photo courtesy of Suzanne D. Williams on Unsplash

When I was growing up I was so admired and protected. I expected to be an over achiever. People would often say things to me like, “you’re going to be something else when you grow up.” I did not know then what “something else” meant, but the way it sounded, I knew it didn’t mean something other than a human being. At the time, it felt like it meant an over-achiever or a very successful person. And even if I didn’t make the honor roll or wasn’t a scholar on paper, everyone knew that I had the mind to be one. I was a social person and communicated with and hung around with people of all ages. Seniors would sometimes tell me, “Rita go home!” This included my best friend’s mom. One night she got drunk and chased me up the street telling me to “go home!” while she let her own daughter stay out late at night, but not me. Then, there was the mom who came on every night on a commercial who would ask “Do you know where your kids are?” She would yelling R-I-T-A. R-I-T-A. Next thing you know, kids, grow-ups and everybody on the block began mocking her and started saying R-I-T-A, R-I-T-A. I had a lovely upbringing, growing up on the block 14th E Corcoran Street Northwest. We had eight bedrooms and I was always surrounded by wonderful people totally committed to my welfare. And now I’m so grateful and I owe so many people for the making of the R-I-T-A you see today. Thanks to God for putting me on my bended knees and for all my pedigree.


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