Meet the Taylors
By Brandon Astor Jones
On May 22, Precious enjoyed teething on my eyeglasses case; and while she has now gone back to Chicago Heights, Illinois, her scent permeates that case.
She was a full eight months old yesterday. Today she leaned over and kissed me on my left cheek three times in rapid succession. She touched me deeply. I learned that changing her diaper today was not as easy as changing her mother's diapers 30 years ago; and for some reason I was nervous. She is a magnificent child! Of course my eyeglasses case is no longer just a case. Henceforth I will allow no-one to even touch it: it has become a very special and Precious part of my life now.
Timothy is 28 months old. He is the quintessential boy. I place emphasis on boy because even if you cannot see him, the sounds that come from his direction could never be mistaken for his sisters'. He is a Chicago Bulls fan and will probably experience a moment of fleeting sadness when he learns that they lost to New York this evening. He did not take to me straight away on Friday, but on Sunday we became friends. After a while he called me "Granda". He is a fine boy.
Ebony is eight. Her name bespeaks her quality and the smooth dark silkiness of her beauty. I found her to be very mindful of her appearance and less than pleased with her shoes. She has meticulous taste in earrings and colour compatibility. She is the self-appointed keeper of the family's chronicles, locked away in her mind's eye. She is candid, articulate and verbose and will play family events like a videotape recorder. I think she sees herself as Timothy's and Precious' personal guardian — and with her they are in very good hands.
Charise, a name that is at once poetic and sweet on the lips. She is tall, with a lovely compelling manner. Hers is a gentle presence made all the more intriguing because she is prone to look deeply into your eyes as if your every word issues from a sighted, instead of a sound source. When I spoke, I knew I was being heard.
At 13 she demonstrates a keen interest in her schooling. I remember her first fictional story, which she sent me at age nine; it was about a teddy bear. It was a good story. These days she writes mysteries. She is savvy and more than a little politically aware of the world we live in. She is very easy to like as a person; I am in awe of her more and more with each day's passage.
My son-in-law, Jerome, is an easygoing socially/politically constructive and sensitive young man. Timothy cannot stand to be too far away from him for very long. I like the bond that I see growing between that little boy and his father. It will give them strength to endure the upcoming tests that this fast deteriorating US society will surely subject them to individually and collectively in the near and distant future. It is clear to me that Jerome adores his family and loves my daughter.
Then, of course, there is Lisa Ann. She has grown into a splendid beauty. Without her, and Jerome, the young people I have just described would not exist. She is one of those truly caring hands-on mothers entirely worthy of the four gifts she and her husband have been given. It goes without saying that I am very proud of my daughter and her family. I am privileged to have them to love and in turn, be loved by them.
That is why I have taken this opportunity to share bits and pieces of our visits with Green Left Weekly readers. For it is in large part due to GLW readers' kindnesses that these visits could even take place at all. So I am thanking each of you — and especially Mrs Stephanie M. Wilkinson, of Australians Against Executions — for helping to make that dream come true. Please know that my gratitude is sincere and eternal. Thank you so much!
[The writer is a prisoner on death row in the United States. He is happy to receive letters commenting on his columns. He can be written to at: Brandon Astor Jones, EF-122216, G2-51, GD&CC, PO Box 3877, Jackson, GA 30233, USA.]