LOVE YOU!!!!

I lost my dad, James.E.Maduro on June 22^nd, 2015 in Columbia.  Since then my desire to continue on with my Blog diminished.  I’ve had no motivation or desire to pick up a pen and continue to write.  I’ve started this blog because of my Dad, and his many attempts to interview or get the story from a Gay man’s perspective.

    I’ve spoke to a couple of Gay Guys, and two (2) of whom are my dearest friends. One of them since then passed on, going on two (2) years now.  He was an avid reader of my blog, a great teammate and a damn great netball player he was, Cavin Bridgewater miss you dearly.

   Before my dad passed, I’ve asked him why start with them when you have me here.  His reply to me, were that he needed to know from another perspective, and he knows his daughter inside out, and I must say he did, very much so.  He never got around to the interviews, but he saw when I started this blog, and were very outspoken about it.  Many of you saw the video and read the Q and A between him and myself.

    Many of you that knew my dad, had known that he was a very religious man, very kind, always helping others in whatever and whichever way he can, whether its English classes, Spanish or dutch classes.  Don’t let me get started on his many run ins with politics, both good times and bad times.  From his children to everyone else, that got involved with him, knew that he had a great sense of humor, to go with his long political conversations.

   My dad James.E.Maduro, had coached many persons that were just starting their political careers.  He was very honored that at that stage in his life, young ones came to him to get whatever knowledge they could from that great, brilliant mind of his.  I am very happy that I got to share him with the world, but sometimes there were those that took advantage, but this is not about that.  Many times he had told to enter as a candidate on a party list, but I told him I’m too liberal and a radical, so people like me they would never want on their party list.  If my Dad were alive today, we both would be having a laugh at what’s going on here in beautiful St. Maarten.  He would have had many articles written and sent to the Daily Herald and maybe the Today News Paper, and if they were written in their favor they would publish them.

    I miss our round table talks almost every Monday when I’m off from work, miss our weekly beach visits to Le Gallion beach, before he had gotten his other leg amputated.  We made fun and memories from whatever hand we were dealt, and I thank God for that always.  Most importantly I’ve missed his many teachings of the Bible, and the teachings of Ellen.G.White.

Many had told me that it would get easier moving on with my life without him, but they never told me about the hole that remains in my heart, it would never heal.  To think I should have known that from the passing of my Grandmother, that I called mommy, Mrs. Hildred.D.Tyson that raised me in my young years, and my Grandfather that I called Daddy, Mr. Charles Tyson many years ago.

    My Dad always told me, to be proud of who I am.  Not because of our differences on my sexuality, that doesn’t make me a bad, horrible person.  He prayed for me always, and asked God to guide my path.  He also prayed that we will see each other when Christ returns, and I know we will.  My Dad was my Rock. Back in the day, whenever or wherever you saw him, you saw me also.  I used to loved it when he came to a few of my basketball games, and before he passed I used to keep him abreast of all my games, both Netball and Basketball.  He was my BIGGEST FAN!!!

    Now today May 16^th, 2016, just six (6) days before he makes eleven (11) months in Heaven, I know he’s looking down on me with a big smile on his face and saying, “THAT RED CARABU GIRL PICKED UP HER PEN AND STARTED WRITING AGAIN”. YES I DID DAD, BECAUSE OF YOU!!

    My Dad lived for God and Country, and for his children.  For the millions that knew him well, knows that’s the truth.

    I LOVE YOU DAD, and that you knew.  Those special birthday calls, I will keep them in my heart forever, those Father’s Day calls, checking to see which one of your children rang you first, I will keep my tally close to my heart; (“SMILE”).  I’m very blessed to have had a wonderful, loving, and a no nonsense Dad like you.

LOVE YOU DAD

MINELVA MADURO.