A note to my auntie

Auntie Njeri how are you? How's life? anything new? Anyways I just wanted to say hello, it's been 5 years since you left and we miss you very much. You lite up the room with your smile and your laugh and raised Mwangi and Shiro the best way that you could, they are two cousins that I cherish having. You were a special person to me, you treated me in my opinion almost like a son. You helped me set up my first email address, whenever I came to Atlanta you would show where you taught other students in college and you even took me to your Catholic church where you worshipped the one true God. You enstilled in me values that were so important whenever I was there. I have always loved the city of Atlanta because of you and you were a stepping stone for many people in the Kenyan community of Atlanta. The most important thing that you have put in me though is education. I don't know what it is about this family of ours but education seems like such an important thing to everyone. I remember when you took me to see the downtown campus at Georgia Tech, you always said to me that if I could go to a school like that here in Georgia you would be so proud of me. You fought a very hard and tough fight, when my dad told me that you had cancer the first time I was shocked because the only way I remembered you was as a smiling, happy person who trusted in God and dedicated her life to educating students and dedicated her life to her family. Whenever there was a family argument, you were the one that stepped in the middle to try to mediate and bring peace. You were an angel sent from God. Two summers ago I went to visit your brother in California and he told me so many stories about you. You have touched so many people's lives that you don't even know it. You're legacy still lives on to this day through your children, your family and the many lives you touched. What I have carried on through your life is two important things, a love and trust from God and the importance of education. You were like another mother to me. You gave me advice and I was always excited to see. This weekend many people specifically Kenyans from all walks of life and different cities around the world will gather in the city of Atlanta, GA during the Thanksgiving holiday to remember your life and how you fought your way through tough circumstances to make it through life. Please forgive me auntie, I will not be able to attend, I'm sure you know why but I am also happy to let you know that when I sit down on Thursday and I am giving thanks for the many blessings that I have encountered in my life I will remember that being able to know you as a auntie, a mother and friend was one of the greatest moments in my life. I know you are having a joyous time up there and I know that you have touched my life very much. I also want to let you know that I am considering going to Georgia State and UGA for college, Georgia Tech does'nt offer my career major, but I want to thank you for enstilling the love I have for the city of Atlanta in my life, ever since I was a little kid I have always said that I wanted to move to Atlanta, go to school there, make a living there. If it is God's will hopefully it will happen and it will be all because of you. We miss you, we love you and we will always remember you, you were the joy of so many people and the friend many people wished they had. Thank you Auntie Njeri.

Dr. Njeri Karangu Memorial Foundation
405 North Fields
Alpharetta GA 30004