Grandma Chicago's Birthday Surprise

I'm notorious for surprising Grandma Chicago on her birthday and kept the tradition going after her transition. This time I did it with the help of a recent commission, one I based off my own experience with her. This is also the first time a magazine features and credits my work.

Here's the gift...Grandma cares most about Black history and family spending time together, so I went to spend time with her youngest son, my favorite uncle Rick and was able to unwrap the package that came with the magazine sitting next to him.

The huge gift is we both got to see a name in magazines like we use to, our main man, everyone's favorite lol UNCLE COURTNEY YYY! (He was the DuSable Museum's creative director and we would see his name in the magazines issued that contained his work). I promised I would go by my middle name (Courtney), being named after him, I promised him that so many times in conversation telling him "only when I'm ready."

When he transitioned, I took up the name "Courtney Jolliff" for this very reason, just so we all as a family can keep seeing his name and speaking it, because, like my Grandma Chicago, he lives on! Granny loves any of her sons', daughter 's, and grandchildren's accomplishments with so much joy you think it's just you, lol, but somehow she treated everyone with the same love.

So my gift was spending time with family and continuing her son's, my Uncle Courtney's, legacy, and getting to witness my first magazine with my uncle and her spirit watching over us. Thank you so much, Heterodox Academy!