Several years ago while researching a video presentation, I was introduced to a fascinating older woman. Her shop was quaint and filled to the brim with stuff of collector’s dreams. I so enjoyed my conversations with her that I became a frequent visitor. In fact, I spent the entire summer drifting from one side of town to the other. All on the slight chance that she was back from New York with more goodies to drool over and purchase.

Once she invited me to bring some of my son’s artistic drawings as a consideration for a children’s line of furniture. We talked about her family’s garment shop in California, and she shared comments of encouragement for my son. When she finally met him and discovered his dream of becoming a music producer, she casually asked him to let her hear some of his music. She had either a nephew or a grandson (I don’t remember which) who was also interested in the music business. In fact, he had just recently gotten a recording contract for something or other in a genre my son knew, but one to which I rarely listened.

During one of my visits, this kind woman invited me to a business networking event she had planned. “This city isn’t like where I came from. Here everyone is afraid to share their ideas and dreams with each other for fear of having them stolen. It shouldn’t be like that. Business people should openly share with each other and try to help each other along.”

That sounds to me like she had the millionaire mindset already working.
Time for the big event came. The night was rainy, dark and cold. Walking towards the club house of the apartment complex where the event was being held, I heard jazz music and laughter floating across to me.

I was nervous because I only knew this one lady but after the ice breakers, more laughter and business introductions, I was thoroughly enjoying myself. This was amazing! Every where you looked there were up and coming entrepreneurs like myself, jazz musicians, reggae musicians, artists, clothing designers, real estate mavericks and young people. Young people everywhere…but they were far from typical. These teens were being mentored in real estate investments throughout the event on a one-to-one basis by their successful relative, a young man once featured on HGTV who collected African art and who had a mansion in Canada. He was also an accomplished singer and worked as a counselor. I forget exactly. I just recall being invited later to visit his office with my husband and seeing the most gorgeous African chairs ever.

At the event, what stood out most was the genuineness of this particular family, the love, the caring and oh, my God, the talent! Everyone of them sang, played the piano and did a few other things. The lady who invited me let me know that education was a strong part of their family legacy, they came from educators, were educators and made sure the kids knew how to play some sort of instruments, knew how to sing and how to be successful no matter what they put their hands to.

In anticipation of meeting this woman’s young relative who was interested in music, I had asked my son to prepare a CD with a few samples of his work. It was in my pocket in case an opportunity came up to give it to this other young man.

Throughout the evening, I kept seeing this guy but he was always surrounded by a large group of his teen friends and relatives. I could never get close to him and decided to try and give the CD to him later.

Before the evening closed, there were a few family performances. The Canadian mansion owner serenaded the crowd, then an aunt sang a song and sounded exactly like Gladys Knight (in my humble opinion), another young relative played the piano and finally, there was to be a special performance by the young guy I had been trying to get near all night.

It was an extremely touching performance. There were lots of people affected and on one song, I could relate very well to my daughter. The evening ended on a fantastic high and I couldn’t stop talking about everything I’d experienced once I got home.

Some days or weeks later, I don’t recall which, I was driving down the street and heard this song on the radio. I was driving and half-listening when I heard a few words and went, “Hey! That’s the song I heard at Mrs. S’s event!”

The artist that I, and so many others had been touched by was none other than Kanye West. The song he sang down on one knee to his mother was “Hey, Mama” and the reason it was so touching is at the time I had no idea who he was. He was just a grateful teenager telling his mother how much he loved her, that it was his turn to take care of her now after a difficult life with just the two of them since he was aged 3. The other song he sang had to do with a person who couldn’t afford the car so she called her daughter “Alexis” and at the time, I thought, “uh-oh, my daughter’s name is Mercedes.” I have been following his career somewhat since that time I heard him on the radio.

I was totally stunned to hear of his tragic loss. The only image that keeps coming back to me is of that one fleeting moment. It was a moment that makes me feel even more special because I got to see him before I saw his fame, so that image is more real for me.

Seeing that connection with my own eyes though, my heart can’t even imagine what that family is experiencing right now. I saw the video of him trying to dedicate a song to his mother and breaking down on stage. Hopefully the energy of the crowds chanting his name in support, the comfort of his friends and family and the prayers of a million or more fans can sustain him. Who knows why things happen. Perhaps it will give him a new perspective on things or a new direction to his life and musical career.

One thing though, is certain. He was raised to use his life as a tool to change the world and good or bad, no matter what you may think of him, he is doing that. I don’t know exactly why I have been so affected by Kanye’s loss of Donda West. I guess it’s because I got to see her as just a devoted mother who deeply loved her son, and had it returned.

The last time I visited the shop of Mrs. S. that summer, it was empty and closed up. The number had been disconnected. I missed our chats with her and her business partner. With pangs of disappointment at the lost connection, I assumed she had left for her garment factory in California or gone back to Atlanta. I never saw her again but the memories have always remained fresh, I guess they always will.

My deepest sympathies are also extended to the family. May the legacy exemplified by Donda West live on, and as Kanye sings, make us all desire to live bigger lives and become “Stronger” in our daily influences.