Over the last two weeks, it has come to my attention that two men, whom I love, have crossed over, my Uncle Dom and Coach Gales.

While away on business our family was informed that our big-brain, sharp, and off-the-chain Uncle Dom had a car accident and passed.  Then yesterday while talking to my mother I mentioned the name “Coach Gales” in a conversation leading up to HOW I became so good at working with words and oral communication. I was just about to unpack my E3 Assessment results when my mom said, “You know Gales? I think his funeral was this past weekend…”  

I’m a lover of life and while I try not to be a cry-baby when I find out that someone I love has crossed over, (because “energy” is not destroyed), still, I felt compelled to compose. I’m a Scientist, I understand death, but it still pierces the heart. Right? Especially when losing someone who taught you HOW TO FISH, i.e., ball, communicate, excel in life. Both Uncle Dom and Coach Gales were standout men and I consider them strong Intellectual Influencers.

Uncle Dom and I did not talk much because I learned early-on that big brains are something to marvel; thus, in his presence I listened and aspired. Coach Gales on the other hand, was my 12th Grade English Teacher. In fact, I was an honor student who attended a college prep high school and was initially confused on HOW a coach would be able to instruct me in English 101. Well, for starters, Coach Gales mentored me right into “The Harlem Renaissance.” He was the first one to gift me with a LANGSTON HUGES cassette tape and instructed me to learn the depths of the writers messages. The audio production was eloquently read by orators Ruby D and Ossie Davis. The production inspired me to learn, understand, and appreciate word composition and the depths of meaning. That precise understanding is the foundation that built my style of writing; Griot. 

In reading Coach Gales’ obituary, it stated, “He was an avid reader and enjoyed word puzzles and giving English lessons…” He taught me how to think, strategize and use words by assigning his English students to complete and turn in the local newspaper’s Family Circle word puzzles from the Sunday paper every Monday. My classmates would mumble remarks about the pains of doing word puzzles, but I… I wanted to be like Coach Gales. I was inspired by HOW he was able to formulate the answers. Today I am a word master. Give me a word puzzle and I will learn it and kill it. So, while I don’t play basketball, Coach Gales made a baller out of me, too; a communications baller.

Coach Gales crossed over at 82-years old and my Uncle Dom crossed over “age unknown” to me.  Uncle Dom was always a numbers guy, great at computing, but somehow the number of years never donned his face, (think Paul Mooney, Comedian – died looking 12).

When the mind is elevated,
getting old can be debated.

Intellectual Influence is powerful and deep.
Intellectual Influence built The House of Qui.

Intellectual influence remains Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis’ legacy.
The influence of intellectuals has composed our history.

Let continuance be no mortal mystery; may short memories hit the curb.
Let us read, comprehend, perceive and feed the future what we’ve seen and heard.

Communication is word, I love to compose and broach.
Communication requires both word and deed; today I am a Coach. 

I’m Uncle Dom’s niece too, I can think and create worlds out of an inch, 
I’m Qui
A Word-witty she paying homage to Intellectual Influence. I endeavor to be congruent.