Happy Anniversary, Mommie!

Brava HarpOpraH, Brava. #FarewellHarpo

After a phenomenal 25-plus year run in vibrant Chicago, Harpo Studios, home to The Oprah Winfrey Show, officially closed it’s famed N. Carpenter St. studio doors today. As the remaining Harpo and OWN staff transition to the West Coast, one thing is for sure, as one chapter ends, a new one begins.

Thus bringing me to the purpose of this post: what seems like the end, could very well be your beginning.

There are many of you who know that earlier this year, in January and April, I lost the two most important people in my life. My grandmother (my heart) passed in January a week after her 80th birthday and three months later, my mother (my soul) transitioned a week before her 43rd birthday. I talk about that often here and on social media and I am truly amazed at how I have been able to adjust to life without their physical presence.

I must admit, though, that there are days that are truly harder than others. Sometimes I can go days without a single tear then there are others when I feel like I’m drowning and would literally do anything to bring them back…then I realize that no matter what I do, as long as the physical world exists how it does, that’s not an option. That’s when I take a moment to pause and reflect and their teachings about life fill my mind.

Say please and thank you. Open doors. Smile. Speak softly. You have two ears and one mouth because you are supposed to listen twice as much as you speak. If someone cries, give them tissue. Love with no conditions. Don’t chew with your mouth open. Laugh often. Have to sneeze or cough? Cover your mouth and wash your hands. Pray always. Keep God first. So on and so forth. The list goes on and on. But one thing I’m having trouble with is knowing how to move forward in life without them. They didn’t teach me that, though the lessons I was taught early on are rules and guidelines for the blueprint of my life, etched in my heart forever.

What seems like the end, could very well be your beginning.

I made the decision in August to leave Atlanta and travel clear across the country to Los Angeles to chase my dream as a screenwriter. I can honestly say that without their passing, I would not be in a position to be able to do so. For the past nine years my mom, sister and I served as full-time caregivers for my grandmother who was diagnosed with dementia. That was a choice. A choice made in love out of love. When our process began in 2006 after the diagnosis, we made a conscious effort to remain present. It wasn’t a hard choice for my sister and I as teenagers. It was fairly easy. How? When I thought about how much my mom and grandma sacrificed for our lives, the answer was pretty apparent. And not a day went by when we weren’t truly present in each others lives but as we know, all good things must come to an end. But that doesn’t mean it has to “end” there.

I’ve seen a number of people post things on social media today about Harpo. I’ve seen the tears and the smiles. All the photos taken in front of the building, inside the studio, the #GoodbyeHarpoStudios, #HarpoStudios hashtags and so on and I can only imagine the tug on the heartstrings of those who were blessed enough to experience that. I am, however, thinking especially of the emotions Ms. Winfrey herself could be facing. A decision was made and it’s clear that she’s made peace with it but there’s still something about that final curtain call that makes you reflect and remember.

So, I want to simply take this time to say Brava, Harpo, Brava. You ran your race. You fought the good fight. Now it’s time for you to take your rest. It was out of Harpo that OWN was born and now, that is the mission. That is the focus. That is the continuation of the Oprah Winfrey legacy. And just like I am striving to continue the legacy of my grandmother and mother, my heart and soul, as a proud OWN Ambassador/OWNer in support of Ms. Winfrey and OWN TV, the Oprah Winfrey Network, I will strive daily to do my part in continuing the legacy OWN (no pun intended…okay, maybe a little pun).

As I sit and reflect back on my thoughts and realize that as Harpo Studios closes it’s doors today, no matter how much I wanted to visit and be a part of that experience, ultimately I am a part of Oprah’s Next Chapter and for that I am forever grateful. What seems like the end, could very well be your beginning.

To the former Harpo Studios staff, Godspeed! Thank you for your contributions to the world. We will always treasure your hard work. Harpo wouldn’t have this type of impact in the world had it not been for you. To the present Harpo/OWN staff, thank you for being willing and available to continue the work on. We need, want and appreciate you. Honestly. To the OWN Ambassadors and OWNers, I LOVE ALL OF YOU. Many of you I have now been able to call friend, brother, sister and we ALL will be connected for life because of this. We Are Family. Let’s remember to treat each other as such. Intention is everything and I’m sure Oprah would appreciate it if we keep that as our focus when dealing with each other. One love. To Maya Watson, you are truly a treasure. I can’t wait until the day we meet face to face. Just wanna hug your neck for being so kind, generous and warm. We need more of YOU in the world. To Presidents Sheri Salata and Erik Logan, where would we be without you? Your vision, your leadership, your passion is what keeps this ship afloat. Thank you for running this thing. You make us all proud and I genuinely appreciate you.

And finally,  to the one, the mighty O, Ms. Oprah Gail Winfrey, I would need to create a separate blog post for what you mean to me. I remember watching your show with my aunt when I was little and when I spoke at my mom’s memorial service I closed with, “Kerri was my starlight in a dark world. She was my Maya Angelou, my Mother Theresa, my Oprah Winfrey” and I meant that with every fiber of my being. I recently found out that she subscribed to Oprah.com years before I was welcomed into the OWN family and I believe some of her teachings indeed came from you. Regardless, Ms. Winfrey, I thank God for you everyday. It is because of you that I now have the courage to stand in my space on earth. My mother and grandmother taught me that I indeed had a space to stand in. You helped show me how to do it with no fear, in truth and with God at my back, pushing me the distance. Your light has been a guiding force for me for the past couple of years  and I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL. I am here to continue to do the good work. As I strive daily to become a television showrunner, I need you to know that there will always be a part of you in me and my work as a writer and creative. Your heart is golden and I hope to be like you when I grow up. I respect you. I appreciate you. I love you.

Now that I’ve wiped these tears away now that I’ve finished this post (literally took me two and a half hours to write this as I’m sitting in Starbucks in tears — people are like, are you okay? Lol.), we can party and celebrate a job well done! When it’s all said and done, the legacy lives on. Brava, HarpOpraH, Brava.

Onward.

XO