My big brother Adam liked pie. Sometimes, every now and then, somebody cares enough to ask me a small, seemingly insignificant question about Adam. When that happens, and I know the answer… I am reminded that he was real. He was my guy. He was my hero and my support, and it’s okay that I still grieve him.
I was quite young when Adam was killed, just a 6th grader, so it’s no wonder that I can’t always remember things about him. I used to feel absolutely desperate to remember the details of him. I’ve lost all memory of his voice. His hands. His mannerisms. It’s taken me about ten minutes to write the last three sentences because I’m writing through tears and - admittedly- denial, because I really don’t want to believe that those memories are lost forever. I don’t want to admit they’re gone because I want to have hope that I will still remember one day.
But, I do remember all the important things about him. That he was funny, and gentle and kind. I also remember some of the small things, like the fact that he liked pie. I remember he enjoyed these little lunch pies my mom would buy from a discount bakery. They were pretty disgusting as far as I can recall, but I know he liked them, so I ate them anyways. Gross pies are cool if your big brother likes them.
So when my friend Alison asked me if Adam liked pies, it was a relief to remember that yes, yes he did like pies. For #day6 I bought a pie from a non-profit bakery whose mission is to “train and employ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” Special Touch Bakery is partnering with the fundraising efforts of the Children's Dyslexia Center of Rochester so the proceeds of each pie will help mitigate costs of tutoring.
Literacy is currently an issue of equity. And while I may not remember everything about Adam, I remember enough of the important stuff to know that he would love both of these organizations that seek to improve lives and create a more equitable world for those who can so easily get overlooked. #AdamsActs
