I know we're already five days into 2025, but I wanted to reflect on the year 2024 that I had. The year 2024 was a really tough year for me. At the same time that it's been tough, there have also been some good moments as well. There are certain happenings that took place, of which will not be mentioned in this blog for different reasons. I'll be going through the different events in the order that I think they happened, but not everything may be in the correct order. It's just been one of those years.
The year started with the news of my cousin Rosie's passing away in January. Yes, 2024 started with the death of family member. Rosie was one of my cousins from one of my two adopted families. We had more than one prayer ceremony for her which also included us eating her favorite foods.
In February, I got to go to Pasadena, California for an in-person audition with America's Got Talent producers. This was a really great experience. I was auditioning with my comedy. I didn't make it to perform on the big stage for season 19, but I'll audition again for season 21.
The event that I think happened next, was that I went to the Raleigh area of North Carolina to meet my nephew William for the first time and watch him get baptized. This was a really nice experience. I had been to North Carolina before, but this was my first time in that area. It was a really beautiful area.
The next event that I think took place, was that my friend Peter passed away. Peter and I met when we both got to act in the play "You Can't Take It with You." Since acting together, he gave me a lot of my haircuts and we hung out a few times or so. The last time that I saw him, he was giving me my haircut before I went in for my in-person audition with the AGT producers. Peter told me that if I got to go on stage, that he thought I was going to win. Therefore, when I audition for season 21 of America's Got Talent, I will dedicate my audition to Peter.
A picture of me with Peter's husband, with a picture of Peter in between us
I think that the next event to happen, was that I got my pharmacy technician license. This was something that I had been working toward at my Walgreens since late November of the previous year.
The next event to happen, would've probably been that the grandpa in the same adopted family that my cousin passed away, passed away. His health wasn't great in his later years. I wasn't able to make it, but his funeral took place in California.
I think that the next big event to take place, was that I took my mom with me to a big family reunion in Belize. I am part Belizean; my mom was born in Belize. We met up with my brothers Jason and Jeff and got to see a bunch of my nieces and nephews. It was a really fun week. It had been years since the last time that I saw some of my nieces that were there. While we were in Belize, I also got my first two tattoos ever.
The next big thing to happen, I was in a contest to become the next Face of Horror. I made it to 3rd place in the fifth round. I only needed to make it to the next round to be able to audition for a Horror movie. The grand prize winner got to do a paranormal photo shoot for a magazine with Kane Hodder, the actor who played Jason Voorhees in a lot of the Friday the 13th movies. The winner would also go ghost hunting with Kane and receive $13,000. I do believe I'll try to achieve this again.
For Halloween, in honor of the Face of Horror competition, I dressed up as Jason Voorhees. I went to both Cavo and Blue Martini in the Mercato dressed as Voorhees and people were terrified.
Backing up to September, shortly after the Face of Horror competition began, I ended up getting a new vehicle. My 2018 Honda Civic became a total loss and with the help from my car insurance, I was able to get my current vehicle. I now own a 2020 Subaru Forrester.
About a month after I got the vehicle, I decided that I needed to make more money. I then decided that I would do Uber driving. I've done close to 300 rides since.
Of course, there was the 2024 election. I performed my right as a U.S. citizen and voted early. I don't like to talk politics, so we'll move on to the next event.
Me with my "I Voted" sticker on
December was a really sad month for me in 2024. I already had the anniversary of my grandma's passing away on December 17th, 4 days before my birthday. This year on my 34th birthday, my brother Jason and I put our mom's dog Reefa to sleep. This was definitely one of the sadder birthdays of mine.
The December sadness didn't end for me there. On December 27th, my friend Charlie passed away. I've been with the same Walgreens for over 3 years now, and Charlie had been there from the very beginning. He had actually been with the company for over a decade. So, his death had impacted so many people on Marco Island. Charlie was a wonderful person. Charlie was very supportive of my performance passions. Earlier in the year Charlie and our friend Monette went with me to go watch the movie Wicked, my second time around watching the film. Charlie really enjoyed himself.
I ended the year 2024 having to close at Walgreens. There were a lot of ups and downs in 2024. The downs were very difficult. I hope that 2025 is a better year. I hope you all enjoyed reading about my 2024 year. Until my next blog, I hope you all have beautiful days ahead of you.
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