June 8, 2005 Rest In Peace Rodney Russell Privette

In December 2003, a man and I connected on Black Planet.  We talked through there and eventually went to Yahoo Messenger.  Then to phone calls.  I had just gone through a bad break-up.  After 3 and a half years the man I was going to marry up and married someone else 8 months after I moved to Baltimore.  Talk about feeling foolish.

I gave Rodney a had way to go.  He wanted to spend time with me and I kept pushing him to the side.  He would say I will pay for everything...food, gas, movies....whatever you want to do!  I would just say I couldn't.  I don't bring men around my children who isn't going to be apart of their life and when I didn't have them on the weekend I was out at Bohagers with my friends.  Living life!!

One day I got a message form Rodney that said he had been in the hospital and he was on his way back and he would let me know everything when he got back home.  When he called me it wasn't anything I expected.  He had been at work one day.  He delivered hardwood floors.  He felt weak and tired so he sat in the truck.  Later on that night he was at his neighbor's house and wasn't feeling well again.  They called the ambulance and he then found out his heart was enlarged.  I then stopped and said I need to give this man a chance at least.

From that day forward I spent my days loving him.  We thought we were going to have more time together.  We planned on getting married on his birthday day....September 19th so he could remember our anniversary....we talked about having another child because he didn't have any of his own....we talked about how he wanted us all to move to Suitland to be near his family.

He spent a month and a half in Johns Hopkins.  I was there, at work, college and trying to raise my kids.  I finally had to quit my job.  It was too hard.  Especially not knowing how much time I had left with him.

On June 6, 2005, Rodney and I exchanged vows in front of the hospital chaplin and she prayed with us. She said that in God's eyes we were married and a piece of paper wasn't going to change that.  They wouldn't issue a marriage certificate because Rodney was on Morphine by this time.

On June 8, 2005, I went to the hospital at 4 pm.  I opened the door and seen my father in law.  I know something had happened or was about to happen.  The doctors took him off all of the medicines that were keeping him alive and we were going to let Rodney go. Neither Mr. William or I truly wanted this but there was nothing else the doctors could do.  The damage was too severe and he was no longer a candidate for a transplant.  He stopped taking his medicines and gave up months before and that's why we were sitting in the hospital.

I had planned on leaving the hospital at around 8pm if nothing happened and go be with the kids.  At  7:55pm they pronounced him dead.  I was holding his hand and talking to him while he slipped away.  I told him that it was ok to go.  We all were going to be ok.  I just didn't want him to suffer and be in pain anymore.  I told him that I loved him and the kids loved him and to just go ahead and go.  I was in his face when he took his last breath.  He never woke up to talk to his dad and the last words he said to me were the night before as I was leaving.  He said tell the kids I love them and I love you.

9 years later and it still hurts.  I have tried to move on in my love life with no luck.  I have dated over the years and had friends but they always seem to want to play games or be so untruthful.  I never compare anyone to Rodney because he was one of a kind to say the least.  I have only seen one man that even remind me of him.  I think there is a reason for that!  I feel him with me and even hear his voice at times.  I know he is watching over me and the kids.

This year has been extremely hard.  With my daughter about to give birth to my grandson in a matter of weeks and Rodney isn't here, Kashmir is sad about that.  And then the untimely passing of a man who was and still is an impact on the city....Derrick Jones aka Yo Slick  aka OOH......its just been even more emotional especially since he and Rodney were the same at when they passed!

So please I beg you all that if you love someone let them know!  Tell them every day that you have with them!!!  You never know how long you have with them!!

A Sad Day In Baltimore........

I can't tell you when we were introduced.....I really don't think there was I hi my name is Lisa or a hi my name is OOH.  I can however tell you the first time I seen him.

I had gone to a cd release party at the 13th Floor at the Belvedere.  I had just started showing my face on the music scene and barely knew anyone.  So this group got on stage and started performing.  I was taking pictures....like always because I didn't know people and I wanted to remember the shows.  The guy on the mic said something about being from Poplar Grove!  Oh ok....that's where I live!  Then he raised his shirt and I took pictures of his stomach.  Never knew who he or the group was but I really didn't know but a handful of people at that time.

The next memory I have is when I was on stage at the Baltimore Crown Awards.  I was accepting an award....not sure what it was for...might have been Photographer of the Year or Contribution Award....anyway, I was saying that most of the people in there might not know me and I take pictures of the local hip hop shows, ect.  OOH yells you took pictures of my stomach and said it a couple more times.  It made me smile and laugh and honored that he would speak up like that!  Almost giving me validity in the music scene.

In February, I had my event and The Love Peace Project wanted to be apart of it and I said sure. Love having something different at the event!  Changa then told me that Brown F.I.S.H. was going to be apart of it too!  I was so excited!  By now I knew who Jahiti and OOH were and held conversations and loved being in their presence.  OOH called me and we had a long talk about the event and all the details that he wasn't sure about.  So we made a deal that he would host and I was so excited!!!  The show went till after 2am.  LOL  Larry was trying to tell me to wrap it up.  Solomon was more understanding.  And OOH was his usual smiling and awesome self!

Last night I knew that something had happened to OOH but was hoping that it was nothing serious and we would be seeing him posting about his Save A Dope Boy campaign or something about saving our youth but instead I got a phone call a little after 9pm that had me stunned, my heart hurting, my mind went blank, and tears were streaming.

OOH.....Derrick Jones......Yo Slick.....was gone.

My first thoughts were of his wife, child and family.  I know that feeling.  I have been through it.  No words can comfort.  No words can make you feeling any better!  But I know that with time those words mean a whole lot to them.

This man....this one man was trying to make a difference in the city.  He had an idea and a plan and he made it happen.  He was supported by so many that he supported.

June 3, 2014 we lost a man who not only was a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a uncle....we lost a phenomenal artist, innovator, advocate, legend and most of all a hero.

#SAVEADOPEBOY