Brush Arbor Press

Both of my parents followed their hearts and would not accept the limitations of society. They were the first people to teach me that everything I needed to be the best person possible was within my grasp.

My mother, Helene Smith Lake, was adopted and never found her biological family. She was only able to glean her personal history through the memories of her adoptive parents and their friends. She was of Irish descent, had a twin sister who was also given away, and was the child of either rape or an extramarital affair. I remember her as a woman with a quick sense of humor, quick to laugh, and sometimes hot tempered. She expected only the best that I could give in school or any other endeavor, which made her the first person to teach me to never give up.

My father, Vanderbilt Lake, was part of a very large family. He had a strong love for family, and always worked to keep us together. As a young man he witnessed the lynching of his uncle, cousins and a family friend. I am still amazed at the fact that this traumatic event did not turn him into an angry, bitter, or even violent man. I remember him as quiet, loving, slow to anger, and as someone who gave respect and expected respect in return. I could do no wrong in his eyes, which made him the first person to give me unconditional love.

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