Theresa's “Día de los Muertos”

When I was 4 years old, my father Peter Debrah, passed away on July 4, 2004 in Ghana. When my dad died I was young so growing up I didn’t really remember anything about him. During the years he was alive, when I was born he use to travel back and forth to Ghana, so I barely got the chance to see him. Although, even when he was with me, he would be at work as a engineer . However, he had gotten a second job as a DJ. So with all of that it, I was not with him all the time that I could remember my lifestyle with him. My dad meant the world to me as much as my mother does. Growing up, everyone said that I was his twin and I acted just like him. Even though, I don’t remember him and what he has taught me. I feel like he has a great impact on me and my life.
 When I was giving the task to create my sugar skull for “Día de los Muertos”. I automatically thought about my dad. It has been eleven years ever since he died. However, when it comes to his birthday or the day he died, me and my family never did anything for him until last year. When I was little, I would write letters thinking he would get them. Putting it under my pillow so that the tooth fairy would give it to him. I realize doing this can bring some happy and sad thoughts but I can represent him through the sugar skull and tell others about him.
 During my creation of the sugar skull, I thought so hard about what would I do. Coming to a conclusion last minute, it was right in front of my face. I decided to the flag of which my dad was from. Which is Ghana, the colors were red, yellow and green with a black star in the middle of the yellow. Making the sugar skull his flag shows and explains his background and different morals he had in life  from others. Also, choosing the sugar skull as the Ghana flag represents more than just my dad but the whole Ghana community. As my dad and mom once said “At the end of the day, us Ghanaians we are a family”. So I just didn’t want to think about my dad but my history/generation who I and others have lost.
 Día de los Muertos opened my mind up to celebrating the passing of my love ones by realizing that no one is fully dead if their not spoken of. As I talk about my dad, now I actually feel like he is listening. This celebration brings thoughts to my dad who is paradise that he is gone but not forgotten. Also, that I will truly cherish him everyday and tell my future kids that he was just not my dad but my keeper.

Spanish Eulogy
Hola, mi nombre es Theresa Debrah, yo soy la última niña naca de Peter y Vida Debrah. Yo soy hablando sobre mi padre, Peter Debrah quién falleció cuando yo teno cuatro año.
(Hi, my name is Theresa Debrah, I am the last born child of Peter and Vida Debrah. I will be talking about my father, Peter Debrah who passed away when I was 4)

Mi padre, Peter fue nacido el quince de marzo del año de mil novecientas noventa y cinco en Accra, Ghana. Él naco y elevado allí, pero se trasladó a filadelfia.
(My father, Peter was born on March 5, 1955 in Accra, Ghana. He was born and raised there but moved to Philadelphia in 1995)