first road dog, my aunt who came to live with us at the age of 6 with my uncle vaughn, who i had no idea was a big movie star. the aunt who sung at my high school graduation, taught me my bad shopping habits, and took her granddaughters, my daughters, and i to see disney on ice. my aunt who taught me that emeralds were more than diamonds when me shopped for my graduation gift that i'm wearing today. my aunt who gave me my open house for college and cooked dinner for my roommate and i when she came to visit detroit for spring break. my aunt who had a picture of my best friend and i on her piano for over 20 years, the one who listened to me when i told her she had to have jill scott and mary j. on her diva special and she had to go on "wendy." my aunt who chartered a bus so our family could go to president obama's inauguration and made sure i was front and center for the swearing in.