Marie Kromah-Sherif Our Columbus, Ohio, Aaron Fallah Brown I met Aaron at a party sometime in the late 1990s. My husband, who knew Aaron back in Liberia, introduced us. Aaron immediately started telling jokes. I remember him being a person who was very funny and who related to facts when he was involved in a discussion. He told us of one marriage he had that lasted less than a week. When I asked him why he had done that, he said that both he and his wife had a change of heart and they decided early to end the marriage with no hard feelings. I was immediately touched by this story. Here was a person who was willing to see another person be happy by letting go rather than hanging on. It takes a wise person to make such a difficult decision. I felt that Aaron did that. Once we were visiting a friend when a conversation came up about the differences between the Ph.D. and the Ed.D. or D.Ed.. Several other Liberians participated in the discussion which, in typical Liberian party style, seemed to be getting heated and going nowhere. Aaron slowly explained the differences, all the while making jokes and changing the tone of the argument. He had a way of making his point without offending others. He was a simple man who talked to people on their level. He was a compassionate and very caring member of the Liberian community in Ohio and assisted those in need whenever he could. Aaron was honest, gifted, funny, caring, and a visionary. Above all, he was a true Liberian. He wore African jewelry, maintained his Liberian accent, and always maintained relationships with his people. Last March I was visiting Monrovia, and was happy to take a letter to Aaron from his friend, Foday Kenneh. Aaron met me at Krystal Ocean View Hotel. We hugged and started talking about Columbus. He asked for people by name, always interested in everyone's well-being. I asked him why he had returned to Liberia and how he was doing. He responded with such joy! He reminded me that he had come home to run for president but it did not work out. We both laughed so hard. Aaron, with his usual friendly openness, invited me to have a beer with him. When I told him that I did not drink beer, he joked and said, "You will drink some today!" As always, he was funny, honest and wearing a smile. He talked about his children and inquired about his relatives in Columbus. Most of our conversation centered around reflecting on the good days we had in Columbus, and the new life he faced in Liberia. Turning serious, he explained to me how he worked for the Public Works Ministry and the University of Liberia. He also told me he was selling his art. He expressed how happy he was to be in Liberia and even though things were not 100%, he enjoyed being home. We talked about the poverty, lack of education, jobs and money problems that faced the people in Liberia. Aaron identified with each of these problems and you could see how he hoped that he could bring about some kind of change. Our conversation then moved on to his art. He told me about various pieces he had created since he returned home – art that was inspired by the people he met upon his return. The art I saw was always of people extending a hand to one another. I believe that this is what Aaron was all about – extending himself. Aaron was different because he could transform his imagination into understandable art. He used bright colors to highlight a point, light colors to reflect calm, and he used the outdoors like the sky, moon and sun a lot in his paintings. This to me reflects how free-spirited he was. He left his mark as a painter. His paintings are very meaningful, each one carrying a different message. He was upbeat about his work as an artist. His art spoke for him. Most important, Aaron was a family man; he always talked about his children and family members with the greatest joy. On a personal note, he appeared happy and had high hopes for his future in Liberia.  Aaron was very positive and I think I'm right when I say he wanted to be president to bring about change which will have involved the common people. All his talks seemed to be leaning in that direction. God knows what is best for each of us. He allowed Aaron to end his journey in Liberia, sharing his last days and his work as an artist with his beloved people. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Copyright © Marie Kromah-Sherif