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Dear Mercedes,


Dear Mercedes, Its been a year since the LORD healed you from a tremendous plot of pain and suffering caling one of HIS angels home; but Id like to begin this letter by apologizing. I apologize for my absence during your battle with that wordly disease called CANCER.. Excuses aren't necessary but I will admit being pregnant and taking on a new responsibility consumed most of time. In retrospect I should've dedicated more of my time to you; but I truly prayed and imagined circumstances were going to turn around. The moment I hold onto dearly is the night I walked down First avenue openly crying and praying with you over the phone, while you were in the hospital undergoing another surgery, or recovering of that matter. You listened so humbly, intensely and would reply, "Destini its okay you don't have to visit all the time. I know you care and this phone call is what matters. You reaching out. Some people don't even call or check on me." Finally I came to see you during your most rigorous days of the battle. Although you were sedated and unresponsive most of the visit, I made sure I rubbed my hands through your hair, kissed your cheeks and recited "I LOVE YOU" nearly one hundred times. Those few times you struggled to say my name and reply I LOVE YOU TOO melted my heart completely. My mother's weekly reports of your well being also settled my anxiety because we represented one another. I know the prayers you two shared together were heard and accepted in JESUS NAME. Tapping these letters on my iPhone 6 keyboard to send a letter in memory of you through the clouds to the heavenly skies, has been such a difficult, reluctant, and overwhelming task, yet way over due. You wouldn't imagine the objects and things that hold value to my heart because it symbolizes a piece of you. Girl did you love a cellphone? Lol A smart phone preferably. You were the one who introduced me to the incredulous capacity of WIFI!!!!!! It feels like yesterday I would walk through Nootie's door and hear you utter the words "That's Destini?" And then once I had the privilege of becoming a mother it transitioned to , "That's Destini! Where's Elana?" Your wit, slick talk, humor, smile, and laughter created an atmosphere undeniably magnetic, sincere and true. Literally I remember the first time I laid eyes on you. If I'm not mistaken I'm 9 years older than you so the memory is quite candid and vivid. While following behind Jeanine one day in the girls room at grandmas house (hope you two are smiling in heaven bonding together and looking over us) , Jeanine came in with the latest news stating, "Michael just had his second babygirl. Her name is Mercedes." Of course I wanted to know, "Where is she?". Then immediately she escorted me to grandmas room. This was the first encounter I had with your mother Lisbet. I greeted her and asked to see the baby. Once she loosened up her grip and positioned you towards my eyesight, I stood in awe. All the exaggerations to side, you were the prettiest little human being I ever gazed upon. Fast forward two or three years, you didn't see Jeanine without Mercedes on her hip. Although you had a face of a mixed bred cabbage patch , your attitude portrayed a fierce "Ktty Kat" honey. Lol Shockingly, you didn't want to be bothered by anyone but Jeanine Seegars. Initially we were all jealous because we wanted to flaunt a little pretty HUMAN cabbage patch doll on our hip; than gradually we became use to it and luckily you became use to us. Once Nicholas was born we felt as if we received a two for one package deal. Although you were only a year apart, you constantly made it evidently clear who was the oldest. Jeanine and I loved you so much, we willingly traveled to the end of the earth to be apart of your worlds. Whether it was staying the whole weekend in a shelter with your mom on the lower east side, or visiting Poppy on Lexington to come get you and bring you two back to Metro, we made sure we solidified a bond with you two as early as 12 and 15. We didn't mind playing chaperone or babysitter because you were our babies. Not to mention Jeanine is your god mother, so she bent over backwards to ensure you were being well taken care of when your parents were "preoccupied". Long story short, once Jeanine put you under her wing, and Nootie began to raise you, there was no telling the WORLD you weren't OURS. So many moments I share with you babygirl I can write book about the experiences and stories we created. Remember I caught you "running away from home" and delivered you personally to Nootie's doorstep? At the tender age of 10 or 11 you made a conscious decision to insert yourself into someone else's custody. Out of the glory and greatness of Nootie's heart she didn't request a dime. The courts didn't have to get involved to intensify and complicate the matter. Nootie just took you in rightfully so to adopt the role of sole guardian. What you overcame most couldn't endure, but the champion in you prevailed. Admirably you didn't make excuses , complain or play victim because of your circumstances; and the strength you embodied allowed your spirit to rejoice in laughter , love and triumph. Throughout high school you adapted a new profound love for basketball which inspired you to engulf in college and professional basketball. Which reminds me, Skylar Diggins has a camp now I know you would've love to take part in. We were so proud of the ambitious, witty, smart, talented young woman you become. Than suddenly , a dagger in our hearts. Cancer came knocking at the door. Mercedes, I won't glorify the name any further because there's no need for you to relive that pain twice; but I will emphasize your will power to fight gives me hope everyday. Your diligent approach to hold on to faith despite the odds against you reminds me to hold steadfast to GOD's grace. Your audacity to continually LIVE despite your pain, the barriers dumped in your path, and physical conditions unbearable to the touch, makes you a warrior, champion and furthermore an angel. Thank you for the substantial memory left by your true ability to make others around you happy. Everyone doesn't have that skill of a characteristic. Thank you for your honesty, humility, and generosity. Thank you for the determination you embodied. Your presence at the Elana's grand opening theme babyshower while in the midst of your stormy battle is an example of a giving, loyal, powerful, willful, strong character I only pray to equally mimic. Thank you for being those encouraging words I needed when I wanted to give up on my dreams and aspirations. You stood by me every step of the way by traveling to different studios with me advocating my talent and playing my records for your dope ass friends who who'd put it on blast and replay. Your presence and physical being will always be missed by the souls you touch; but the memories are embedded in my minds and hearts. PS. Young MA reminds me of you. Just a cool authentic spirit women and men die to respect. I guarantee you would've loved her. So much has transpired over the past year with the election and uproar of women's rights; Id love to hear your perspective on the direction the world is heading because your insight was always so profound even as an adolescent. Mercedes I love you. Elana will recognize you from photos but I promise to make sure she knows you by conversing over memories shared with you. Never RIP just save me a seat my love. Sleep in peace and until we meet again , your fight has ignited a spark ready to conquer all. Love you babygirl 😘


 
 
 

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Play Your Cards Right LLC Privacy Policy

Last Updated [August 6, 2025]

This Privacy Policy applies to your access and use of all products and services that are made available through the Play Your Cards Right LLC website, located at [https://www.iamurdestini.com/] (the “Site”), and is incorporated into and is subject to the Play Your Cards Right LLC Terms of Use (the “Terms”). Capitalized terms that are not defined in the Privacy Policy have the meaning given to them in the Terms.

This Privacy Policy only applies to information collected on the Site and is not intended to fully describe the privacy policies of Play Your Cards Right LLC.  It describes the information that we gather from you, how we use and disclose your information, and the steps we take to protect your information.  By using the Site, you consent to the privacy practices described in this Policy.

The information that we collect:

  • Personal Information
    Generally, you can visit the Site without telling us who you are or revealing any Personal Information (when we use the term “Personal Information,” we mean information that can be associated with a specific person and can be used to identify that person, such as name, e-mail address, mailing address, mobile phone number, age, gender, date of birth, as well as additional sensitive information such as your social security number, financial information, financial account information, and other similar types of information).  If you do provide us with Personal Information, we will store and use that information in accordance with this Policy.  For example, you may provide us with Personal Information when you fill out forms or fields on the Site; when you register for a Play Your Cards Right LLC account; [when you participate in online surveys;], and when you contact us or request information about us, this Site and our products or services (whether by email or other means).

  • Cookies Information
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  • Automatically Collected Information
    When you visit the Site, we may automatically receive and record certain information from your computer, web browser and/or mobile device, including your IP address or other device address or ID, web browser and/or device type, hardware and software settings and configurations, the web pages or sites that you visit just before or just after visiting the Site, the pages you view on the Site, your actions on the Site, and the dates and times that you visit, access, or use the Site. When you use the Site on a mobile device, we may also collect the physical location of your device by, for example, using satellite, cell phone tower or wireless local area network signals. 

How we use the information we collect:[1]

  • We use non-identifying information about your use of the Site to understand and analyze the usages trends and preferences of our users, to improve the Site, and to improve fraud detection and information security.

  • We may use your e-mail address or other Personal Information (a) to contact you for administrative purposes such as customer service, and/or to send you promotional materials.  Generally, you can opt-out of receiving promotional communications by following links provided in the messages, by updating your account preferences through the Services, or by contacting us directly at [iamurdestinibookings@gmail.com].  Although your changes are reflected promptly in active user databases, we may retain all information you submit for a variety of purposes, including backups and archiving, prevention of fraud and abuse, and analytics.

  • We may use Cookies Information and Automatically Collected Information to: (a) personalize our services, such as remembering your information so that you will not have to re-enter it during your visit or the next time you visit the Site; (b) provide customized content and information; (c) monitor and analyze the effectiveness of the Site; and (d) monitor aggregate site usage metrics such as total number of visitors and pages viewed.

When we disclose information:

  • We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to take precautions against liability; to protect Play Your Cards Right LLC from fraudulent, abusive, or unlawful uses or activity; to protect the security or integrity of the Site; to investigate and defend ourselves against any third party claims or allegations; to assist government enforcement agencies; or to comply with state and federal laws, in response to a court order, judicial or other government subpoena or warrant.

  • We make certain information available to third parties to comply with various reporting obligations, and for business or marketing purposes.  When possible, we provide this information in a de-identified way.

  •  We work with third party service providers to provide website development, hosting, data storage, maintenance, and other services for us.  To the extent it is necessary for these third party service providers to complete their contractual obligations to us, these third parties may have access to or process your information.

  • In the event Play Your Cards Right LLC were to be engaged in or contemplating a divestiture, merger, consolidation, or asset sale, or in the unlikely event of a bankruptcy, Play Your Cards Right LLC may transfer or assign the data, including Personal Information, that we have collected from users.

Your Choices:

  • You may, of course, decline to share certain information with us, in which case we may not be able to provide to you some of the features and functionality of the Site.

  • Once you have registered for a Play Your Cards Right LLC account, you may update, correct, or delete your profile information and preferences at any time by accessing your account preferences page through the Site.  

  • If you have not created an account and you would like for us to delete your information, please send us a request at [iamurdestinibookings@gmail.com].[2]

  • If you do not wish to receive email offers or newsletters from us, you can opt-out of receiving email information from us (except for emails related to the completion of your registration, correction of user data, change of password, and other similar communications essential to your transactions through the Site) by using the unsubscribe process at the bottom of the email. Although your changes are reflected promptly in active user databases, we may retain all information you submit for a variety of purposes, including backups and archiving, prevention of fraud and abuse, and analytics.

Our Commitment to Children’s Privacy:[3]

Protecting the privacy of young children is especially important. For that reason, we do not allow children under 13 years of age to use the Site, we do not knowingly collect or maintain information from persons under 13 years of age, and no part of the Site are directed to persons under 13 years of age.  If you are under 13 years of age, then please do not use or access the Site at any time or in any manner.  If we learn that information has been collected through the Site from persons under 13 years of age and without verifiable parental consent, then we will take the appropriate steps to delete this information.  If you are a parent or guardian and discover that your child under 13 years of age has obtained a Play Your Cards Right LLC account or provided us with information, please alert us at [iamurdestinibookings@gmail.com] to request that we delete the information from our systems.

Our Commitment to Data Security:

We use certain physical, managerial, and technical safeguards that are designed to protect the integrity and security of your information; however, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable, so we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us through the Site, and you do so at your own risk. We also cannot guarantee that such information may not be accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed by breach of any of our physical, technical, or managerial safeguards.  We cannot control the actions of other users or other third parties with whom you may choose to share your information and therefore we cannot and do not guarantee that information you post through the Site will not be viewed by unauthorized persons.  We are not responsible for circumvention of any privacy settings or security measures contained on the Site.  Even after removal, copies of information that you have posted may remain viewable in cached and archived pages or if other users have copied or stored such information.

We retain information as long as it is reasonably necessary and relevant for our operations, and/or to comply with the law, prevent fraud, collect any fees owed, resolve disputes, troubleshoot problems, assist with any investigation, or enforce our Terms or other agreements.

Visitors from Outside the United States:

This Site is controlled and operated by Play Your Cards Right LLC in the United States.  If you choose to access the Site from outside the United States, you acknowledge that you will be transferring your information, including Personal Information, outside of those regions to the United States for storage and processing, as necessary to provide to you the products and services available through the Site.  Where required, we comply with applicable legal frameworks relating to the collection, storage, use, and transfer of personal information.

Depending on the jurisdiction in which you reside, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or restrict use of certain Personal Information covered by this Privacy Policy.  Depending on the jurisdiction, you may also have the right to request that we refrain from processing your Personal Information.  Please bear in mind that if you exercise such rights this may affect our ability to provide our products and services.  For inquiries about your Personal Information, please contact us by e-mail at [iamurdestinibookings@gmail.com], or through any of the contact information provided below. While Play Your Cards Right LLC will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your request, we also reserve the right to impose certain restrictions and requirements on such requests, if allowed or required by applicable laws.  Please note that it may take some time to process your request, consistent with applicable law.

Limitation of Liability:

By accessing this Site and/or providing us with Personal Information and other data, you expressly and unconditionally release and hold us harmless from any and all liability for any injuries, loss, or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the use and/or misuse of such information. In addition, while we take efforts to ensure the proper and appropriate use of data by our service providers that may receive your information from us, we are not responsible for any injuries, loss, or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the use and/or misuse of your information caused by those service providers.

Changes and Updates to this Privacy Policy:

We reserve the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy at any time.  We will notify you about significant changes in the way we treat your information, including by placing a prominent notice on the Site or by sending you an email so that you can choose whether to continue using the Site.  Material modifications are effective 30 calendar days after our initial notification or upon your acceptance of the modified Terms.  Immaterial modifications are effective upon posting of the updated Privacy Policy or Terms of Service on the Site.  Please revisit this page periodically to stay aware of any changes to this Privacy Policy.  For the avoidance of doubt, disputes arising hereunder will be resolved in accordance with the Privacy Policy in effect at the time the dispute arose.

Do Not Track Disclosures

Third parties such as advertising networks, analytics providers, and widget providers may collect information about your online activities over time and across different websites when you access or use our Services.  Currently, various browsers offer a “Do Not Track” option, but there is no standard for how DNT should work on commercial websites.  Due to lack of such standards, the Site does not respond to Do Not Track consumer browser settings. 

Our Contact Information:

Please contact us with any questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, your personal information, our use and disclosure practices, or your consent choices by e-mail at [iamurdestinibookings@gmail.com].

Attn: Privacy

Play Your Cards Right LLC

[iamurdestinibookings@gmail.com]

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