The Health Care Debate?

I have to admit that I was very excited during the election when candidates were discussing health care reform. I felt that there were a couple of candidates who would actually give it a try. Then the debate started... I don't know if you can call this a debate. It's more like confusion and bad information. Neither of these are a good thing. There are people talking about death panels and taxes. I don't know how the discussion got to this point. I guess when you mix fear, change, and misinformation anything can happen. Like a guy bringing a gun to sit in a room with the President of the United States! Is it me or is this really getting crazy?

Ok, the plan at its base sounds really good. Insure people who otherwise can't afford health care coverage. Decrease health care cost and add competition. Stop insurance company's from dropping people who actually get sick. Stop insurance company's from denying people coverage because they have preexisting conditions. I don't really see a down side to that. I didn't have insurance until I was in my mid 20's and got a decent job. I don't know if we had CHIPS back then, but I know we would have qualified. Of course, my mom would have been too proud to take the hand out. I defer. As a person with crappy insurance that has high co pays, and that is quick to tell me they will not pay for a test because they deem it unnecessary... this looks good to me.

I think this debate is more about fear than anything else. I don't have great trust in the system, it hardly ever works for people like me. We have to succeed in spite of. I am concerned about the cost of a plan like the one that has been proposed. How do we pay for it? But I am also concerned about the fact that we, Americans spend more of our income on health care than any other industrialized country. I am also concerned that we don't seem to get much for those dollars... we are sicker than ever. I am concerned that over a million people file bankruptcy every year just because of health care expenses. Where do we go from here? How can we not do something? My ears are open for any suggestions. What they are not open for is fear mongering and doing nothing. We voted for change in November and I expect for it to come.

Standing Still

I'm sitting her on a Sunday night, thinking, thinking, thinking. I'm thinking about a lot. My mind feels jumbled. I'm thinking where does time go? I swear that I was 25, two years ago. Where did the other 6 years go? They went by too fast. I'm thinking that my focus should be to make sure the rest of my years are enjoyed as much as possible. So that I'm not asking this same question 6 years from now. My first instinct is to make a plan, but I'm thinking that this time I should just let it flow. I haven't done that in last few years and I miss the unpredictability of that. Plus, it takes too much energy that can be focused on more important things. And no matter how damn good you are... no one has that kind of control.

I've found myself contemplating a career change and moving to another area to get out of the rut. I thought a change of scenery would do some good. And since I like my little corner of the world I decided to just take a trip. The time away will do me some good. I guess I'll just call it confusion. It may be that disappointment is finally taking its toll. But, I'm going to do what I do best, be optimistic and keep on moving.

Simply Beautiful

The brown in your eyes
The broadness of your nose
The thickness of your lips
Not to mention when you walk, I love that slight dip.

From shaved bald heads to flowing locs
Your style and your flow makes my neck pop
From freshly trimmed side burns to perfectly lined go t's
The smoothness of you gets next to me

Broad shoulders with a little bit of belly
Brother you can spread me like jelly
A strong back and rough hands
The signature of a hard working man

It's a hard knock life, but you surpass it all
Faith unbridled; a spirit that never falls
Weather in a white t or a three piece suit
Brother in you is where I find my roots
I will never stray from whence I came
I will always stand beside this beautiful black man

Every shade of the chocolate rainbow
Inside each other is where our strength grows
From once upon a time to happily ever after
I find peace in your silence and joy in your laughter
When next to you my heart is full
What we have is simply beautiful.

The Good Old days

I'm feeling a little nostalgic today, sitting here with the door open. Kids are outside playing and laughing. The little girl from down the street hasn't gotten her hair combed yet. But, she is racing on her bike. Man, do you remember summer mornings? My main objective was to get outside. Get on my bike or in my skates. If there was a trophy for playing the hardest, I think I would have won. From hop scotch, to kickball, to stick ball, to football, to jax, to marbles, to kick the can, to the games we made up. Do kids still play jax and marbles? Anything that could be played outside, we played it. What about red light, green light? What was the purpose of that game? What ever it was, we had fun playing it.
At my house you couldn't go inside after my big sisters cleaned up. They were bully's. They didn't want to be bothered when the "story's" came on. It was out of the question to go inside, they might try to make me take a nap. We drank water from the hydrant anyway. You didn't go inside until they called you in for lunch. Then we ate and went right back to playing until the street lights came on. Unless it was a day when my big sister ran everyone away. Our house was the play spot. We had someone in every age group. Little kids, medium size kids, and teenagers.
We didn't have gadgets, hell we didn't even have proper equipment. I never had a bike helmet or knee pads. We played in the streets, in the woods, and in yards. I can still hear Mrs. Ethel yelling, " Ya'll get out my garden and play in this yard". They didn't worry about the grass or being sued if we hurt ourselves. They just patched us up and sent us on our way. We ate mud pies, played in the dirt and mud puddles. No one ever got a horrible infection and died. Even the asthmatics played hard. There were no know allergy's, we didn't know what gluten was. Mrs. Jenny had the best plums, Mrs. Dora had pomegranates, Mr. Luke had pears,and my grandma had figs. We didn't even have to worry about lunch on Howard Ave. Life was good from sun up to sun down. There was no insomnia. There was no restlessness. There was no boredom. The next day we couldn't wait to get up and do it again!

The Good Fight

I fought the good fight

Now I lick my wounds

Hoping that they will heal soon

I know the battle is not over

In desperation I send up a prayer

Knowing that the heavenly father is always there



Give me strength and wisdom to continue this fight

Give me hope that in the morning everything will be all right

Give me peace to calm my soul and soothe my spirit

This is my plea, I hope you hear it



As the night grows darker and the battle resumes i think about my prayer

Lord did you hear me? Do you care?

I hear His voice say " This battle is already won

Put down your sword and come rest in my arms"



Faith is your strength

Hope is your sword

Wisdom is in your word

Your peace has been granted

Love is ever enduring and conquers all

Continue to fight the good fight my child and you will never fall

Oh The Political

I'm sitting here counting my blessings after this storm and watching the ones that are still out there. I decided to watch the Republican National Convention, bad idea. It makes it more clear to me with every speech that this is not the party for me. What is it about rich white men that makes them love war? Or think they they are the only people that love America? Why can't I love America and criticize her for not standing up to her promise? I am America too. I saw a few people that looked like me there, but for the most part, that convention does not look like the America I know.
I have to say McCain pulled a real hat trick with his VP nomination. As a women I couldn't help but to be a little excited about his choice. But after her speech, I am so not impressed. There were so many qualified people he could have chosen. So, now I'm more disappointed than anything.
I also have to say that I am so disappointed at the speech Sen. Obama gave last week at the democratic convention. In this moment of great history, 45 years after the " I Have A Dream Speech"; he didn't even reference Dr. King by name. After all the celebration of that night he felt the need to separate himself from that. I am really tired of seeing brothers and sisters who feel the need to transcend their race in order to make other people comfortable with them. I don't see any other people of color making that sacrifice or feeling the need to. Maybe if someone explains it to me I might understand better... no I won't. It's one of those things that I just don't get. Add it to the list. I'll say it here, from the hill tops, and I carry it in my every day life... I'm a black woman. There's too much honor and strength in that for me to deny it or try to tone it down. And a feel the same way about black men. I know Sen. Obama is biracial, and he can't deny any of his roots. But for me, there is nothing more fierce in this world than a black man. And I know it's not just me.

Sweet Sweet Spirit

T's been a while since I wrote anything, but I am determined to get my stroke back. Yet another set of ups and downs... and just not giving a damn. But, as always we move on. I'm on a much needed mini vacation this weekend and all I plan on doing is sleeping, listening to music, watching a little tv, and maybe getting a pedicure. It really doesn't matter if my feet are ugly this weekend.
I've been spending a lot of time in church lately, more than I care to actually. The dance team has been so busy with invitations. The girls are really excited about the growth of their ministry and I am too. i am just tired as I can be. Last Sunday;atyet another program outside of regular church time, my mind was wondering. I was thinking about how for our last few church visits I didn't want to be there, but the message seemed to be tailored for me. As I was thinking about it the speaker came up and again the message was for me. Well the first part anyway the conclusion I am hoping was for me too. Its amazing how God puts in place to get what you need. Even if its just a word of encouragement.