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.

I Can't Call It!

"I can't call it" means that I don't understand. I got to the beauty shop this morning at 8:15a.m., my appointment was for 8:30 A.M. Here it is noon and my hair is not even wet yet. This is crazy. I knew better than doing this anyway. You have to be able to chill all day to do a Saturday appointment at the salon. I don't have that kind of time. If I did I wouldn't want to spend it this way. But, they do have some good gossip going around this joint. I have been truly enlightened this morning about the "word on the street". I need to get out more. I'm going home to do my own press and curl. Hopefully, I won't burn my ear..... please Lawd....please

Me and My A.D.D.

It's been a long time since I sat down to do this. I haven't been able to maintain a train of thought long enough to write anything for a couple of weeks. Before that, my poetry was flowing like water. I'm too easily distracted these days. I took a test the other night that's suppose to give you an idea of where you are on the adult a.d.d. scale. I'll just say my score was high and I probably have a touch. But, that's ok. I'll just say that's one of the things that makes me special. My a.d.d. has come in handy at work lately. it seems like there are about 20 different things going on at 8 locations, but I've been able to manage things effectively... I'm just good.
Spring is in full swing, and I have been enjoying it. Sunday, we got some crawfish and a case of beer, backed up the car and blasted the radio. It was an old school get together. You know one of those things that just kind of happens. The next thing I know, my brother has the deep fryer going. It's good to be a country girl on days like that. But, I have to be honest Monday morning was a killer. I can't ball on school nights anymore. I don't have that kind of energy. I felt like begging for 10 more minutes when my alarm clock went off. Still, I made it threw the day. On the way home from work I had a million thoughts. Sang every song on the radio. And probably pissed off a few people. My thoughts ranged from politics to what I was going to wear to work the next day. I even did some financial planning, I'm thinking about a new hustle. Here are just a few of my thoughts:
*Is it just me or is anyone else ready for the democratic primaries to be over? Damn somebody has got to win soon or somebody is going to have to call the race.
*Why wasn't Barack Obama at any of the Martin Luther King,Jr ceremony's on Friday? I know he spoke about it, but his ass should have been there. On the balcony with John McCain. I feel like my support is being taken for granted.... again.
*Who qualifies to be a pollster? I don't know anyone who has been called by a pollster, so i can't take them as being valid. I personally think they are making it up... it's all apart of the man's plan if you let me tell it.
* How do they find these guys in Europe and Africa to play basketball? I want that scouting job, but that is another form of outsourcing. I know a lot of brothers who can do that job.
*I'm thinking about doing some mystery shopping on the side. It's a good way to combine two things that I love.. shopping and making money. I think it's a good marriage for me. They send enough emails about it, I wonder how that got my email address.
*The basketball season is practically over and I never made it to Hornets game. Playoff tickets are too expensive. I'm going to have to go on a date to do that. But, If I were the brother taking me, I'd expect some booty.
*I probably spend too much time, energy, and money on my hair. I am going to work on that, probably won't succeed... hair is my thing. When my 'do is bangin it brings everything together. I give it way too much power. Then act as if it's effortless.
*If gas keeps going up, I'm going to get a scooter. Do they still make mopeds? I'm sure they do, I'm going to have to invest in one. Do they come with air conditioning and windshields? I can't mess up my hair.

'sippi Girl

I was just sitting here listening to the results of the Mississippi primary. Is it me or are political pundants determined to make this about race? No matter how hard Barack Obama tries to be the melting pot candidate, the media constantly points out that he is a black candidate who gets the black vote.... Damn CNN. Are they on the short bus or do they think we are?
How is it that they are surprised that in the state of Mississippi voting broke down along racial lines? This is not a shocker. How is it that they are surprised that Senator Clinton carried the areas where there were more white voters? This is not a shocker either. I heard Solidad O'Brian say that Senator Obama needs to be concerned that he is not getting the white male vote in the south..... What world do these people live in? Have they not been in the country this past year or so? I would say that I'm boycotting the news, but the honest answer is that I'm too nosey to not know what's going on the world.
Here is the real break down of the Mississippi vote. The republican race was already decided, so in most areas republicans voted for Clinton. These people will not vote for her in November; Billy Ray is not voting for a "yankee" or a "nigger". Of course, they would rather run against her in the general election. Yes in 2008 people around here still talk like that openly. I personally prefer my racism out in the open. As for the black vote, people who haven't voted since 1984 when Jesse Jackson was on the ballot came out to vote for Obama. I know people who made sure their license was up to date and their name was still on the voter's registration list so that their vote would be counted. A lot of people are feeling like they are apart of making history today. That's one thing about black folks, we don't need to be inspired to have hope that one day there will be better days.
As a proud 'sippi girl ( yes I have Mississippi on my back, told you that I am still hood), this was a special day. I still have my questions about Senator Obama, but Hillary answered my questions about her. Hillary will have to rely on women, blacks, and latinos to be competitive. That's the part of this campaign strategy I'm not understanding. She has discounted the black vote in the primaries as if she would not need them in the general election. I've said it time and time again, the Clinton's are master strategist. They had to be to survive this long in politics. So my gut tells me that she knows it will be Obama or nothing for us. She's decided to stay in with the clear people and latinos. She gets her surrogates to say what they are thinking. Don't sleep on her, the chick is smart. If she is elected it will politics as usual and my pockets can't take that for four more years. This country can't stand to be divided for four more years. Working people can't carry these burdens for four more years.
That is why it's time for her to get out of the race. It won't happen, but it would be best for the party. No matter what happens, a democrat has to win in November if we have any chance of there being any changes in this country. Not if ...but when... the Michigan and Florida primaries are redone , if this race changes we can not concede this election to the republicans. We have to do what they do, pick the lesser of two evils. I hope that it doesn't come to that point, but I think for us it will be Obama or bust. We will feel like they changed the rules and took the game from us AGAIN. And it will be a valid emotion.