Happy Birthday Janeen Ayana Jones McReynolds! August 19, 1972 - December 24, 2008

I am wishing my lovely sister a Happy Birthday!  She was the most beautiful person I've ever known.  No one else compares!  The story of her life is amazing.  Until I see you in eternity - Happy Birthday, Neenie.

Click here to read Janeen's Testimony

Missing You

Nostalgia

nos·tal·gia:\nä-ˈstal-jə, nə- also nȯ-, nō-; nə-ˈstäl-\: a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition; also : something that evokes nostalgia

Our senses are powerful.  Touch, sight, smell, taste, sound.  Every so often I'll be going about my day to day and I'll catch a whiff of a familiar smell and it will take me back to a particular period in my life.  For example, Drakar cologne...mmmm mmmm!  Need I say more?  Coffee.  My dad is a serious coffee drinker.  As a child, I woke up to the smell of fresh brewing coffee every morning.  Needless to say I am a coffee drinker too.  What feelings do you get when you look at old photographs of yourself or your loved ones?  I get a warm sensation inside.  How about a song?  It's safe for me to say that most of you who read this blog are of the same vintage as me.  How do you feel when you hear "Hard Times" by Run DMC?  I can remember to the tee where I was, who I was with & what we were doing.  Or Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh, "The Show?" 

*Excuse me Doug E. Fresh
+Yes
*Have you ever seen a show with fellows on the mic
Wit one minute rhymes and don't come out right
They bite, they're never right, that's not polite
Am I lying
+No, you're quite right
*But tonight on this very night you're about to hear
@We swear the best star rappers of the year
*So + so *cherrio +yo scream @ bravo
@Also if you didn't know this is called the show

Those now "old school" rappers take me back to a time of middle school dances (my crew was the junk & we always won our poppin' battles), Levi's, assymetrical haircuts, no worries and no responsibilities.  A time when all I had to concern myself with was who's house I was going to spend the night over on the weekend - Chamika, Ericka or Toya?  Carefree.

Nostalgia reminds you of an irrecoverable period.  You can never go back.  You can never duplicate that exact event, but you can remember - the feeling, the look of, the aroma, the taste, or the melody.  What takes you back?   

                                                                Circa 1988 - 8th Grade

Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick "The Show"   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDkqz5C62SM

Single Ladies - Chime in!

"Single Ladies" is a comedic drama about Val, Keisha, and April - three best friends with different philosophies on sex and relationships.

Val ( Stacey Dash) is an ambitious aspiring fashion mogul who wants to find a true partner. Keisha (LisaRaye McCoy), on the other hand, is a former video dancer just looking for a rich man to keep her in style. April (Charity Shea,) has supposedly found the perfect man and the perfect marriage - but is learning that marriage isn't necessarily a happy ending.

"Single Ladies" is a modern, sexy series set in the world of Atlanta fashion, music, and celebrity that will constantly explore which woman has the right approach to relationships.

Single Ladies airs Monday nights at 9:00pm on VH1
http://www.vh1.com/shows/single_ladies/series.jhtml

Now that you've read a synopsis of what Single Ladies is about, watch an episode.  Tell me what you think?  Are you a single lady?  Can you relate to any of the characters?  I'll be honest.  I can't.  A word of caution though - don't just take my word on it.  This opinion is coming from someone who has NEVER watched an episode of Sex in the City.  Yes, I admit.  I'm not a fan of TV shows that chronicle the lives of modern day whores who sleep with any man who'll buy them a $30 dinner and a glass of wine.  I take issue with that type of story line.

As a single lady dating in the year 2011 I find it next to impossible to find a decent man to go out with and end the night with no strings attached.  Maybe you can help me understand what a date really means in 2011.  Single ladies chime in on this.  I'd like to know what your take is on this subject.  Men, you're welcome to comment too.  This inquiring mind wants to know.

Until then...Ciao!

Summer Movie Must See

On August 10^th “The Help” comes out in theaters.  It stars Viola Davis, Cicely Tyson, Octavia Spencer and Aunjanue Ellis, and our Caucasian sisters:  Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Sissy Spacek and Emma Stone.  It’s based on the bestselling 2009 novel by Kathryn Stockett.  Click here to access the official movie site to read a synopsis.  http://thehelpmovie.com/us/#s=about

I remember when my maternal grandmother, Lovie Mae Perkins (affectionately known as Grandma Dear) was the help.  For 30+ years she worked as a housekeeper for the Shloms – a nice Jewish family who originally lived in Northwest Detroit, then Southfield, then eventually West Bloomfield.  The Shlom’s family photograph still hangs on my grandmother’s wall in her living room, featuring Lovie Mae as the only spot of color.

My grandmother loved the Shloms and spoke highly of them.  Mrs. Shlom gave Grandma Dear wonderful hand-me-downs.  Whenever Grandma Dear brought home something the Shloms no longer had any use for -  whether it were dozens of pairs of shoes, clothes, dishes, or food (because they were clearing out their pantry for Passover), she would give her daughters and granddaughters a chance to view the merchandise and pick out whatever we wanted.  I still use my set of used Mikasa dishes I got compliments of the Shloms in 1997 when I moved into my first place.

Although Grandma Dear is now deceased, I still hold dear memories of her and the Shloms (whom she referred to as “her other family”), and how she was part of a generation who had a strong work ethic – dedicated and hard working.  (Did I mention she worked as a bar maid at night?  But that’s a whole other blog topic).

How many of you can relate?  Most black families have a grandma, aunt, or maybe even a male relative who worked for a family like the Shloms.

I’m recommending The Help as a must-see movie for the summer.  Go see this movie with an older relative who may truly relate to the story that is told in The Help.  Maybe even go see this movie as a Black History lesson with your kids.  Or, make it a Ladies Night Out.  However you choose to use this movie, just use it!

Until next time….Ciao!





Lovie Mae Perkins
August 11, 1922 - August 26, 2007

Happy 4th of July!

Enjoy this 4th of July holiday with your friends and family.  Be safe!

Funerals are for Fridays

Serenity Prayer:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.Amen.
                                                     --Reinhold Niebuhr

If you're anything like me, by the end of the week you've had enough.  Enough of rush-hour traffic, enough emails, enough text messages, enough phone calls from people who you don't wish to speak to anyway, enough of your boss, significant other, funky acting cashier at the drive-thru window, ENOUGH!!!  You just want to scream sometimes.

Well, here's your chance to have a funeral for all of the annoyances that happened Monday thru Friday.  Bury it!  Vent!  Here's your forum to do just that.  If something happened to you during the week, get it out of your system and move into your weekend.  But..be careful not to carry it with you into Monday.  Monday is a chance for a fresh start to a better week. 

Welcome

Problems cannot be solved with the same level of awareness that created them. ~Albert Einstein

Greetings,

Welcome to my newly created blog.  If you are an old friend, it's nice to hear from you.  If you are a new friend, it's nice to meet you.  For those of you who can remember what it was like the first day of a new class, let's start with an icebreaker.  Tell me a little bit about yourself.  Be creative!  Remember, this is a blog for everyday people doing everyday things.  I'll go first.

I was born in 1974 and I lived off of Goddard and 7 Mile until I was seven, then my family moved to Southfield.  I went to Southfield public schools when the schools were intergrated.  Most of our teachers were Jewish and the schools recognized Jewish holidays.  (I loved having those days off).  I distinctly remember how mean my Principal was...Bobbie Hentrel!  I was so afraid of her.  If you got in trouble, she would take you by the chin, get right up in your face and talk to you with a growl.  Can you believe she is still a Principal.  She was old as Methuselah back then.  I remember Ms. Jensen.  She was a young, sassy lunch aide who would always say, "That's life in the big city."  I digress.  My childhood is full of memories - good ones, adventurous, and carefree.  Fast forward to today - I'm a mom of two teen aged girls, 17 & 15.  In 2010 I graduated from college, and my girls were there to witness it.  They were cheering louder than all get out!  I'm proud of my daughters because they are not statistics...no drugs, alcohol, or sex, they get good grades, and they love the Lord.  I'm a single parent (in every sense of the word) who didn't sign up to do it alone.  But what do you do when you face a challenge?  Failure is not an option, so I do what I have been assigned to do - complete the task at hand - raise 'em right!  So how about you?  What's your story, or at least what part do you want to share?