9.11

I was eating pancakes this morning, smeared with peanut butter and jam (I keep forgetting to buy syrup at the grocery store, but one monkey don't stop no show!).

Watching CNN coverage of the memorial services honoring 9.11 victims and survivors.

But there was this one story...
about twins born on 9.11.01.

The girls celebrate their 6th birthday today.

I burst into tears during that story.
It wasn't a surface cry. I wanted it to be that way, but my emotions didn't cooperate with my mind.

I haven't cried that way since 2005, when one of my little kindergarten students died unexpectedly.

Catharsis is good for the soul. Anguish needs a release.
Though I didn't know anyone who died on September 11, 2001...

The day was a turning point.

The U.S., fraught with all of its problems and a murky history in its treatment of my people, was still in theory, the land of the free and the home of the brave.

That day made me realize... while all God's children are special...

We all meet demise in one way or another... And our country is not immune to acts of hatred, whether perpetuated domestically or by those who were born on other shores.

Rodney King's words apply not just to Los Angeles residents, but to residents of this entire planet...

"Can't we all just get along?"

Coverage

(Washington DC)--Yup, this is where I'm writing this blog, but the story a classmate and I covered was actually in College Park, Maryland... Home of the University of Maryland. We were sent there to find student reaction and more information about a noose found hanging on a tree near a cultural center where several African-American organizations operate.

The noose was found on Friday. I first heard the story this morning. One student we interviewed said he was "disheartened, but not surprised."

I wish the brotha would have been surprised. That would at least say that racial tension is not a big issue.

Apparently it is.

Another reaction I didn't expect was one kid who seemed to think it wasn't that serious... maybe someone just left it there was the gist of his comments. I wasn't expecting that, but my classmate and I still had to maintain our faces. Actually, my classmate reacted to it faster than I. I had to let the comment sink in.

I agree with the director of a multicultural education center on the campus who said this can be an opportunity to educate people about "the history of racism in America."

He ain't 'neva lied.

In light of recent events transpiring in Jena, Louisiana, I think this act, whether a prank or motivated by malice and ill will is sad. It shows insensitivity and ignorance about the noose and what it means in THIS country to African Americans. If motivated by ill will, the act shows that brute hatred is still a part of our society...

What will it take to get folks to "just get along", as Rodney King said 15 years ago.

Jibberish in my mind

Dang.

I just gotta say dang. I hate it when I have all these words in my mind and only a fraction come out and the rest remain jibbered in my head.

Labor Day Weekend Proves Busy but Fulfilling for Tired Lumpy

(SILVER SPRING)—Call me a swinger if you will, but this weekend can be characterized as man heavy… at least for me. Before anyone gets the idea that I’ll have a betrothed soon, or that I'm a raging whore, let me say these man heavy liaisons were friendly, and non-professional, if you get my drift.

Sabbath afternoon, following choir rehearsal and a potluck at church, I decided it was too early to go home and nap. I knew I would be home for the entire evening reviewing each syllabus for all classes and plotting my reading schedule for the semester. I only ended up plugging due dates for reading material and projects in my planner. I chose to only plot my reading schedule a week or so in advance, since syllabus changes can happen.

Since I knew the evening would be spent at home, I called a friend who I arranged to meet for church last week… but I didn’t meet him… Didn’t call to say I wouldn’t meet him last week... I just didn't show. I didn’t want to not communicate with a brotha after I was a no-show, so I called to see what he was doing. I said I wanted to go to a park, and he took me to this lovely regional spot.

We’ll call this cat ‘Mando.

Cool brotha. He’s a Kappa, so I’m sure he knows “He so pretty!”

It’s always nice catching up with old friends. We met during a trip to D.C. soon after J.J. moved to Maryland. He was the one who introduced us to this Philadelphia based up and coming singer-person-phenom, whose album we thought was nice. ‘Mando wanted us to have the album, so he went to the CD shop and bought us copies of this lady you know as J-i-l-l S-c-o-t-t. Soon after, her fame made its way to the West. Maybe it was there before we made that D.C., but it’s nice to at least think we had the scoop on a talent whose renown hadn’t made it to
the Pacific yet.

Park Photos

These photos speak for themselves... Memories of an unfortunate time...

Never forget the sniper victims.

I call this the "Afro Bush." It's my tribute to my sister Lea who pointed out one Sabbath while driving by railroad tracks in the South Central Hood that the bushes lining the tracks looked like "Don King Bushes."

Here's my new 'do. they're called Kinky Twists. Had them done at a shop in the Prince Georges County Mall. It only took 7 hours. My braider kept remarking "Your hair is full!" She said this multiple times. I've been told that my hair is thick by all my hairdressers over the years... and I'm finally guessing that they were all telling the truth!

Who can resist swimming turtles? I can't. They have lots of them in the park's lake.

O.K. I don't see sundials made of plants everyday, that's why this is here. I know it's boring to you, but when was the last time you saw a plant sundial? *smile* And don't even start on the butterfly bench. I want one when I grow up!

(BOWIE, MD)—J.J. invited me to a celebration barbecue for a gentleman running for Bowie city mayor. Michael Lyles. The event was at he and his wife’s home. They both seem like nice individuals.

I carried a recorder checked out from the AV department of school, and picked up some sound bites for a story I’m writing for class. First of all, Lyles is the only one running against the incumbent. Bowie hasn’t had a black mayor yet, and if Lyles is elected, he’ll be Bowie’s first African American mayor.

In politics, I’m a little jaded, because I believe they’re all liars to some extent. That’s my natural inclination. However, upon talking to the people attending the barbecue, they all seem to have a few words in common when describing Lyles… They include “sincere,” “progressive,” and “caring.”

Lyles, in his own words even said “I’m nobody special.” He, husband, father, and hard worker, just wants the best for his community. If I lived in Bowie, I would probably vote for him. But I’d have to meet the incumbent first... for fairness sake.

(SILVER SPRING)—Talk about a blast from the past! I briefly sighted my ex-flame briefly Labor Day afternoon. That morning I spent volunteering at WAMU 88.5, the radio station for AU and a major station in the DC area. Everyone pitched their news stories that morning, and I was surprised the assignment editor asked me if I had any ideas… I had one… but it isn’t one of those breaking news types of stories. I was just curious about something… the idea was sparked from an article I read earlier in the Post… so the director told me to find out if it’s an issue. If it is, I have a story. If it isn’t then I don’t. I was supposed to volunteer four hours… I ended up being there about six hours.

When I left the station, I saw I had voicemails and missed some calls. I found out that one of my cali buddies called. And I also learned N.R. called and told me he’s in Silver Spring visiting one of his buddies. I got directions and told him I was on my way.

I thought our visit would be longer, but he had another stop to make before he had to return to the airport and back to FL. But it was so great to see him.

Funny thing… If I only consider someone a friend, why was I worried about how scruffy my clothes were? Why did I wish I wore the more flattering jeans instead of the form swallowing pants? Why did I make sure I had on lip gloss? Why did I play around with my hair several times on the way to see him?

Something to consider. It could be that I just wanted to look my best because I hadn’t seen him in about eight years.

It could be something else…

But maybe not…

I ain't even gonna lie... when running into an ex, it's always more gratifying when they see you looking FLY and now FLOWN! Hooked up and not 'Tow up from the flo' up! *chuckle*

Here's to you Sr. Goat! BAAAAAAAAAAA! (Don't ask, it's an inside joke from our college days!)