I like the fact that America never ceases to amaze. Sometimes life makes you wonder, ponder and even question life itself. Makes you wonder why things are the way they are, why things happen when they happen and ultimately why people do what people do.
But alas, life has a way of revealing itself and providing answers. The answer oftentimes is not the one that you want, but the answer offers an opportunity for a choice. Having a choice, or a chance, is one of the elemental ingredients of democracy.
During his time as President, I questioned why Barack Obama chose not to nominate a black woman for the Supreme Court (I understood President Obama’s position. The Senate had his hands tied). To be honest I wondered out loud why a Latina (Sonia Sotomayor) was chosen before a black woman. I was really disappointed by this due to the fact that black women have sacrificed more, endured more and benefited the least of all of the races and genders in the history of this country except Native Americans. They deserve to have an opportunity to lead the social justice of America from the highest court and their time is long overdue! I have not forgotten this Mitch McConnell….
As noted earlier life sometimes provides answers. And, every now and then said answers can provide unbelievable moments of amazement. My question: will a black woman ever serve on the Supreme Court? The answer: Chief Justice Sotomayor will swear in Kamala Harris as the first woman, a black woman, as the Vice President! Never in my lifetime!
Never in my lifetime did I think a Presidential candidate would have the courage and foresight to select a black woman as a running mate. More so, never in my lifetime did I think that America-at-Large would have the courage and foresight to elect her to office.
Congratulations Madam Vice President. The pride and fulfillment you have given me by ascending to this office I simply cannot express with words, other than to respectfully say, you are amazing. Thank you President Biden for making the choice to give a black woman a chance. Good luck to you both. God bless us all.
2021. January 19. The day that just happens to separate MLK Day and the Inauguration Day by a mere twenty-four hours, or one innocuous small square on a calendar. But in this particular year these two days feel like they are a half century apart, divided in time by an America that somehow finds itself adjoined by the best of it’s promising future and the worst of it’s darkest past.
Martin Luther King and Donald Chump should NEVER share the same space, never share the same sentence and NEVER be referenced together for any reason. THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN COMMON. Advantage MLK. Except one thing: America. Yes it is true. The same America which provides the rich, nurturing and spiritual soil to produce great people such as Martin Luther King and Clara Barton also contains the the contaminated air and dirty “swamp” sewage to allow people such as Donald Chump and Frank McCord, Richard Reed, John Lester, John Kennedy, J. Calvin Jones and James Crowe to gestate, fester, multiply and infect some of the nations’ citizens. Know the history!
So here we are fellow Americans. 2021. Living in the most technologically advanced era in history. Whole world of FACTUAL information at our fingertips. Still one of the wealthiest nations with citizens enjoying more relative wealth than eighty percent of the rest of the world. And yet, somehow, some way, Donald Chump has far too many of YOU living and thinking like its 1870 or 1915 or 1930 or 1950. Come on folks…….
National Guard at the US Capitol? Federal troops at State Capitol buildings? DEFENDING AGAINST OUR OWN CITIZENS? 2021 or 1951? IN AMERICA? Sadly it is true. Who’s more (ir)responsible for this? Muslims, Arabs, Jews, Blacks, LGBTQ? Or Donald Chump? 74 million of you don’t want to accept it, but you know it’s true! Just like Chump though, you’ll lie, hide and deny the truth. Won’t accept responsibility. Display childishness, selfishness and petulance. AND THEN BLAME SOMEONE ELSE! Just like Chump you’re way too easy. Lol!
I know America is better than this. And so too do most of us. I hope that the spirit and intent of MLK Day merges with the purpose and mission of Inauguration Day so that we all can once again be proud of the America that awaits once all of her citizens live up to her name: UNITED STATES OF…..
The year was 1977. January 1977 as a matter of fact. I was in elementary school. It was customary for my parents to keep me home from school in honor of Martin Luther King Junior’s birthday even though it had not yet been declared a national holiday.
My birthday is a week before MLKs birthday. This particular year I had received cash gifts and my cousin had spent the weekend helping me to celebrate. Since our parents let us stay home from school we decided to visit the local toy store to buy one of our favorite things, AFX slot cars. Neither one of us asked permission beforehand. Keep this in mind.
We knew EVERYTHING about AFX Racing sets. We knew every car they sold. At one point we owned just about every one they sold. I was pretty good at repairing them and customizing performance mods for them too. Wish I still had ’em…
It took about 45 minutes to walk to the store. As it was January the temperature was “coat and hat friendly”. We each had about $25 which was a real pocket-full of money for a couple of pre-teens in those days. We happily arrived at the store around 11 AM and anxiously explored the isles before heading to the slot car section. This is where the fun ended.
Upon arriving at the slot car display, which was a locked glass cabinet, we were greeted by a store employee who asked what we were doing. We explained that we wanted to buy some cars. She said she would be right back. After leaving us briefly she returned with a gentleman who turned out to be the owner. Turns out that the store employee said we looked “suspicious” and the owner arrived to ask us to leave. They asked us why we weren’t in school and we explained. He asked for our parents phone numbers and we willingly gave them to him. However, instead of calling our parents he called the police. He accused us of being truants, cursed at us and said we were probably trying to shoplift.
After some back and forth we left the store. Angry, hurt and extremely disappointed we made the long, cold walk back home without acquiring our beloved AFX G-Plus slot cars. Upon our return home we explained the encounter to our grandmother who never said a word nor displayed any emotion. That afternoon my mom got off from work and came to my grandmother’s to pick me up. That was not unusual. Shortly thereafter my aunt arrived. That was unusual. They began to talk. After a very brief and direct conversation between themselves my mom and aunt directed myself and my cousin to GET IN THE CAR! NOW!
Neither my cousin nor myself had any idea where we were going, had no idea what was about to happen. As the car started on a familiar route and the conversation between our mothers provided a few clues our destination became clear: the toy store. Were we in trouble? Did our mothers not believe us? What did the police say?
We found ourselves at the store once again, this time a little less enthusiastic. Our moms ushered us inside with, shall I say, some AUTHORITY! As a young woman my mother needed little motivation to uh, tell you what she thought…In other words, “cussin’ somebody’s ass out” was well within her capabilities. And my aunt? Let’s just say this. Take the ten toughest women, real or imagined, that you know. Add them all together and then piss them off. Say hello to my aunt. And NOW falsely accuse her son and nephew of shoplifting. This was gonna be a really bad effin’ day for somebody. I honestly began to feel sorry for the owner and his employee. But hey, they earned it! Oh, by the way, weapons MAY be found in my aunt’s car on occasion……..just sayin’.
I won’t scare you with the gory details, but let’s just say that the “interrogation” of the store owner and his employee had people running out of the store. I’m serious! This time our mothers called the police and “interrogated” THEM as well.
When it was all said and done we finally got our AFX slot cars. AND, courtesy of the store owner, we each got to keep our respective twenty five dollar “pockets-full of money”! In exchange for this the store owner, the employee and the police officer got lessons in “their stupid, prejudiced and ignorant assed selves”, black motherhood and most importantly Martin Luther King Jr. Our moms confirmed that they allowed us off from school as part of a larger petition to recognize Dr. King’s birthday, but had not given permission for us to come to the store. As a result they made us read an entire ENCYCLOPEDIA and write one page reports about Dr. King for the rest of the day. “DO NOT TOUCH THAT RACE TRACK UNTIL WE SAY YOU CAN”! Awwww maaannnn! Shoot!
Obviously I didn’t realize it at the time, but my mom was teaching me to be proactive and self reliant as it pertained to learning Black History. She introduced me to many more important figures in Black history over the years. The lessons always included reading books and writing reports but never included AFX cars……
Dr. King’s birthday finally did become a nationally recognized holiday some ten years or so after this event. Kudos mom for having the vision to know it was the right thing for the country to do and for allowing me to be a part of it.
January 1st 2021. 2021! I’ve lived long enough to say that at one point in my life the year 2021 seemed far off into the distant “future”. Well, to the people of my generation, like it or not, the future is now. We are either living in it or trying to catch up to it.
Computers have been around since the 1940s, cell phones since the 70s and GPS since the 80s. Militaries have utilized satellite communications for decades. And in this age of hybrid and electric cars history will show that some manufacturers had designed and built prototypes some fifty years ago. (Oil industry “lobbyists” and other “special interest” types didn’t see the “value” of electric vehicles…..wink, wink)
The future is now. My FATHER asked me if we could have a Duo phone “call”. Most members of my family have held several Zoom webinars. Teleworking is quickly becoming the norm. Long anticipated practical electric/hybrid cars now share the road with self-driving cars!
My point? Our current “future” provides a whole new world of new technologies. Cell phones have been the gateway for my own interest in modern IT. Funny story: myself and my father-in-law opposed giving cell phones to my elementary school aged children some ten years ago. My father-in-law had reservations about the cost and access that the older grandkids had. He got his first cell phone shortly thereaftrr and ran up a bigger bill than the grandkids! Now he is hooked.
I do not own wireless earbuds. I do not own Alexa. Have never “asked Google” for anything. My car is not Bluetooth capable (don’t judge…). My sons’ and wife have cars that are Bluetooth capable but when I drive them I never use it. I saw MIDI keyboards used as a one-man band in 1983. Used MIDI throughout my playing days. Used digital audio software for the first time in 1998. However, I did not use a digital audio workstation to send an original MP3 file until last year. I know, I know. I’m gonna be better moving forward.
2021. Something new. I want to fully explore and embrace modern technology. I want to “see” state of the art in its current form. Phones, music, computers, Bluetooth, IT, motorcycles, cars, appliances. What is the latest, greatest technology offered in these products? I want to learn.
I may never speak to Alexa, but I may query Google every now and then. Wireless buds are in the plans too. I may never keep my phone in hand 24/7, but I will utilize Bluetooth more. Even in the car…..It would be nice to have another smart TV. And the latest version of Presonus’ Studio One too.
But seriously, 2021 is my “Year of Technology” and I am really looking forward to it. Here’s to the future.
P.S. “Nineteen Eighty-Four” by George Orwell is a good reference to the current “State of the Future”.
Time. Seconds. Minutes. Hours. Days. Weeks. Months. Years. Years. And years. And more years. Its those years that we measure as time passes by. And so it goes.
Another year down as 2021 is just a few hours, just a few minutes, just a few seconds away. It seems that time moves faster as each year ends. No sooner do we get to the Holiday Season that Thanksgiving and Christmas disappear. That was apparent even more so this year with everything going on.
If you’ve been reading my blog recently you may recall that I started a countdown to Christmas with my twenty-five day wish list. Well, time moved so quickly that I had no time to post the final four installments. Christmas 2020 has come and gone, but it’s never too late to be hopeful. So let’s give 2020 a proper send off as we look to start 2021 off right.
“4 Days of Christmas“. I wish the best for my parents. I am grateful and beyond blessed to say that all of my parents and my wife’s parents are living. I say all because we have the unique distinction of having four sets. Both of our biological moms and dads are remarried so do the math!
“3 Days of Christmas” I wish everyone good health and true happiness. When you really think about it, we owe it to ourselves to find happiness. We owe it to ourselves to maintain our health as well. Carry this idea into the new year.
“2 Days of Christmas”
I Know……Right!
I couldn’t help myself. Figured I’d get an early start for Christmas 2021. First, the Hennessey Venom F5. Second, the Czinger 21C. Or is that C21? Either way it sounds good to me and looks even better.
“Christmas Day” Love. Thanks to my family for all of the love you gave me this Christmas. Your gifts of love really helped to put things into perspective after facing the most challenging year health wise I’ve ever had. I’m good! See everyone next Christmas…..but remember….
Time. Don’t forget about time. As the seconds move on remember to be the best “you” that you can be. Start 2021 off right and use time wisely. Before you know it Christmas 2021 will be just days, then hours, then minutes and finally just seconds away. But first, on to the New Year………
Christmas Week. Five days and counting. Hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday Season thus far. I pray for peace, health and happiness for us all. On to today’s gift idea.
I have never been to Aruba, Bermuda or Hawaii, all pictured here. As my wife likes to remind me, I’m not much of an adventurist when it comes to travel. As I like to remind her, she doesn’t like long flights. Thus, we have yet to venture over the Pacific or Atlantic. The Gulf either for that matter.
Fact is, I’d love to visit one of these places. Sit back, relax and allow myself to be lazy for a couple of weeks. Yea I could do that. I’m sure she could too….
Call me crazy, but I’ve always wanted to take my entire family on an extended vacation to a place such as one of these. As a young adult I imagined that one day I’d be able to tell my family and friends that I was taking 100 of us on an all expenses paid trip. Room, travel and flight included. Food and drinks on you! Even today, I don’t speak of this as if its time has passed.
Way back when I was twenty years old and working at AACC, one of the professors there became sort of a mentor to me. More than twice my age he shared family advice and encouraged me to use my time and mind wisely. I respected and envied him because of the way he treated his children. He had two sons, both married and in their thirties with well-paying careers. And yet, this father refused to let his adult children pay for their own vacations. He had paid for his sons’ annual vacations all of their lives.
One year in particular he shared with a true sense of pride and excitement the satisfaction he got when he was able to send his boys to Europe. I still remember how he shared the itinerary and details. Mind you, the father was not going on the trip. He told me he couldn’t afford to accompany them this time, but you would never had known this because he didn’t seem disappointed at all!
What happened the next year really left an impression on me. The two sons returned the favor. Sent their dad on a three week, seven country tour of Europe. He was so proud of his sons and happy that they thought enough of him and his wife to gift them this way. Made me want to do something like that for my parents.
So, one year, I’d like to as many friends and family as possible on a two week vacation to Aruba, Bermuda or Hawaii. At this point I’ll probably have to sell my house to do it so I’ll need to live with one of you when we get back…..who’s down? ‘Tis the Season…….
AM. Sunday December 20th. I am back home from Walmart! As you may recall from “My Walmart Moment Part 1, which I posted a week ago, last Sunday at about this same time I was about to have one of my worst public outbursts ever. Thankfully today was alot different.
Like many weekend days I planned to go to the store which I like to do early. No set time, just whenever I wake up, which is usually before everyone else in my household. I prefer to be at the store no later than 8am. Well, I stayed up a little later last night listening to music so I think I fell asleep around 2:30am. Simple math tells me that I had just five and a half hours to sleep if I wanted to be “on time”. Guess what?
Woke up at a little late at 7:34. My “passenger” from last week had “expressed interest” in wanting to tag along again this week. I tell her the time and she responds by asking, and I quote, is the store gonna be open? I politely “remind” her that she does not have to go with me if she has nothing to buy. She could simply call me if she needed me to pick up something while I was there. She did not respond, did not move, did not motion. That’s fine. Ok.
I arrive at the store a little after 8am. I knew from the moment I saw the parking lot: “Today Was Gonna Be a Good Day”. A few cars. Not much foot traffic. “This Christmas” by Donnie Hathaway was blaring from Walmart’s outdoor PA speakers. No joke!
I exit the car. Zip my coat and “pop” the collar. Take a real deep breath. Smile confidently. Mask up and cap visor down. Rhythmically stride to the music as if I’m happy to be at a store this early on a SUNDAY. Was greeted with “Good Mornings” and “Merry Christmases” from friendly employees and customers alike upon entering. And get this, without any solicitation from me a store stock person volunteered to retrieve any item from the back that I did not see on the shelves. Try THAT after 9am…..
With items in the cart I proceed to the self-checkout lane. Lo and behold, I walk right to a register. No lines to speak of. No anxiety, no heavy breathing or no F-words at all. Just more friendly 8am people. My people. Not once did I think about or notice the time at all.
I arrive back home and walk through the door. As I set the bags down I notice the time on the clock pictured here. Surprised, I smile and think to myself, “NOW THATS WHAT I’M TALKIN ‘BOUT! Home by 8:34, just about the time I LEFT to go to the store last week! Just out of curiosity I went to check on my “passenger”. Can you guess where she was? You are exactly right.
I prefer the 8am “Walmart Moments”. As I’ve learned it gets “real” after 9. Happy shopping…..
Less than a week left until Christmas. Six gift ideas to go.
Way back in the early 1990s I was working at Anne Arundel Community College. Every spring a group of well-dressed gentlemen would come to the campus and hand out these Bibles. As soon as I’d arrive at work they would eagerly, but respectfully, approach and hand one to me. At one point I had three. I kept one in my car, one in my bag and one on my dresser. Never attempted to read any of them.
As noted previously I was not raised in the church, but my grandmother, great aunts, great uncles and some aunts attended regularly. Prayer and worship were constant events in my household. So was Gospel music.
I was early in my bass playing development at this time and decided to teach myself to read music. Bought a couple of beginner books and was on my way. Having been asked to play in church a number of times I realized the importance of knowing hymns, which I knew exactly none.
So, for Christmas that ensuing year a friend asked what I wanted for a gift. I requested a Hymnal which I did not receive. So I went to a local Christian Book store in search of said Hymnal and was surprised to see so many versions of the Bible. This peaked my interest.
Upon returning home I grabbed the small green Bible off of my dresser. I starting reading first out of curiosity and then for education. The more I read the more I appreciated the wisdom it contained. Not revealing this to anyone I tried to read some everyday. Either before work or immediately after I found verses that helped me through the day.
Those three pocket-sized Gideon Bibles remained constant companions for some twenty years or so, until “middle-aged” eyesight and newer modern translations forced me to read other versions. I think I still have one of them.
This brings us to the gift for Day 6 of Christmas. I ask that we share a Bible verse with someone we love. A spiritual vitamin goes a long way in helping to balance out you day. If you’ve never read the Bible take it from someone who was in that same place. You will find a lifetime’s worth of wisdom and a stronger sense of purpose once you do. ‘Tis the Season.
Today I heard a phrase that I had not heard before. While having a conversation with a wise, more “mature” coworker, we started discussing why people have less patience and respect for each other. He told me the reason is that everybody wants to have a say about everything, but nobody wants to listen to anything. Then he said, “The reason we have two ears and one mouth is because we should listen twice as much as we talk.” Never heard that before, but I’m wiser for it! Thanks J-Dub from your “young brother”. For all of the talks and the wisdom….
The Real Life Corner 