“Social media”. Who wants to “talk” to people via a computer? Why would anyone pick up a “telephone” to “write” a message? Lol! I vividly recall having these questions as conversation pieces with friends and coworkers some years ago, mid 90s maybe…. Amazingly some of these folks were Computer Science majors and IT students. For real! As for me, I could have never seen myself wasting time “texting” somebody when I could “simply pick up the phone and call them”. Well……

February 2021. Through the wonders of social media I recently had the pleasure of “talking” to all of my best friends simultaneously even though they happen to live in different states and countries.

Social media often receives negative publicity for being a vehicle for those with not so good intentions. That’s fair. On the other hand look at the bright side. Look at how connected we are to those whom we wish to communicate. Family and friends are just a “follow” or “friend” or “tweet” or “pin” or “channel” away. I know, that was a lot.

I’m glad I finally warmed up to texting, and social media too for that matter. Simple thing, but isn’t it funny how using a resource for good can promote good. Yep, despite being a prime destination for many things undesirable, social media does in fact have a bright side.

Finally. Got my S10 Plus to connect to my JBL Charge! A year in the making. I can reclaim MY portable speaker from my family of iPhone snobs.

Last year I asked for this very thing for Christmas. I created a “25 Days of Christmas” list and on Day 11 I wished for my phone and speaker to communicate with one another. I tried everything, or so I thought. This past weekend I went to purchase a new speaker and decided to research further as I couldn’t make up my mind.

In the meantime I decided to reach out to JBL and Samsung for help. After being told that I may have software compatibility issues it was suggested that I go ahead and try a new speaker. I asked customer service if they had experienced any other speaker/phone combinations having similar issues and they had not.

Just before ending the call the tech asked if I had ever reset my speaker. I had not. So I did. Merry Christmas! The “beautiful sound of hi def digital music playing through a Bluetooth portable speaker”! (I still prefer analog. Translation for the uninitiated: vinyl record on a turntable)

I am very grateful for this “Christmas” gift even if it arrived a little late. Maybe there is a chance for the other 24 on the list after all.

Soft wind. Snow. Sleet. Freezing rain.

Quiet trees. Dark. Cold. Loose refrain.

Crowded sky. Footprints. Sounds. Lonely air.

Open doors. Windows. Thoughts. Everywhere.

Random thoughts. Fear. Pain. Everlast.

Desperate thoughts. Love. Hurt. Hour glass.

Any thoughts. Think. Loss. Yearning more.

Every thought. Stop. Breath. Been here before.

Days and nights like these are made for fire, and ice, and a glass

Maybe two

Days and nights like these are made for words, and laughter, and a song

And maybe you

Let’s see, does space take up time, or does time take up space

Days and nights like these allow me to forget

But time allows me to remember that with days and nights like these, just as with life and love, you sometimes can’t see exactly what you will get

Not even the sun comes around every day

But she was around all the time every way

Fresh as a subtle breeze from an ocean spray

She lived a few more than twenty summers of a life

He’s seen a few more counting hers almost twice

But he could not resist the friendly hello in her eyes

What should he do about it, God let him know

She was so new about it, God let him know

Hug her from behind about it, God let him know

Makin’ up his mind about it, God let him know

Taste her perfume about it, God let him know

Her first day of June about it, God let him know

Running away, I think I hear my heart just running away from you

Running away from you

‘Cause I’ve been waitin’ too long, for the kisses that we shared when we both were young

We shared when we both were young

And lonely am I, as I’m yearning for your touch as I write this song

Your touch as I write this song

Running away, sometimes I feel my heart just running away from you

Running away from you

When you called for me, you used to whisper softly now you just say my name

Now you just say my name

When I look at you, I wonder if you love me things just don’t seem the same

Things just don’t seem the same

When I say a prayer, I’m wishing for tomorrow God can you get us by

God can you get us by

Tomorrow is here, but yesterday has stole our love can you tell me why

God can you tell me why

Running away, I know I hear my heart just running away from you, running away from you, running away from you

My heart just keeps on running yeah

My heart just keeps on running yeah

My heart just keeps on running yeah

It makes me feel like running yeah

She walked into my life so bold, blue high heeled shoes strapped ‘cross her feet

But I don’t want to talk about it…

She sat down in my lap so cold, like my chair was an empty seat

But I don’t want to think about it…

She said, “I wanna go where the warm wind blows, and make you take control of me”

“I want to feel your warm Heartbeat”

Then she said, “I wanna go where the water flows, and steal your love on a midnight beach”

“I want to feel your warm Heartbeat”

She stared down deep into my eyes, like my face was her mystery

Now I’m gonna write about it…

Felt the softness of her thighs, as her shoes fell off her feet

Made me want to scream about it…

‘Cause she said, “I wanna go where the warm wind blows, and make you take control of me”

“I want to feel your warm Heartbeat”

Then she said, “I wanna go where the water flows, and steal your love on a midnight beach”

“I want to feel your warm Heartbeat”

To be continued…….

There are some nice new bikes headed to showrooms this year. I promised myself to not let my ego affect my choice of bike and my wallet. Looking for deals on previous year models I said. Uh, but this bike……? I don’t know man. Got me thinking. Ahhh, spring…….

Forever cry lonely sleep

Broken thoughts only thinking

Time for a poor heart to mend

Hopes and dreams rising, sinking

Each day I breath a new life

Each night I dream a new sorrow

My dreams will never say why

Good things don’t come tomorrow

One thousand smiles passed me by

Yet all these frowns are still here

One smiling face lasts one day

One teardrop lasts for ten years

My song is all that I have

My song is all I live for

And if I had just one more life…….

I’d still need so many more

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.