HAD A BALL IN THE BIG APPLE!

I haven't posted anything since Thanksgiving and there is good reason. I was preparing for a very special trip. But before those details let me share some others. First, I want to address the question that I know has run across many minds that have seen my picture. The fact that I am bald always raises them so let me clear that up before anyone gets the wrong idea. Usually the first thing people think is that I have cancer, however, I am blessed not to have that life-threatening illness. The reason for my baldness is an autoimmune disease called Alopecia Areata. It's a condition where the immune system attacks the hair follicles "by mistake" and causes the hair to fall out. It's not hereditary and I had never really known anyone with it until I contracted it myself. I have lived with it since April 2007 and it has been quite a journey. The lows, the shock, the amazement was all part of my getting to the point of acceptance. After all, like India Arie says "I am not my hair" and I can live life without it. Knowing the importance of support when dealing with a challenge, I immediately went online searching for and found the Alopecia Areata support community. Today I am an active member and communicate with other women with the disorder to share my experience, strength and hope. Some of us are blessed with more resilience to bounce back from life's unexpected surprises, and it is our responsibility to be there for those who need a little extra love.

So, having said that, now I will talk about my wonderful trip to New York! My main reason for the trip was to attend a luncheon. It was sponsored by Thea Chassin who founded the event and named it "Bald Girls Do Lunch", as a way for women with Alopecia to meet other women who have it. I had read about the event and knew I wanted to experience one, so I decided, and God blessed me, to attend the one in Manhattan, New York. It was a couple of firsts involved, 1) I had never been to New York before, and 2) I had not been to one of those luncheons, so I got a double-dose of good time! (Forgive me if I use the word blessing a lot but that is the only way I choose to describe things that happen in my life today .) In view of the fact that I am blessed with a son who works for Continental Airlines, the only thing standing between me and New York was distance and time, so off I went!!

First let me say that New York is an amazing city and I was awestruck from the moment I got there. The taxi ride from the airport down E. 57th was amazing with all the designer stores, lights, display windows and droves of people. Riding by 5th Ave. and Park Ave was an exciting moment and all the expansive buildings was really a breath-taking sight. The restaurant that the event was held, Shelly's Trattoria, was beautiful and the people and the food was great. Meeting Thea and the other ladies was an experience I will always cherish and sharing our intimate details was an unforgettable and spirit-filled time. We were women who shared a common bond in spite of any difference in race, background, lifestyle or profession. We came from all walks of life but still found so much in common. The luncheon was a smashing success and I am so grateful I had the opportunity to attend.

The next day, after a good night's rest, I "did New York". My itinerary ended up being 1) a trip to Times Square on the subway, and 2) a trip to The Empire State Building Observatory. Incidentally, one of the ladies I met at the luncheon worked at the Empire State Building and offered me a free pass! Talk about perfect timing!! I thoroughly enjoyed my entire day of touring and shopping, but one particular event was the height of my day. You see, for those of you who may be familiar with it, Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies of all time, and in Times Square there is a restaurant, Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co., based on that movie. I was as excited as a kid in a candy store when I ate lunch there, and it really made my trip complete.

New York is a great place and I am planning to return and see all the other sights. But for now, my palate is satisfied because; 1) I got to meet some great ladies and now have some great new friends, and 2) I took my maiden voyage to the Big Apple!! Life is good.

Just a couple of photos. LOL till next time.

Giving Thanks

It's the day after Thanksgiving, and I pray that everyone had a safe one. I thoroughly enjoyed mine with all my children and grandchildren, and all the food I could eat! However the topic of giving thanks brought about some serious pondering for me. It is amazing how that one day seems to be when most people remember to be thankful and count their blessings. It would seem more fitting for us to do that on a daily basis and not just on a particular designated day. Everyday should be a day of thanks; for what we have, for what we have been delivered from, or just for being alive. To have a thankful heart is to have an attitude of gratitude, and that makes for a healthy body, mind and spirit.
We all should take the time to slow down, remember our blessings and make giving thanks not just a day, but a way of life.

Are you "Musically Diverse"?

Something happened at my job today that I just thought I should share. I have always considered myself as someone who liked a variety of music. I was raised on blues, R&B, some of the first rap to come out, and of course, gospel. Well, lately I have acquired an appreciation for country western music and have gotten some very interesting responses from clients. I am the Admissions Coordinator at the facility so I am pretty much the first person clients sit down and talk with when they arrive. Being the type of person that likes a pleasant work environment, I usually play the radio on the Internet while I work. I normally have it tuned to either gospel or country western, depending on my mood. The first noticeably funny comment I received was when I was tuned in to country western music while admitting a Caucasian man. I started the interview with a general statement and he sat down, after carefully listened, and stated " OK, but you and that music don't go together". I was a little startled at first, but it made me laugh out loud. I continued on with the admission but in the back of my mind I was thinking "What did he mean by that? Should I be offended? " Some Blacks would have taken the remark as racist or stereotypical, but I guess I am at a point where I am not that easily offended. When the session was over, I did ask him why he said that and he began explaining profusely and saying he did not mean anything derogatory. I told him to just be careful of what he says and who he says it around.
Now today, the tables were totally turned! I admitted a Black man who made a casual comment about my liking country western music to which I replied yes. But after we finished, before he left my office he stated" I think you are the first Black woman I have ever known who likes country western music". That made me really laugh out loud too. Not only because of what he said, but coming from a brother, there was no way I could get offended. Guess I am one of the rare breed of sisters who are musically diverse. My new found love of country western music is a direct result of my son, who loves it, calling me in the room to listen to the words of some of those songs. They talk about real life things, fun things, spiritual things and serious things. I thank God for making me so diverse!
Oh yeah, last night I watched the Country Music Awards and my favorite guy, Kenny Chesney won Entertainer of the Year! Come on , broaden your horizons, you just might like it!!

THE SIGN THAT DIDN'T MOVE

Last night I entered a post about my experience at the election polls. Well, I left out one that I think is more than worthy to be posted.

My mother is, and has been one of Barack Obama's strongest supporters of his Presidential campaign. She traveled across town to make phone calls for him, diligently recruited voter registration in the community and proudly displayed her endorsement of him. She also had an Obama/Biden sign in her yard that became quite famous. You see, in spite of the fact that the tallest pine tree in her yard was uprooted by Hurricane Ike, that sign did not move. My son posted pictures of that sign on his blog (Brother Jesse) and we all laughed in amazement at it's endurance.

As a way of ensuring he was represented at our polling place, she brought her beloved sign and had it placed out front among the others. Well, when we went to retrieve it, it was gone. I could see the pain and disappointment on my mother's face and felt a little responsible because she had asked me to remember to get it when it got dark outside, and I got busy and forgot. She even had to take a break and go to the other room where I believe she may have shed a tear. Some would say "hey, it was just a sign; but that one was special to her.

I'm sure whoever took it had no idea of the sentimental value it had to my mother, and probably thought it was there for the taking. However, I want to encourage everyone to be mindful and not take things that don't belong to you. If you didn't put it there, then it's not yours to remove!

My mother will get past this, but if at all possible, I want to find her another sign just like that one, after all, it was my fault, right Mom?

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU VOTED??

Today, November 4, 2008, I took part in a historical Presidential election. I worked as an Election Clerk and the experience was mind-boggling. I was raised an "election-brat" because my mother, who has been a Precinct Judge until this year, taught me and my two sisters to be politically involved. We have served as election clerks since we were old enough, and I served as Precinct Judge when I lived in Austin. It is a gratifying and rewarding job to fulfill and I am grateful that I was privileged to have that as part of my upbringing. Now about election day. I have worked many elections but I have never seen so many first-time voters, elderly/handicapped voters, young hip-hop voters and people who have not voted in 4 years. It was a bitter sweet experience because those first-timers and elderly/handicapped represented the determination of a people to advocate for change; but those who had not voted in 4 years or longer were purged from the roles and could not vote. The looks on their faces were unforgettable, but it was evident that impact of that lesson was great. It saddened me to see those who have such a lackadaisical pattern of neglecting their civic duty. But what was amazing was that Barack Obama created enough excitement and hope to get them off their buts and come to the polls to vote. Speaking of that excitement, as I sit here typing, Barack Obama has just been declared the 44th President of the United States! When the announcement was made I got chill bumps! History has been made and I believe we can look forward to some positive change in the future. As for those persons that could not vote today, I made sure they got a voter registration card and filled it out so they can vote in 2012 to keep Barack in the White House!

What Prayer to Pray?

Since becoming a Licensed Counselor I am asked for feedback, advice and sometimes my opinions on different topics. The minute a person hears the word "counselor" they seem to immediately start sharing their personal or family issues. I also believe that it's a result of my being blessed with the spiritual gift of exhortation.
Today my son asked for my feedback regarding a very delicate issue involving a childhood friend who had attempted suicide and is now on life support. After describing the situation that occurred, he asked me "What prayer do I pray for him?" His concern was genuine and his shock quite obvious at this totally surprising occurrence. My son is a Nation of Islam Ministry of Justice Minister who has conducted prayer vigils with families of victims many times. However, his question was not about a prayer for the family, but for the victim himself who had apparently made the choice not to live. I shared with him that when I pray for someone who is gravely ill or dying, even if it is someone close to me, I simply say "God, Thy will be done". I choose that prayer because I believe a prayer that asks Him to keep that person here or take them away would be totally selfish. My sincere condolences go out to the mother and family of that young brother. I cannot imagine what it feels like to lose a son, but I suspect it is quite a painful ordeal.

Life presents us with such unexpected events, and we would do well to stay prayed up and live one day at a time; or as is said in that country western song I like, "Live like we're dying".

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Ms. Mavis