'Be anxious for nothing..." ~Philippians 4:6

Friday, January 18, 2013

OLD AMERICANA



















Streetlights on, mothers cried
Your butt better be inside
Midnight came; anthem played
TV off; white noise remained
Sagging pants meant you were poor
D's meant you don't play no more
In the car, no belt, no seat,
"Wait right here", in cold and heat
Played outside, rode buses too.
Ain't nobody bother you

We are the old Americana
Can't always do what you wanna
Raised on racism and drama
We are the old Americana

Heard, "You must be twice as good"
Aim was to get out the hood
Wanna live where others live
Can't get loans that others give
Answer was to hit the books
Dressed up; still got dirty looks
Church seemed like the only place
Where your gift would be embraced

We are the old Americana
Can't always do what you wanna
Raised on racism and drama
We are the old Americana

Command the language--"You sound white"
Shunned for trying to get it right
Wear your 'fro--must be a stunt
Wear it straight-- you tryin' to front
Act a fool--keepin' it real
Fail in school and seal the deal
Did too well--"They had to cheat"
"What's Goin' On" on repeat

We are the old Americana
Can't always do what you wanna
Raised on racism and drama
We are the old Americana

Friday, January 11, 2013

FRIDAY THOUGHTS: ALL OVER THE PLACE

Want to keep everyone honest, reassure yourself that you're not crazy, hard of hearing, prone to misunderstanding, or challenged in the areas of hearing or reading comprehension? Document, document, document, and document well. Document very well. 
Use that smart phone, or hang on to those pencils and paper. 
Write stuff down! Sometimes the memory that needs refreshing is not yours.

Many want to be able to say they saved the day--not in the interest of day saving, but to be able to point yet another disparaging finger at you. Those who doubt your ability to manage a situation, or are quick to say you screwed up, aren't involved enough, or cause waste of resources or time, probably resent your presence. Their greatest delight is your absence. You out of the loop gives them leverage. 
The thought that you actually know what's going on, is positively frightening to some, and infuriating to others. 
Your access, knowledge of truth, competence and efficiency, are the key players in someone's worst nightmare, especially when they've worked so hard at being deceptive, divisive, assuming authority, gaining position--or painting you as a dumb blond.


You have to know what a person has been told, what permission they have been given, and what agenda they're promoting that makes them do and say improper, too familiar, intrusive, even absurd things. There's a reason why some people consistently park at the dangerous intersection of About To Get Your Feelings Hurt Street, Mind Your Own Business Road, and Close To Getting Cussed Out Boulevard. 
It may not be totally their fault. Some people think the worst because they haven't bothered to, or choose not to see the best. Maybe they've been schooled by someone they believe to be credible. 
It is better, however, to react or respond to what one knows, not what one has heard, or assumes. 
In the presence of truth, schemes and negatively skewed perceptions are blown right out of the water.

I detest those who take advantage of seniors. 
Is there a fiercely independent senior citizen in your family? 
Watch those telemarketers, mail offers, scammers, spammers---and wannabe family members. 
Stay on top of things as much as possible. 
Sometimes those people who profess/ pretend to view your parents as if they were their own, are more interested in purses and wallets than health and well-being. 
Some people, under the guise of friendship are seeking customers, endorsements, resources, access and control. 
Let's just say, if someone invites your elderly loved one on an outing, i.e. to lunch/ dinner, your loved one's purse or wallet should remain firmly closed before, during and after the meal. The only thing they should be reaching for are keys upon their return home, not the bill. There is a difference between concerned friends and predators.


And finally,
I'm not a reality TV fan for many reasons. Entertainment has taken a weird turn. It should leave one smiling, not shaking one's head, and pondering the soul of America. 
As they relate to the female gender, the depictions can be dismal and embarrassing. When it comes to Black women, sometimes they can be frighteningly accurate. Sorry, but you know I'm not lying. 
Used to be, that we tried to be on our best behavior in public. We knew when to turn it on, and when to turn it off. 
We kept family business in the family. 
We admired positive role models. 
Somehow, someone has decided that putting our worst foot forward is more economically rewarding. 
We all know women who are unashamedly loud, wrong, ignorant, tactless, rude, guilty of confusing classiness with fashion sense/style, lacking a filter, challenged in the speech and grammar department, and generally out of control. With that said, I'm kind of glad my rejection of the kind of shows people love to hate didn't cause me to pass on listening to Tamar Braxton's "Love and War". 
It really is a strong, well sung song, and I do so appreciate an artist--any artist whose live vocals match or eclipse their recorded ones.


#caregivers

AS 2012 ENDED...

Evidence indicates that my resolution to keep receipts, travel info, statements, etc. neat, labeled, and in chronological order in the accordion-style file folder, began to crumble sometime around April. Only the neat part prevailed.
It was nice recapping the year, though...Apparently I go to Rite-Aid a lot, don't buy shoes nearly as much as I used to, should have stock in Ferrara Pan (Thank you CVS for selling Atomic Fireballs), and keep an AT&T account for sentimental reasons....: )