Happy Thanksgiving

"O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good and worthy to be praised......"

So many things to be thankful for, so many meals won't be distributed to many families this year and so many homes won't be having a time such as this because of fires that destroyed everything but the kitchen sink.
Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims come to mind.
I thank God for his grace and his mercy on this Thanksgiving more than anything.
I can say I have survived having gone through an accident this past week.
I am happy to see my family come together in love and laughter.
Peace all around.

Happy Birthday Ida Mae!!!

Ida was born to William and Ella Pressley on November 20, 1928 in York County, South Carolina. She is the oldest daughter of eleven children. She received little education yet maintained working on a farm in order for her family to survive.
Later on life, she met and married Willie Clinzo Meeks. With him, a host of children were created, a total of sixteen- eight girls and eight boys out of one womb.

(Jessie, Ella, Vivian, Yvonne, Patricia, Jacqueline {deceased}, Carlita, Felicia, Willie "June" {deceased}, Arthur, Grayland, Anthony {deceased}, Dexter, Walter, Thelmore, and George)
Her hobbies, include—“Feeshin” (fishing). If there were eight days in the week- she would fish for seven and attend church on the eighth day. She is very famous for her rhymes and singing old “meter” hymns around the house. She loves giving God His praises.

Today, we celebrate another year of her life with love, admiration and laughter. This time, she has turned 77, which unfortunately she won’t ever see again. In spite of that, this year can be looked upon as her “Lucky Sevens”.

She has truly endured having lost her husband 25 years ago, stricken with diabetes, raising her sixteen children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She has held down two homes in two separate states (New Jersey and South Carolina). She has had open heart surgery and has recovered by the grace of God. (Just recent, a near fatal car crash). She also buried three of her children through the years.

She is truly a fighter and a champion. She is a friend, a sister, an aunt and a mother to many.
Ida Mae, having done all you can, God has allowed you to stand.

We salute you on these loving, loyal yet lucky years.

God bless and keep you 77 more.

Jesus Take The Wheel

On November 18, 2005 I decided to take a journey down to South Carolina to help in the celebration of my dear aunt Ida Mae and to visit my brother.
Nothing prepared me and my aunts for what would happen to us on the way down, it was a trip we each had not taken in almost three years since my cousin Jacqueline passed away.
Well, on our journey we left late Friday (early Saturday morning) trekking down South. We would usually fly down but this time we decided to drive. We stopped on the way down a couple of times. The sun was rising, we ate breakfast and headed back down Highway 81 South. I took a brief nap and I could hear my aunt piercing through my sleep, (whom we would celebrating for upon arrival), screaming in a panic. I awakened.
We were on the shoulder of the road, my aunt who was driving was speeding as we etched the highway "bumpers". Her eyes wide open or "eyes wide shut". She was in another world. I tried shaking her, no response. My impulse would not allow me to try and stop the car. We surfed across the road down two ditches and up a hill and then BAMMM!!! We hit two large trees head on, the air bags bursted, I thought we were going to die or at least seriously hurt.
I got up and the car was lodged on a hill and stuck in a bobwired fence, about 4 feet from the back of a house.
"Thank You, Jesus."
The driver. Still unbothered and unfazed about what was going on. Me and my eldest aunt and the baby were alright. I got up and out the car and got them to safety. My aunt (the driver) still in the car as it was smoking like crazy. I tried to help her become responsive, still nothing. Were in the beginning of Winchester VA, Exit 307, nowhere land, people stopped to help and to aid us, on the highway and from their houses. "God sent them to watch and care over us in our time of need."
Everyone appeared to be without a scratch, My aunt Jessie got out finally after about a half hour passed. Still unfazed about the accident, she gets out picking up the scattered car parts, equilibrium off, tripping over tree stumps, confused. I was frantic. We all were confused about what we would do next.
The ambulance came later and rescued us, taking the driver first and leaving behind all others including myself. We then climbed into another ambulance that came for us and we then headed to the hospital.
First, I could not find my cell phone. Once I found it lodged under the gas pedal, once Jessie got out the car, I then gathered all the small bags out the car and I saw I had missed calls. One call from my aunt's best friend who I gave mention of the accident. She was hysterical. She was willing to come all that way to pick us up. As Jessie was entering the ambulance, I told her Dorothy was coming to get us and to horde us back to New Jersey, she clamored and says, "Who is that?". In disbelief, I am wondering could she be having amnesia at a time like this.
I then dialed my family in New Jersey, my mother of course. She was frantic. Everyone else was giving warning by then. Even in South Carolina as they tto gave indication that they were on their way to get us.
I had never been in a car accident before, esp. nothing near fatal. Everyone got strapped down on stretchers but me. My eldest aunt started having chest pains-she has an ailing heart, from a triple bypass surgery. The baby was fine. I had a cut on my small finger I had gotten before we left NJ, it began to start bleeding heavily. I am guessing from my blood pressure being raised. They gave me gauze to stop the bleeding. We got to hospital and everyone turned out alright, except they stated my aunt (the driver) had a slight stroke caused from her diabetes being out of control. It must have reached its highest point.
We sat there awaiting my family from NJ and SC. We got calls from all over including my pastor. That made me feel good to hear from him and knowing the church was praying for us.
Later on, after the decision was finally made who was picking us up, our South Carolina family members came in two cars after about 8 hours after the accident, and over 5 hours from their destination. We were so glad to see them. We told our family members from NJ to not come because we wanted to still made God happy and not give Satan any pleasure. We were soldiers and determined to go on. Nothing kept us from our trip.
Nothing but the grace of God saved us ALL. We wanted to enjoy our Thanksgiving and tomorrow we would be celebrating my eldest aunt's 77th birthday.
Thank God I am here now to tell this story, I am feeling blessed and so many other things. I am experiencing "change" within me and around me.
Asking Jesus "to take the wheel".

Passion Marks

Coming Soon: Zane presents "A Deeper Blue: Passion Marks, the Sequel"- 12/05

Today's Quote

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by moments that take our breath away".

The Color Purple, the Musical

It's finally a dream come true.....

The Color Purple, the Musical...comes to Broadway and presented by

OPRAH WINFREY

"Like a plate of corn.. and a honeybee...Like a waterfall...All apart of me....Like the COLOR PURPLE... Where do it come from?...Now my eyes are opened... Look what God has Done!

You take a grain of love.. make a mighty tree...You take the smallest voice.. And make a harmony! Like a drop of water...from the river high.. there's a miracle... for YOU and I!"

(Show producers include the world renowned composer Quincy Jones and Scott Sanders)


The Color Purple opens on Broadway on December 1st at the Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway (Between 52nd and 53rd Streets), New York, NY. Get your tickets now!

(Note: Shows are in early preview beginning November 1st: Prices range from $25-$125)

What Have You Done Today? Campaign

Make someone smile? Have you smiled more? Have you helped someone else? Did you give and not turn away?

What can you do to make God proud? Make YOURSELF proud?...

Start today. Build a journal for years to come. Join me and Oprah on ways to growing in love and conquering the world....

Tell me What Have You Done TODAY?

Not just today, but every day. It can be something small, like smiling at someone new, or a grand gesture—just make sure you do it!

Oprah says it will change your life. "You walk through the day differently," she says. "You think, 'What have I done today? What have I done today?'"

A Gift from Virgo

The Sun in Virgo is Mutable Earth, and its keyword is "I analyze".
Symbolized by the Virgin, it rules the digestive system. In this last of the personal signs, the virgin walks the fields of Earth and through life's many experiences, selecting that which is ready to be harvested, and digesting those experiences appropriate to wholesome growth. Hence discrimination, analysis, assimilation and purification are issues for you. This sign's fullest expression is through humble service to others, and its greatest fault is in being too critical, both to self and to others. Virgo has a deep-seated inferiority complex, perhaps related to sensing more power in yourself than you know how to express. You are a great friend, often physically attractive, and function best in taking care of the endless details and the steadiness of routine work.

The Value of A Man by Troy D. Baxter

Man's Journey-

"Watch what we say, because Our Speech becomes our Action's, Our Action's becomes our Character-Ultimately our Character will define our Path and Destiny in this life."

A Man is loving, kind, understanding, honest, diligent in his time, responsible, hardworking, confident, forgiving, trustworthy, and he learns patience.

A Man is a great communicator, confrontational, believes in himself, strives for excellence.

A Man believes in God and means it.

A Man will confess their wrongdoings, not boastful, not envious, takes action.

A Man has a journey to surpass over.

A Man is not free from sin, free from falling short, will admit when he is wrong and stand firm.

A Man won't forsake his friends in order to get ahead.

A Man won't forsake his family and leave them out in the cold.

A Man is noble.

A Man is honorable.

A Man realizes his guilt, stays truthful.

A Man does not await nor seek validation from others in order to glorify oneself especially when he is at fault.

A Man's value recognizes when it is being depleted by negativity.

A Man is passionate.

A Man won't backbite others in order to get ahead.

Man knows his worth.

VOTE

Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote!
TODAY and in the Future..........

Not only is it our responsibility but it is our Right! Our Civil Right!
Many have fought hard and died for our privilege to vote here in the United States. If you do not vote i.e. Black Americans, it would be a slap in their faces.
The "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement", Rosa Parks, recently perished. She was the pioneer for so many of our rights and she was influential in our gaining so many rights to come over the past 50 years. Pay homage to her struggle and the struggles of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Ralph Abernathy, etc.

VOTE!

Hey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, Under New Management

Today I decided to revamp the blog and to tie it more into what's happening more than what is occuring in my life i.e. journal. I decided that the world does not needto know it all. Should keep some for myself. Most of what I wrote in the past, today, as far as a relationship is concerned, has been washed or on the verge of that anyway.
I wanted to capture my world and its excitement.

Enjoy!

She's Back.... She Back!!

Oh my god! Allow me to pass out ONE MORE TIME!!!!

The return of the DIVA, and I hate to use that word, but only two words come to mind when I hear it-- WHITNEY HOUSTON!!
Once our black queen of soul and pop; one who captivated audiences all over the world; one who still captures audiences for falling short a few times. She is still the MOST RECOGNIZED FEMALE SINGER in the entire world, hands down. Many have come before her true, but she broke the barriers. I don't have to illustrate that she is my #1 girl. (Sorry Brianna).

I am awaiting more classic moments. BET 25 Strong was just the beginning. Damn! All she did was walk out and the world embrace her. Her beauty is unparalleled. She is definitely a model's model. Watch out Tyra!


She's Back!