"Expand Your Circle of Care"

I am celebrating my birth! Actually, I do all the time; but especially around this time...my birth anniversary....This year, in particular, has been the BEST year of all. I am realizing a spirit of care in the world and among controversial people that I have admired from a far. Jada & Will, Smith, Queen Lateefah(sp); Hill Harper, The Judd Women, and Jay-Z, Tyler Perry and of course Oprah just to name a few...As long as I can remember I have wanted to live in a world where the prevailing spirit was that of peace, love and prosperity....I am experiencing peace love and prosperity on a personal level but more importantly I am witnessing peace love and prosperity among those who have the mic and a audience that I don't...yet(smile). While I am on the subject of controversial people I would be remiss to leave out the current American First Family,

President Obama is the right one for the job right now! Hill Harper reminded me of this while promoting his new book Wealth....In the interview with Constance Presley. He share how our President is always urging Americans to extend their circle of care to include more than "us four and no more". As a senior citizen this message has been my life long passion. So, I would just like to share ways that WE(working effectively) can do exactly what is being asked and privately, demonstrated by soooo many people in and out of the news.

• Share your gifts and talents by volunteer time in public schools
• See God in EVERYONE
• Be mindful of your words about people different from you and your inner circle
• Start a blog and share your achievements
• When brown bagging it; carry an extra fruit or salad with the intentions of giving it away
• During times of natural disasters walk over to check on your neighbor
• Stop eating alone
• Constant remind your circle of influence that they are more than they may be settling for.
  
• Call your mother...father...auntie..uncle...children

• Read books of other people's journey and then share what you have read with someone else and then give them the book

This idea is not new and the list is inexhaustible; nevertheless, reminding US(unifying spirits) to do, what we know to do, is as necessary as saying on a regular basis: good morning; thank you, and peace...

Wholistic Thinking: Eye Of the Needle

Wholistic Thinking: WEATHER REPORT

Today while listening to YolandaAdam's gospel program(6-10 A.M.), Gene Norman, Chief meteorologist, at TV station KHOU, in Houston Texas, had a segment explaining to the listeners that we are now in the early stages of hurricane season(June-Sept.) and just how important it is to "prepare for stormy weather, while the skies are blue". He was so professional yet personal I googled him. The following is a summary of his creditals:

Chief Meteorologist Gene Norman leads the 11 News Weather Team at KHOU-TV Channel 11. Gene joined KHOU in January 2008 and in June of that year was promoted to Chief Meteorologist. His ability to provide the most detailed weather forecasts is attributed to his extensive education, experience and knack for relating to viewers. Gene brings to Houston more than 20 years of meteorology experience at NASA and on television, along with a lifelong passion for science.

While at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Gene spent eight years developing weather monitoring software for the space shuttle. During that time he landed his first meteorologist job moonlighting at a TV station in Beaumont. From there he became a weekend meteorologist at KTRK-TV in Houston and then moved on to WGCL-TV in Atlanta where he served as Chief Meteorologist prior to his Houston return.

Throughout his career, Gene has received numerous accolades. He has been honored with five Emmy awards for his extensive weather reporting, including one in 2009 for the KHOU hurricane special “Storm Warnings: Lessons Learned.” Also in 2009, Gene received the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Award for Best Weathercast.

Gene is a member of the National Weather Association, holds the Seal of Approval from the American Meteorologist Society (AMS) and has earned a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) designation. He also previously served as president of the American Meteorology Society’s Broadcast Board.

Originally from New York, Gene holds a bachelor's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master's degree in meteorology from the University of Maryland. He is very active in the community with charitable organizations, and serves on the board of the Freeman Weather Museum. In his spare time, Gene enjoys watching movies, listening to music and spending time with his family.

In my next Blog I will share what I have learned from Meteorologist Gene Norman as well as my own extended research; but in the tradition of our ancestors; do your own due diligence and by all means share his gift with others and let HIM know that you know he is out here...

Too often WE recognize Unsung Hero after their flame has grown dim or gone out.....

THOUGHTS ARE THINGS

When The Student is ready...The Teacher will show up!

Success Runs In Our Race........Really

Each week tens of

thousands of diners eat at an Olive Garden or

Red Lobster restaurant. Few of these diners know

that the CEO heading these large restaurant

chains is a black man.

Clarence Otis Jr. Is the

CEO of Darden Restaurants Inc., the largest

casual dining operator in the nation. The firm

operates nearly 1,400 company-owned restaurants

coast to coast serving 300 million meals

annually. Darden employs 150,000 workers and has

annual revenues of $6 billion.

Born in Vicksburg ,

Mississippi , Otis moved to Los Angles when he

was 6 years old. His father was a high school

dropout who worked as a janitor. The family

lived in Watts at the time of the 1965 riots. In

the post-Watts period, Otis recalls being

stopped and questioned by police several times a

year because of the color of his skin.

A high school guidance counselor recommended him for a scholarship

at Williams College , The highly

selective liberal arts institution in

Massachusetts . Otis graduated Phi Beta Kappa

from Williams and went on to earn a law degree

at Stanford. Otis landed on Wall

Street as a merger and acquisitions attorney for

J. P. Morgan Securities. He joined Darden

Restaurants in 1995 as corporate treasurer. He

became CEO in 2004.

GilScottHeron ( April 1, 1949-May 29 2011)

Message To The Messengers

Hey, yeah, we the same brothas from a long time ago
We was talkin' about television and doin' it on the radio
What we did was to help our generation realize
They had to get out there and get busy cause it wasn't gonna be televised
We got respect for you rappers and the way they be free-weighin'
But if you're gon' be teachin' folks things, make sure you know what you're sayin'
Older folks in our neighborhood got plenty of know-how
Remember if it wasn't for them, you wouldn't be out here now
And I ain't comin' at you with no disrespect
All I'm sayin' is that you damn well got to be correct
Because if you're gonna be speakin' for a whole generation
And you know enough to try and handle their education
Be sure you know the real deal about past situations
It ain't just repeatin' what you heard on the local TV stations
...Sometimes they tell lies and put 'em in a truthful disguise
But the truth is that's why we said it wouldn't be televised
They don't know what to say to our young folks, but they know that you do
And if they really knew the truth...why would they tell you?
The first sign is peace, tell all them gun totin' young brothas
That the man is glad to see us out there killin' one another
We raised too much hell when they was shootin' us down
So they started poisoning our minds tryin' to jerk us all around
And then they tell us they got to come in and control our situation
They want half of us on dope and the other half in incarceration
If the ones they want dead ain't killed by what they instigated
They put some dope on a brotha's body and claim it was drug related
Tell them drug related means there don't need to be no investigation
Or at least that's the way they're gon' play it on the local TV stations
All your 9-millimeter brothas...give them somthin' to think about
Tell them you heard that this is the new word, they got to work that stuff out
But somehow they feel in the wrong way with a gun in their hands
They feel real independent...but they just pullin' contracts for the man
Five and five will tell you it's hopeless out there on the avenue
But if they really knew the truth...why would they tell you?
And if they look at you like you're insane
And they start callin' you scarecrow and say you ain't got no brain
Or start tellin' folks that you suddenly gone lame
Or that white folks had finally co-opted your game
Or worse yet implying that you don't really know...
That's the same thing they said about us...a long time ago
Young rappers, one more suggestion before I get out of your way
But I appreciate the respect you give me and what you got to say
I'm sayin' protect your community and spread that respect around
Tell brothas and sistas they gotta calm that bullshit down
Cause we're terrorizin' our old folks and brought fear into our homes
And they ain't got to hang out with the senior citizens
Just tell them, “Dammit...leave the old folks alone”
And we know who rippin' off the neighborhood, tell them, “That BS has got to stop!”
Tell them you're sorry they can't handle it out there
But they got to take the crime off the block
And if they look at you like you're insane
And they start callin' you scarecrow and say you ain't got no brain
Or start tellin' folks that you suddenly gone lame
Or that white folks had finally co-opted your game
Or worse yet saying that you really don't know...
That's the same thing they said about me a long time ago
And if they tell folks that you finally lost your nerve
That's the same thing they said about us, when we said, “Johannesburg”
But I think the young folks need to know, that things don't go both ways
You can't talk respect on every other song or just every other day
What I'm speakin' on now is the raps about the women folks
On one song she's your African Queen on the next one she's a joke
And you ain't said no words that I haven't heard, but that ain't no compliment
It only insults eight people out of ten and questions your intelligence
Four letter words or four syllable words won't make you important
It'll only magnify how shallow you are and let everybody know it
And if they look at you like they think you insane
Or they call you scarecrow thinkin' you ain't got no brain
Or start tellin' folks that you suddenly gone lame
Or that white folks have finally co-opted your game
Or you really don't know...They said that about me a long time ago
If they finally start to tell people that you lost your nerve
That's what they said about Johannesburg
You ain't insane...you have got a brain
You haven't gone lame; you have got your game
Remember...keep the nerve
Keep the nerve
Keep the nerve
Keep the nerve
...I'm talkin' about peace

A Journey of Empowerment

Busy hands clap for Jesus, vibrations fill the air, Moans of joy, moans of sorrow, sometimes in silent prayer, When I think of Stone Mountain, its fragrant pine needle path, Trees and cousins aplenty, those memories make me laugh.

Busy hands churning butter, cooks everything from scratch, Country sausage, fried apples, sweet oatmeal none could match, I think of a country homestead with a sweet magnolia tree, Warm cozy patchwork quilting, those memories strengthen me.

Busy hands create a poultice pungent strong medicine, Red flannel warmth flowed freely, healed me from toe to chin, Memories of Mama Hanah's lemon pound cake and steaming spiked honey tea, Still Angels linger watching, those memories comfort me.

Busy hands making biscuits, crochet scarves Argo stiff, African violets and Cactus plants in red clay pots, create sharp pointed tips, Memories of seeds and harvest, big families once strong, Take me to the water, those memories linger on.

Busy hands pelling apples, tart slices, simmering sauce, Steamy, hot sugared laughter, red-checkered tablecloth, Strong bridges brought me over, times I just can't repeat, But when my life tastes bitter, those memories are sweet.