Days of My Life

I was taught when things go from bad to worse you pray harder. I’m praying now. My father needs an absolute miracle to be here much longer. My mother is preparing for the worst. I am just preparing.

My dad is such a fighter that he refuses to discuss dying. He’s only interested in living and will entertain no depressing talk. He has taught me more about faith than anyone I know, and that’s amazing considering that for a long time he did not believe. He is adamant that he will one day be walking again and not have any of the problems that confront him now. If attitude counts for anything at all, he is heads and shoulders above the rest.

This is my therapy. Right here. When you see the title “Therapy Session,” that is a clue to my subject matter. If this hits too close to home or depresses you, then you see the title and move on. I should warn you though that even at my worst moments I tend to find rainbows in storm clouds, so what you think may depress you may actually lift you up.

Today, please, on my behalf, rather than solicit your prayers (which we need), I ask that you contact someone you love who may or may not love you and let them know how special they are to you and how special they are in God’s eyes. Please, spread a little love for me.

I’m out.

Help me out. What is an ideal gift for a man with whom you are not intimate but really close friends?

I already have something I’ve made and something I’ve written, but I need a something I’ve bought to complete this very special gift. He is celebrating an extraordinary professional accomplishment, and I want something useful and personal. I think the first two cover personal.

I’ve narrowed my ideas down to the following based on our conversations :

-a dress shirt and tie
-a french-cut shirt, tie and/or cuff links
-polo or golf shirt(s)
-business card case.

Another option is to make something else. I’m extremely creative. He loves pictures, so I thought of making a movie out of some pictures I have of him, but I’m not sure I have enough to pull that off. We’ll see though. I actually have a picture of he and his male family members that I could get framed for his office. I don’t know. I just don’t know. We’ll do some more celebrating throughout the year in other ways, but for the actual day I just want to give him things that will mean something personal to him.

Feel free to post links, pictures, and suggest stores. I have roughly a week to make this happen, so ordering something may be out of the question. This is for the young man from “I Hope He Knows,” so this has to be special. I heart him mucho.

What are your favorite male gift ideas? What is the best gift you’ve ever received? Do guys appreciate flowers? Be good readers and please give me input, okay? OOOOOkay.

So Jesse’s use of the n-word somehow got leaked, and this is the same J.J. who was a proponent of burying the said n-word.

What say you ladies and gentlemen of the jury?

Does J.J. get a pass? Is the word alright for private but not public? Does the word maintain its “for use by Black folks only” status? What gives?

Please, weigh in.

Tonight I wanted to text message God: I need you. That was going to be my message. Just three words. I’ve prayed, meditated, and prayed again. Opening the Book wouldn’t hurt, but my latest thought was to find a way to TMG–text message God.

My maternal grandma used to sing, “Jesus on the mainline. Tell Him what you want. Just call Him up and tell Him what you want.” I guess I’d better get to calling.

Good night, folks.

Hello Good People!

Life keeps coming and coming at me fast. I’m in this strange place that’s merging the good with the not so good.

Last week I was traveling. If anyone ever tells you that traveling through the Deep South (a la GA, AL, MS, TN, LA) late at night alone is a good idea, they’re lying. Ever hear of Meridien, MS? Next time you’re through there, make sure you go all the way THROUGH.

I digress. I was traveling, had a great time, but on day two of my funness got a call that my beloved Pa had to be hospitalized. He’s still there. I lost about 10 pounds from the day I got the msg to about two days ago. A little less than a week. I guess I can’t complain since I wanted to lose some weight anyway. ~shrug~ I guess I just didn’t plan to do it that way. I’m eating again, but exercise is my new outlet. I’ll be a fit little something by the time it’s all said and done.

So, my funness, let’s get back to that. I met some cool people. Got plenty of blog fodder. Here’s one tidbit. I was at my friend’s grandmother’s house. This was my first time meeting her although stories about her antics are legend. We’re sitting in a nice little family circle of conversation when the phone rings. Grandma answers and from there on the fecal matter hits the fan. Whomever dared to call got an earful because bed-ridden grandma threatened to burn down the whole city if the person on the other line didn’t make good on his word. Whatever his response, grandma replied in kind by providing her address and almost daring the poor man to come to her door. It was more like a dare and a you BETTER be here at the same time. And she was SERIOUS!!! When she hung up, she reiterated how she would burn it up round there. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing because I’m sure whomever called had no intentions of experiencing hell’s fury. It was funny to me. Anybody else have a feisty grandma or grandpa like this?

My own grandmother is bent over severely and uses a walker with great difficulty. She got my aunt to take her to the grocery store and cursed out a very nice melanin deprived gentleman who thought he was doing a good deed. Why might you ask? Because he offered her a wheelchair. The nerve of him!!! *eyeroll* My grandma is a trip, so I can’t talk about anybody else’s. She’ll curse her neighbors, friends, and even her own kin. I don’t mean she uses a curse word or two. I mean she opens up the arsenal only reserved for pirates. So much for a dear, sweet, cookie-baking woman.

What else? I met the sweetest Chinese dog with a French name I’ve ever seen. I’d post a pic but it’s still in my camera.

I’m leaving my summer home in about two weeks. It will be sorely missed. I’m also contemplating moving and making my summer home my permanent home for a little while. The heavens are aligning, and only time will tell.

So that’s the space I’m in. I’m cool. Just coping and dealing with stuff with a slice of happy on the side while adversity is the main dish. I’m gone see about stretching my happy as far as it will go.

Oh yeah, I have a side bar. You know how T.D. Jakes has that book Can You Stand to Blessed? He says that being blessed requires some preparation and everyone isn’t ready. Well, what if that works in other areas as well? Like, do you think it’s possible that one must be able to stand to be loved as well? Just wondering. I like India.Arie’s I Am Ready for Love, but then I have to ask myself, am I really?

Hasta luego.