Special Events
2024 Leap Year Day
Leap Year Day 2020 landed on a Saturday. Of course, I hosted a potluck BYOB plus some to share party at my place for a few friends. This was one of the last in-person events that I’d both attended and hosted. Fast forward to the present year. Leap Year Day had the nerve to land … Continue reading
From Austin with Love
Although the Bob Marley movie dropped on a Wednesday since it was Valentine’s Day, my sister and I watched it on Saturday. Even if this movie wasn’t officially a sing-along, how could I not sing along? Showing Off My Crown As a matter of fact, we were the last two out of the theatre after … Continue reading
Super Bowl Fan
Last year in mid-April, Dad fell, resulting in a fractured hip. In his 80s, Dad’s life-altering accident meant that going places had been very challenging. Even within his own house. Bought in 1979, my parents’ house has three sets of stairs. Upon entering the front door, one can go down three stairs to the den … Continue reading
Stretching with Goats
I’ve taken many stretching and yoga classes before, but never with goats. I would have taken this 90-minute stretch class even without the goats, but they were definitely the stars of the event. Kids in the Cubbies This was the first time in their monthlong lives that they had been inside a building. Initially, their … Continue reading
Museum Visit: Percy Martin
Proving both sayings that “the best-laid plans go awry” and “when life give you lemons, make lemonade,” my family and I went to a museum in Maryland on a Sunday to see our cousin Percy Martin’s exhibit only to discover that the building was closed. One of my sisters persuaded a maintenance man to unlock … Continue reading
Trap N Poetry
Once again, I convinced my sister to attend a cultural event with me. This was produced by the same two Black women who’d brought that fabulous Juneteenth extravaganza to life a few months ago. The Emcee & Me From the description, the event sounded similar to a poetry slam, but set to trap music. Unlike … Continue reading
53rd Daylong Birthday Celebration
Proving once again that I can have a meaningful celebration even if it’s midweek and for a day, I started off my birthday with a light breakfast at home, followed by a mango smoothie at one of the coolest coffee shops in town. As a matter of fact, one of my prolific poetry-writing friends had … Continue reading
Dad’s Home
Dad shattered his hip a few days after his 85th birthday in April and he returned a few days before Mom’s 83rd and my 53rd birthday in September. The time in between birthdays had been a long road to recovery. Welcome Home Hugs My childhood bedroom had been converted into Dad’s convalescence room, complete with … Continue reading
Alternative Housing
As a family, we’d kicked the housing can down the road until we’d just about reached the end. We’d been blessed with general good health until the complications of age and reduced mobility brought us to research and strategize alternative housing. My parents bought their current house in 1979 when they were still physically vibrant, … Continue reading
2023 Strange Family Reunion
This year marked our 82nd continuous Strange Family Reunion and the first time we were back in person after three years of virtually meeting during the pandemic. We essentially had two themes for this family reunion: “Back Down Memory Lane” and “Celebrating Our Second Generation Legacies.” What we meant by “second generation” was second freeborn … Continue reading