Slow Down...

A few things happened since we last met up. Had a couple days off from work which helped me get all set for this semester in school. One class meets every other Saturday, starting on the 21st. We will see how that goes. After last semester, to battle traffic after work, on top of wonder if I'd even get off of work on time to get to class, did me in. An online class starts tomorrow, so another adventure awaits, plus I want to take a couple classes at a community college. The are required for my degree and cheaper than my university. Those community classes will be in half the usual semester time. Should be all of an adventure. Oh, and one last thing of school, on Saturday I got the idea to pursue my Master's in Communications. The reason will be for another post.
OK, and the other thing which took up my time is my hot water heater decided to conk out. Yea. At 5 AM Saturday morning. The sound of 'something' woke me up. I thought the toilet was running. Wrong. I've learned in the last couple days, I'm blessed because my water heater is in my hallway, and not my attic. The poo-poo stuff is, this happened on a weekend, a holiday weekend at that, for us in the States: Martin Luther King Day. Seems my city requires a permit to install a water heater. Who knew? Well, today was national holiday, so city offices were closed. I know more about water heaters now than I did on Friday.
I will need to boil water for a couple more days. I feel so Little House on the Prairie, until I plop on the couch and surf thru my over 200 TV channels. Nonetheless, the cost of the water heater was to remain in my bank account for something FUN. Water heaters are what your parents buy...not US.
Oh well. I'll go back and tickle the cute cat's tummy. Makes me happy. :)

Remember Martin Luther King Jr

When I was a kid, I had no clue who Martin Luther King Jr really was. Yea, OK, I saw him alot on the news broadcasts talking about 'colored people'--but I didn't get it. I rarely saw black folks on TV. In fact, I want to say Bill Cosby could have been about it on "I Spy." I grew up in a pre-dominantly white community, yet I never experienced 'colored only' water fountains or bathrooms. So on TV, to see people the same color as me, walking with signs, or being chased by dogs, sprayed with water and police beating them--I didn't 'get' it. I'm sure I asked my parents why those things were happening.

Since I can't remember their answer, it must have something to sooth my grade school mentality. My priorities then were the reruns of Leave it to Beaver and the carton Huckleberry Hound. In fact, Huck and his friends were on my TV, the day the news broke in and said Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated.

I do remember that. I yelled out to my parents who sat in the kitchen. They soon stood at my door to watch the news. My dad said "I'll be damned." Their faces dropped and clouded.

I admit I didn't really embrace my culture or my heritage until I much older. Don't get me wrong, my pre-dominantly white Iowa hometown will always be my home. It wasn't until I left did I realize how much I missed out growing up. I faced alot of inner-race racism because folks, black folks told me I didn't sound or act black enough. Then it began when a white person would meet me and tell me I didn't sound black on the phone. My question to both eventually became, "What does black sound like?"

Now as an adult, I do 'get' this. I can listen to the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I hear his determination, strength and courage. I look at the young folks of today who have more things Dr. King could ever dream of.

And I wonder if they 'get' it and/or even hear a whisper?

MLK: History

Martin Luther King Jr

Thank you for The Dream

January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968

November 4, 2008 was Tuesday

Once upon a time families were

Torn apart and a price

Put on their heads.

There were folks who forever had a dream-

And shouted it to millions

Far and near because one day...

There would be a day

When history

Looked upon a page from yesterday.

As he moved his own family in

a White House folks of the past

Broke their backs to build-

Folks voted for Change on this day a year ago.
Today some folks are still not happy.

Economy. War. Jon & Kate.

This family is in it for the long haul-

As were families of long ago

And so am I.

I remain optimistic.

That's why God graced us with patience.

History.

April 4, 1968 was Thursday

Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated this day in Memphis.
I watched some cartoon on my TV while I waited for supper.
Then ABC broke into my cartoon, and I was upset--at first.
The action in our kitchen stopped.
I heard my daddy say "I'll be damned."
Silence from my mom.
I really didn't get it then.
Except I knew Martin Luther King's children wouldn't have a daddy.
Same way I felt when Caroline Kennedy lost her daddy.
On this day, so many years later. I still think of the King children.
One is Home with her parents.
The other three seem to be layered with discontent.
I wish I could ask my own parents their own thoughts on that Thursday in 1968.

Fast forward to this day in 2009.
What a glorious day the Lord has made and be glad in it.
Attended a breakfast meeting, which seemed to help me more than the meeting's leader.
More validation and fellowship about my passions.
More thought to step out of the box.
More than I thought I had--yet really haven't.
It's been a horrible week due to some ill fated decisions.
I thought He gave me the go-ahead.
Wrong.
It was more the go-head to see how I tackle a barrel of rotten apples.
Truth is, I feel the peace inside me as I work on the resolve.
He didn't bring me this far to leave me.

Just like He didn't leave Martin Luther King Jr.

We are blessed.

January 15, 1929 was a Tuesday

When a baby boy was born in Atlanta, Ga.
He grew up to engage the fight for respect and civil rights of others.
On an August 1963 day, he spoke to millions about a Dream.
In 2008, Martin Luther King's Dream began to be reality.
The vote for President of these United States proved it.
History.

Something to be said about...

Then
Later
Now.



History.