God, Garlic and Grounding

Hours of Operation

When you have a business or even go to a business establishment, there are “Hours of Operation.” Meaning, a time from which the business is open, until the time they close.  

As the owner of a business, you decide which hours you want your business to run. For example, if you have a hair salon, and you list your hours of operation between 10 am to 6 pm, then those are your hours of service.

Here’s the problem I want to address. Why is there a cutoff time before the cutoff time, when the cutoff time should be exactly at the closing hour listed?

I’ve seen this happen even with most government offices like City Hall, or the DMV… where there are no new tickets or numbers given out and no walk-ins will be seen within the last 30 minutes or so.  
That gives the staff time to finish with those already in there waiting within the last 30 minutes.

Now let’s talk about some restaurants as well. And when it comes to restaur...

Baggage Claim

Baggage claim -  
What are you bringing or have brought into your relationship?  
Are you bringing checked bags or carry ons? Did you bring extra suitcases, or are you just bringing a personal item?

Let’s talk about it.  
When a relationship ends, everyone tends to bring something from their previous relationship and 90 percent of the time they are not bringing nothing positive. They are definitely packing and bringing the negativity. Negativity that includes hurt, lies, betrayal, abuse, lack of trust, rejection, insecurities, fear, doubt, worry, and more.  
Every time when you leave a relationship, you make sure you take all your “stuff” with you. Your stuff meaning, all the baggage you have endured, along with all the baggage you brought into the relationship.

But why? Tell me WHY? Why is it so important that we make sure to claim our baggage and bring it with us. The question is, do we really...

Commander in Sleep

So Embarrassing! 
Everyday this one finds more and more ways to embarrass this country.

Lunch after Love

As we sit here eating talking about life’s lessons  
and all that was taught  
We laugh about the box and bottle  
and the puppy that he brought

Hide yo food in the microwave before it gets sold  
Are one of the many fun stories that’s told

But what do you do when the sex, love and feelings are gone  
When the one who lost it still lingers on  

I look at peace around the world  
He looks at me wishing I was still his girl  
I can talk and talk throughout the day  
Yet he can’t really get out the words to say  

I really like the way we laugh a bunch  
So what’s wrong with breakfast, dinner, or lunch

Sitting down chillin’ is really cool  
Cause there’s nothing different about this dude  
What we had was us doing our thing  
We...

On the Marta, on the Marta

On the Marta, on the Marta  
My son met yo daughter  
He was scrolling on his phone, then he looked up and caught her  
Smiling at him, they started talking on the Marta

She said she was hungry  
Should he take her out to eat?  
Yeah, I think he oughta  
So they got off the Marta 

She wanted grits, eggs and bacon  
So that’s what he bought her  
Put cheese on yo grits was what he taught her  
It didn’t cost much, only an extra quarter  
And as for a drink, well, she only wanted water  

After their meal, they got back on the Marta  
As far as them dating, it didn’t go any farther  
But that’s how they spent their day on the Marta, lol

The Poetry Police

Dear Readers,  
Have any of you ever had a run in with the Poetry Police? Just asking.

Let me address this right now. And this is just a friendly reminder from my point of view.

Poetry is Limitless. And I do understand there are many different styles and forms of poetry. I believe there is no right or wrong way to write poetry. Maybe there is, but like I said, “This is My point of view.”

And as we know, poetry is an expression of the poet's thoughts and feelings. I write how I write, and as a poet, I allow the reader to be inspired by taking them inside this mind of mine.  
My mind is not your mind, so my thinking will not be your thinking.  
My creativity when it comes to writing at times is totally different.  
 

Let me speak for myself.  
When I write, there may be times where there may be a run on sentence, incorrect grammar, or when subject verb agreements...

Patty and the Purple Peppermint

Ok yall, so my friend bought me a spiritual book for my birthday. A month later, I bought her a spiritual book as well, plus a comfy blanket with Bible verses on it. Now mind you, it’s been over 4 months since her birthday.

Well, the other day we were talking and I shared with her this amazing book I was reading about the power of your words. We gradually started talking about other things. She then expressed to me how she felt offended and hurt because for her birthday I told her, “I bought you a book for your birthday since you bought me a book for mine.”

She became tearful and emotional on the phone as she said she gave me the book because it helped her spiritually and that it was placed on her heart to give it to me and a few other people.  
The book was meaningful to her and it meant so much for her to give it to me.  
However, she said, because I never said anything about the book (meaning, I didn’t give he...

Walking Black in America

Something as simple as walking Black in America can be a risk, especially for Black males. They are sometimes labeled as suspicious, not all the time, that’s why I said “sometimes.”  
They can be harassed, singled out, targeted, stopped, questioned or even arrested just for being Black.

Suspicious can be considered as, walking Black, the type of clothes you’re wearing, your hairstyle, for walking in “their” neighborhood. I don’t know a single person who owns a “neighborhood,” but whatever. It can be if you’re walking in a group, walking by yourself, if you’re walking with your hands in your pockets, the time of day, the time of night, walking too fast, walking too slow, or even to meet a quota.

So keep in mind, while walking Black in America, you may be considered a “high risk,” and it’s a possibility you “might” get stopped, so I ask that you please be ...

Hurricane Katrina - 20 years later

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina stormed through New Orleans and Louisiana. The only difference was, in New Orleans (intentional or not), the levees broke.  
The flood waters flooded the 9th ward and most of the city causing tremendous flooding, devastation, destruction, damages, desertion, depression, dislocation, death and more.
It was a world wide wake up call to see the suffering and feelings of loss, loneliness, abandonment, uncertainty, survival, sadness and cruelty.  

Just last month in July, I saw a documentary on Surviving Katrina. It was a 5 part series that showed the complete devastation and destruction as to what was actually happening in and around the city.  
It showed the Convention Center, the Super Dome, people stranded on rooftops, death, city officials, confusion, hurt, tears, cries for help, etc. This was my first time in 20 years actually getting to see what the world was seeing and all that was happening in...

You see, I see

You see me walking with a limp  
I see me walking by faith  
You see me working at a gas station  
I see me aligned and in position  
You see me driving a 20 year old car  
I see another answered prayer

You see me as a single woman with 5 children  
I see me as a woman of strength  
You see me as a sinner  
I see me as forgiven  
You see me struggling  
I see me prospering

You see me as scared
I see me as a conqueror  
You see me sick  
I see me healed  
You see me with a bonnet on my head  
I see God’s covering and protection over me

You see me as rejected  
I see me as redeemed  
You see me not married  
I see me living in peace  
You see me as forgotten  
I see me as Chosen…

I see God while you see me.