We Keep Telling Our Story

 Listened to Martin Luther King, Jr.

Saw President Obama's Inauguration

The good thing is we are allowed to tell it.

(America, Home of the Free 
                and the Brave.)
And, we tell it, not just them.

(Raisin in The Sun, 
             Do The Right Thing, 
                                  The Butler)

 Change occurs/or not – in pockets; 
               in symbols; 
                           in rules.

Many of us walk as if change has occurred everywhere.

We walk as if nothing bad will happen.

We know it very well could; Racism remains the scourge.

May America Realize An Improved Future

  
 . . .Thanks to Artist Jai Haley for the art work. . .

A Special Day

It’s your birthday!  Happy Birthday to YOU!

A smile brightens my face and my heart sings.

You wouldn’t know that. 

But I learned it was your day

And I am happy for you and those who love you.

To me, birthdays are the most special of all days,

                       
                          ♪   ♫   ♪   ♬   ♪

Looking back, several birthday celebrations especially remembered:

Eyes on the candle-topped ground beef & string bean cake 

There was Pugslee’s very first, observed on summer vacation in the country.  We baked a ‘dog-friendly’ cake for the thoroughly loved bulldog AND a traditional cake for the rest of us.  Obviously Pugslee is focused on his favorite of the two.

One year my young grandchildren joined me in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the anniversary of his birthday.  We made the cake; decorated it; spoke about him and his life; sang happy birthday; blew out the candles.  And, we enjoyed that cake!

More than ten years have passed since we did the same, observing the 100^th birthday of their great-grandfather – my father, in heaven.

Yes, It's A Birthday Cake

More recently (not yet six years ago) there was my daughter’s birthday when her artist daughter surprised us, presenting this innovative Birthday Cake.  Jai made the fabulous ‘Giraffe Cake’ from start to finish.   It was delicious!

                                
                                   
                                  ♪   ♫   ♪   ♬   ♪

Birthdays are special.  May you enjoy yours today or another magnificent day.

St. Valentine's Day 2015

“Cold permeates space

Water frozen under foot

Gliding, he holds me. 

Fireplace embers glow

Goblets of wine his and mine

Outside, inside, warm.”

                                      

                                      − M L Stith

 

Love to You this Valentine's Weekend.    

          

         

Black History Month Tribute

Dr. Barbara McAlpine Woods

December 9, 1945 – December 23, 2004

        Barbara lived and worked in St. Louis, Missouri.  This is from the St. Louis American newspaper’s front-page article - December 30, 2004 issue.  Notice of her passing was also carried in the New York Amsterdam News and all local St. Louis papers.

          While taking care of her family, Dr. Woods passionately served on Commissions and Boards such as the Urban League, the St. Louis Art Museum, Civic Task Forces, the Girl Scouts of America, the YMCA and more.  She encouraged young people to pursue their education and be contributors, confident of their tremendous value in the world.  “Have a plan and keep building on that plan.” She was a determined force petitioning leaders to provide the best for the communities they represented.  Many benefited from her untiring dedication to a project.

       Cancer took Barbara from us more than ten years ago.  It was surely much too soon, but her inspiration lives on in those she taught by her works and her words.

        I join many others who will always remember the life Barbara M. Woods lived as educator, strategist, communicator, wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother and heralded African-American Studies scholar.  She earned her Doctorate in African-American Studies from St. Louis University.

        Proudly, Barbara was my sister-in-law, forever loved and dearly missed.