Chit Chat Today

So Lucky

SO LUCKY

Hello, Chit Chatters. To you Parents, Mothers, daughters, siblings. Ask yourself this one little question. Would a 5-year-old say this? Well, I’ll answer for you. Apparently, they do. For the first time since the pandemic my daughter and my son-in-law were able to get out of town and go to a wedding. I went to stay with my twin granddaughters for a few days so they could attend it. This would also be the first time that my granddaughters would not be seeing their parents for more than 24 hours. However, before leaving, my daughter made sure that my grandchildren had all the snacks that they liked. So here we are enjoying an evening snack and out of the mouth of babe comes something that you just would not expect from a 5-year-old. So calmly, so appreciative, so caring, so loving, and Sooooo unexpected, one of them says, “My mommy bought me this”, talking about the Ice Cream Sandwich she was eating. And with the sweetest little smile on her face, she added, “We’re so lucky to have her”. I looked at her. I smiled and then agreed with her, “You sure are”, I said. Wow, I thought. She really said that, and she meant it from her whole heart. What an honor to my daughter to have this said of her from her 5-year-old daughter. This reminds us that our children are watching and listening, have feelings and thoughts, and at any given time or moment, what they are feeling and what they are thinking might come out. The significance of her feelings for her mother, my daughter, and the fact that she was able to express it in that manner, was something more precious than anything I could imagine at that moment.

Children really do say the darndest things and we are so lucky to have them!

(Illustration by Avionne Akanbi)

HER Story: Pimped Out And I’m Tired

Her Story: PIMPED OUT AND I’M TIRED

These pimps are out there and they won’t leave me alone. I keep the hustle going but they still say they want more and more. “Get out there and make my money” they say. “And don’t come back here without it. If you don’t give me every penny that I need, I’m going to go up on it and you’re going to owe me more.”

But Misters, I’ll call them that, I don’t have anymore. I’m tired. Can I get off the street for a while? But they say “No. You get out there and make my money. Next time I tell you to make my money you better bring it to me on time.

But Mister, I got to get my car so I can get over there to the workplace.

“I don’t care about that car. If you want a roof over your head you better get me my money.”

But my lights, Mister, if I don’t have enough I won’t have lights.

“You don’t need lights for what you have to do. Just get on that hustle and get my money.”

But Mister, it’s cold and I need some gas around here.

“You don’t need any gas. Just snuggle up and get some more blankets. You’ll be fine. Just get me my money. We all need our money. Don’t I take care of you when you give me my money? So get me my money.”

They all say that they take care of me. But if I don’t get them their money they drop me. I don’t have any help. I go to one for help and tell them that I don’t have it. But they don’t care. Each one wants their money. They will take a big cut of whatever I get. So I ask, Mister, what if I can’t get all of it?

“That’s not my problem. You just get me my money.”

So here I am hustling every time I get a chance. My legs are always out there trying to make that Hustle. My legs are tired. And I say to them, I’m getting older. Don’t I get a break?

“A break? As long as you can walk you don’t get a break. You bring me my money. And I need it by 5 today.”

So all weekend long, I was on my hustle. Oh, but they’re still not satisfied. The Pimps keep riding my back day and night. I got a phone call from one of them.

“Where are you? Where is my money?”

I said let me out. I’m going to stop. But they know about each other and they all tell me that they own me. I’ll never get out. I called myself taking a couple of days off and I got a phone call from another one of those pimps.

He asked, “where the H… have you been? I have been waiting on my money.”

I explained that I had to get off my feet for a minute and that the hustle was killing me. He said, “I don’t care. I want my money by this afternoon or I will……… I was so stressed out, I didn’t hear the rest of it. But I knew I’d better get back on that hustle that very night and I did.

The Pimps are strong and unbending. They take over every facet of my life to the fact that I rarely enjoy it. Oh well, looks like The Pimps are still winning. I see I have to accept the fact that the pimps are in control.

The first of the month the rental company wants their money. Next is the power company, then gas company, the car insurance, the car payments and the list goes on and on. Pimps to the right, pimps to the left, pimps all around. And I’m stuck in the middle!! The Pimps are winning!!!! And the hustle goes on. I am PIMPED Out and I’m Tired! HELP! HELP!! HELP!!!

You Pray and try to be positive, but it feels like it does not seem to always work. Sometimes you just want to go to an isolated place and scream, just to get those feelings out. After that, you can hopefully think about your next step.

Any body ever feel this way? Believe me the number is astounding!

Working to pay bills and having nothing left to enjoy life or time with your family, A thought that enters many mines.

What can she do? What can we do?

My only thought right now is to help each other whenever we can and sometimes when we think we can’t?

Thanks for reading and listening Chit-Chatters. Your thoughts are welcomed.

CASTING CALL: MY 1ST AUDITION

Hello everybody. I just want to tell you about something exciting and new for me. I have been a nurse for many years and I felt like there was something else that I needed to do. So a few months ago it came into my head that I might want to be a mature plus-size model. They’re out there. I researched it and knew that the possibility is there, if I but put one foot forward and go for it. Anyway, how did I want to get started with this. I went online and found a website in Atlanta called www.Backstage.com. I joined the website then researched casting calls in the Atlanta area. I found one that I thought I might be interested in. This casting call was for people age 18 plus to do info-commercials. Well, I thought this is one for me. My age group 18 plus. So, I applied and received a message to appear for an audition.

With this invitation to audition, I was instructed to bring a resume. A resume? I thought, I haven’t done anything. But, per request I put something together. I researched sample beginner’s resumes and wa-lah, I created something to at least start with. They said if you don’t have anything to put down, put down something. So I’ll show a sample beginner’s resume. Anyway, I arrived for my audition an hour early. That was so that I could beat the Atlanta traffic going across town. I wanted to be early rather than late. But it really didn’t matter. As I sat in the parking lot waiting on my time to go in, there were many people going in and out. And of course more than one person was scheduled for each time slot. I went on in at 1:15. My appointment time was 1:30.

When I entered the building, I went into the room to the left and signed in. There were several people already sitting and waiting for their turn. Like the others I was given three sets of paragraphs to read. We were to choose two of them for our audition. We only had a few minutes to rehearse these sections. I chose the two that I felt I could do best. Finally, my name was called and at 2:15 I went in for my audition. I gave them my resume, skimpy as it was and completely lacking of experience. The interviewer appeared to accept it with respect, not showing like or dislike for what he was reading. He then proceeded with the interview. The first questions he asked me, were how did I hear about the audition and did I know anything about the company. So I explained to them that I felt it was similar to the people that we see in Walmart or other places advertising different products that they wanted us to try and hopefully buy. I did attend one in Walmart once and it was quite interesting. Of course I didn’t buy anything but you know, just to be there and listen to the presentation was interesting. So, after our little question and answer session, they asked me to read a section. Of course I stumbled a little bit, trying to read and trying not to read at the same time and trying to feel comfortable and trying to look confident. Well anyway, after I read one section, the gentleman said “…Well, I like the way you paused at different parts of it. But we have your information and if we have any other callbacks, we’ll let you know…” Aha…I thought, so whenever you hear “…we have your information…” you know what that means. So, I smiled and chuckled just a little, then asked “Well, no call back today?” He looked at me, with all sincerity and responded “No. No call back today.” And with a smile, I said thank you and left the room.

As I was leaving, I thought I might have read a little bit better, if I had rehearsed out loud. Of course, in a room of people, it is difficult to just start talking. Everyone was reading to themselves. Overall, this was quite an experience. It was fun. And it was exciting. And I’m thinking just for the experience alone, it was something new, different, and exhilarating. Just what I needed for a change of pace.

How Do You Know?

Chit Chat Today Ever wonder if he really likes you or if he is just stringing you along? Teenagers, young adults, middle-aged, or seniors. We all have those thoughts. No matter how long you’ve been seeing someone, you still wonder if he really cares. How can you tell if a person will be good for you past today? He may tell you “I care for you…you’re the only one for me”. He smiles and you melt. Yeah… Right! But now, he leaves your side and you can’t reach him. Your calls go to his voicemail. If he answers, your conversation is cut short… “Wait a minute, somebody’s calling me…I’ll call you back in a few minutes.” A few minutes takes 15 minutes, 30 minutes, then no return call at all. Yet, he said “You’re the only one for me.” Valentine’s Day, you may get a text, you may get a call, you may not hear from him at all. Yet…”You’re the only one for me.” Your birthday… Nothing, maybe an acknowledgement, maybe not. You’re supposed to go out to dinner, but he forgets. Something came up. He gives you an excuse but then maybe not. How about “… I forgot…” You ask, “You forgot? Am I not important enough to remember? He says “…I had something to do” You say, then, “Explain the emergency. What was more important than our relationship and me and my birthday?”

Your heart is all into him, this relationship and you want to believe. But you just don’t know how to. He disappears, no answer for 2 to 3 days. The whole weekend, then more days. But the worst thing, something happens that really disturbs you. A crisis to you. Is he there to support you? Does he lend a shoulder to cry on? Does he listen to your concerns and your feelings? Is he there when you need him? Excuses, excuses, excuses, “…I lost my phone. My phone died. My charger is not working….” Well, here comes the hard part for you. Your nagging mind wants an answer. How can you tell if he really cares for you? How do you know if he’s really into you? Let’s see if we can figure this out.

One day, a friend of mine said something that really got me to thinking. You may have heard it before. It’s not new. But now, you need to internalize the words. Apply it to yourself. How can you tell if someone is really into you?
SIMPLE…..SIMPLY THIS….

You need to – TAKE YOUR EMOTIONS OUT OF IT! I’ll say it again. Take your emotions out of it. Forget that you care for this person. Forget that you liked this person. Forget any words he may have said to you. Words are irrelevant at this point. Just look at him from the outside as if you’re someone else looking at this strange person. What do you see? What does he do? Look at him. Stand back now. Take a good look. Where is he when you need him? What is he doing? Remember, caring and loving are action words. How does he treat you? That’s how you know if he cares!

Feel free to Chit Chat your thoughts on this……

A Care Free Moment In Time

Good morning, Chit Chatters.

I was just driving along the Streets of Atlanta and saw two guys walking on the sidewalk eating chips and just bobbing, and dabbing and prancing as pretty as you please. One guy was black, wore a red shag hairdo, open shirt, short short blue jeans, and flip-flops. The white guy wore a plaid shirt, long blue jeans, dark blond looking hair, and sneakers. Both appearing just as happy as they could be on a beautiful sunny morning.

I was held up at a red light so as I watched, a thought crossed my mind and I just had to yell out the window “Hey—–y’all need to be in a movie” and the young white guy turned around, waved his hand across the air and said “That’s right child and we going to call it Sisters”. Then they continued their walk down the street. The black guy was prancing and the white guy was swaying. Hilarious. Not asking for anything. Not begging for anything. Just enjoying their moment and the world as it is. Dipping and dabbing and prancing and swaying to their own tune and to their own music. Not a care in the world.

Why am I telling this story? I don’t know. Just a little chit chat about a care free moment in time. Have you ever watched a television station and heard the words “Characters welcome”. Well, these are definite characters for a movie. Welcome them.

Take Off My Shoes???

Why should I take my shoes off?
I was recently asked how I felt about taking my shoes off when going to someone’s house who requires that anyone entering remove their shoes. I know for a fact that I do not like taking my shoes off. I do not like walking barefoot even if I’m wearing socks. I don’t like walking flat. At home, I have slippers with a little heel on them. They’re easy to slip on and off. So, if I was invited to someone’s house who requires me to have my shoes off, I would be very hesitant. And, may not want to go in. I do understand the desire to keep one’s home free of germs and bacteria and bug juice and all of that that’s in the environment outside. However, I think that if that is a requirement, then I should be forewarned that I would have to relinquish my shoes. I don’t think it should be a surprise once I get to the door and expect to enter then told that I need to check my shoes at the door. I would probably be a little bit upset about that. And wonder why I was not told beforehand. So, would I take my shoes off or not? Thinking about it right now, I really don’t know. But if forewarned, at least I would have a chance to make a decision as to whether I would go or not. May be forewarned, I could buy a new pair of slippers with the tags on and show them that they are new. I also think that I should be allowed to clean my shoes with some type of disinfectant prior to entering rather than take my shoes off and walk barefoot. I don’t walk barefoot around the house in my own home.

Chat with me a minute. What do you think? To remove or not to remove that is the question.

Carefree Chit Chat is good for your soul!!

Please feel free to like and share with your friends.

Blogger Week 2017 Unconference Washington DC

Hey everybody. This weekend of August 11-13 was the fourth annual Blogger Week Unconference in Washington, DC. Presented by Black Bloggers Connect and founder Jessica Ann Mitchell-Aiwuyor, who just so happens to be my daughter. The unconference was held at Trinity University where flocks of bloggers gathered to mingle and meet bloggers from all over the country. I had the pleasure of attending for the fourth year and had a great time. The networking mixer was Friday evening at the Mule Bone hosted by The Black Public Relations Society of DC.

The Saturday Unconference was full of energy and excitement as attendees attended sessions of their choice about topics that would help them with their blog. Newbie bloggers as well as seasoned bloggers all flocked together to share their interest and ideas.

Sunday I attended the last event for Blogger Week 2017. This was a fashion show at the Ritz-Carlton held outside in a beautiful garden area they called “The Yard”. As I said, I had a great time and look forward to the Blogger Week events for next year!

Check out my photo at the mixer with Founder Jessica Aiwuyor

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The next photo is at the Unconference on Saturday with Dr. Shantella Y. Sherman, author of “In search Of Purity”

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Pictures from the fashion show at the Ritz Carlton

I had a ball at all the events!

Chit Chat Today

20170809_163659 I like flea markets, yard sales, and thrift store shopping. I like getting up early Saturday morning and following the signs to all the yard side specials. However, I want to talk about the picture. I found this picture at a yard sale. When I looked at it, I said, that’s me. I immediately identified with the young lady relaxing and enjoying life. Stress free, time standing still, as she soaked in the pleasantry of the day. Look at her. Relaxed. Just enjoying her “me time”. This is how I see me, at least this is how I’d like to see me. Hair back, feet up on the post, and maybe a glass of lemonade on the side. Just taking in the scene of everything around me. That’s me and I feel great! So I encourage you, I invite you to find your special place that relaxes you and help you to regenerate your soul and your mind as you conquer your day to day demands.

As I look at the picture and imagine myself relaxing, my mind wanders into the Chit Chat zone. Idle chit-chat is easy, it’s calming, and it’s whatever pops into your head. It will help keep your day on a positive note.

So let’s chit chat about little bits of nothing to help smooth out the rough edges of our day.

Welcome to Chit Chat Today!