Who Needs a Matching Set Anyway?

So I was washing dishes earlier and realized that I only have FIVE spoons, TWO knives and NO forks. I was a bit perplexed wondering how this happened.

As I thought about it a little longer, a memory of my mother quickly popped into my mind. I remembered how she would go to thrift stores and buy used silverware. Probably for about 10 cents per piece...maybe a quarter at the most. At the time, I thought it to be a bit odd. WHY would anyone ever want someone else's USED silverware??? I don't think that any TWO pieces in her drawer matched and thought it was kinda weird.

Now I realize that that was just one of the many UNIQUE, carefree characteristics that made up my mother. As I type these words I am a bit ashamed of the way that didn't always understand her while she was here. Now...all I wanna do is HUG her and say, "I get it."

As you can probably guess...I will be heading to the local thrift store in the very near future and will stock up on some "not-so-new" silverware. As long as I wash it thoroughly, it'll be fine. It never hurt my mother and it certainly won't hurt me.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What is the oddest thing that you've ever purchased from a thrift store?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Quirks...We All have at LEAST One, right?

So I was cleaning my bathroom the other day and part of my routine is to pick up the towel that's next to the bathtub. That's the towel that's used to step on when one gets out of the tub or shower.

I do this DAILY, well...because that's how often we bathe around here. ;-)

What I realized though is that not everybody does the whole "daily towel removal" thingy because most folks have a pretty little matching bathroom rug set that includes the toilet seat cover, the thingy that goes at the bottom of the toilet, and the rug for the tub. I think that all of those things are GROSS! Yes folks, I've just shared with you another one of my quirks (of which there are many).

I have this thing about stepping on stuff with my bare feet, which is why I always wear socks in the house. My house. Your house. Doesn't matter...I'm WEARING some socks!

So I just can't do the whole, stepping on the same bathtub rug day after day after day. Nope. No can do. And what EXACTLY is that thing around the base of the toilet for anyway??? I almost think I don't wanna know.

Now there IS *ONE* rug in my bathroom, but it's never stepped on WET. It's in front of my sink and I stand on it WITH SOCKS ON. I sometimes have to stand for a long time (especially if I'm doing my hair) and my socks on the hard floor gets a bit uncomfortable after a while. So...there's a rug.

How 'bout you?

Let the DIALOGUE begin: You may be ok with the whole bathroom rug set thingy, but what other quirk(s) do YOU have?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Let's Talk about Hair!

So a couple weeks ago I went and got my hair done professionally. The last time I had my hair done was November 22, 2014 -- the day of my Mom's Homegoing service.

Although I love wearing my hair pressed...my pressed hair doesn't love me. When pressed, my hair now goes from Europe back to Africa in about 60 seconds flat. It just doesn't wanna stay straight anymore. I don't know if it's because I've been wearing it "natural" since March 1, 2013, or if my hair has simply changed. Who knows?

Anyhoo...back to my visit to the salon a couple weeks ago.

I got my hair in a "rod set." It was something that I'd been curious about for a while so finally went ahead a did it. Cost me $45 and I loved the immediate result. What I didn't expect (although I should have since this hair has been on my head for 40+ years now, so nothing it does should surprise me) was how quickly it got fuzzy. I even bought one of those satin bonnets. My hair wasn't havin' it and STILL frizzed up. And it got sooo kinky. The coils from the rods just got tighter and tighter until they were just these tiny little kinks all over my head. And they were sooo difficult to untangle. Even when I washed my hair, they were still there. *Sigh*

Finally, after I don't know how many washes later, I got rid of the tangles. Finally.

I still wasn't ready to press my hair again, and I also didn't have another $45 to get my hair done (I just got paid on the 30th and I am OUT OF CASH until the 15th. Sad...I know...but 100% true.)

So last night I thought I'd try something new. I washed my hair and twisted it in little sections. I think in "natural hair" terms that's called a "twist out".

So I twisted it and hoped that it would dry. My hair is super thick and takes FOREVER to dry.

So here I am with all these little twists all over my head and wouldn't you know it..."Joe" shows up. That dude! Funny...when he got here he asked why I hadn't called him earlier. I didn't say anything...just pointed to my head. He shook his. I know that how my hair looks doesn't matter to him, but it matters to me, so...

At about 2:00 I decided to see the final result. Let me tell YOU...it came out KEE-YOOT!!! I love it! I love the fact that #1...it was FREE, and #2...it actually looks nice. No tight kinky coils, just waviness all over my head. Joe used an interesting adjective...he said it looked "comfortable". That was new. But he liked it. He loves my hair anyway I wear it but I think he really does like natural styles the best. He's not really a weaves and braids kinda guy, and I love that about him. Actually, it's one of the MANY things that I love about him...but I'll write about that more later.

I was gonna post a pic of my hair, but I'm too laze to work on getting the right angle. Then I thought I'd look for one on Google Images and use that. But...I can't find one that looks EXACT. What I did learn though by looking for a pic is that my hair is 4A natural, with a patch of 4C (maybe even D) in the middle. That stuff is NAPPY. It trips me out because the rest of my hair is not like that. Just that patch in the middle that's straight outta Africa. That patch just doesn't play well with the rest of my hair. It's about 2 inches shorter than the rest and so very coarse. I just don't get it.

Anywhoo...for my natural sistahs out there...

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What type is YOUR natural hair and do you style it yourself or go to a salon regularly?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

13 Days Until...

July. Month of my birth.

This year its arrival is bittersweet.

I've always loved the month of July and the many birthday celebrations that take place throughout. Yes...I'm one of "those" people who celebrates their birthday from the FIRST day of the month to the LAST. I simply LOVE celebrating this LIFE that God has given me. Not that everyday isn't cause for celebration, but there's just something special for me about the actual MONTH.

So as much as I am anticipating the arrival of July 14th, I'm not quite sure at this very moment how kind the day will be for me. You see...every birthday, for as long as I can remember, my mother would sing me "The special birthday song". Every year...without fail. No matter how old I got...I could count on hearing that song. I never realized just how special it was until November 9, 2014 when my Mom left her life here on Earth and began her eternal life in Heaven. Hearing her sing the song on July 14th, 2014 was the last time I will ever hear her sing it (at least in THIS life anyway).

So at this very moment in time, I just don't know what to expect. I pray that I'll be ok. Perhaps I'll spend the day reflecting on the life of the woman who brought me into this world. Then again...that might NOT be such a good idea because it'll probably make me cry. And there's no crying on your birthday, right?

We'll see.

Anyhoo...we have 13 more days to go. If you're reading this and you're one of my friends...holla at cha girl on the 14th please. I'm gonna need a WHOLE LOTTA love on that day.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: If your Mom is no longer with us here on Earth, how long has it been? Have you had a birthday without her yet?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Because He said so!

Have you ever heard the phrase, "I'm angry, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"?

Well...that's about where I am today. Not so much "angry", but frustrated by what I've been reading...and I just couldn't take it anymore, so here I am.

Most of this country (and probably in places across the globe) are aware of the heinous act of hatred that took place last week in South Carolina. Since that horrific incident, many of the victims' families have spoken out, and expressed FORGIVENESS toward the monster who committed the crime.

When I heard those family members speak, I remember thinking to myself, "They get it. As followers of Christ, they are doing EXACTLY what they have been commanded to do. God is well pleased." Yes...that was my thought. What so many folks are not understanding is that, just because these families have extended forgiveness, doesn't make them weak, doesn't mean that they didn't love those whose lives were taken in that horrific act of violence, doesn't mean that they condone what the monster did (I REFUSE to mention his name!) It simply means that they don't just READ the Word of God, but they LIVE it. That's HUGE!!! So many Christians...in fact...TOO MANY Christians, are just flippin' through the pages. Not these people. They are more than just "hearers of the Word", they are "DOERS".

When I heard their statements, I stopped and thought, "Would I do the same? Could I do the same?" The answers to both of those questions for me, are YES. Would it be easy? OF COURSE NOT!!! But would I, could I? YES.

How? You might ask.
Why? You might ask.

My answer: Because of Christ. Plain and simple.

As His follower, I must forgive as I expect to be forgiven. That's what it says in God's Word.

Then there are those who say, "You don't know WHAT you would do, until you are in that situation." Yeah yeah...I've read that a zillion times since last week's tragedy. I pray that I will never be put in that situation, yet...if I am going to trust in God's Word...ALL OF IT, then I would HAVE to forgive. No ifs, ands or buts about it.

Am I a perfect Christian? Nope. Far from it.
Do a live my life to every letter of God's Word. Not hardly. In fact, I miss the mark DAILY.

But am I accountable for what God's Word says and how I am to apply it to my life, YES!

Here's the thing...No, I have never suffered (directly or indirectly) from such an act as what happened last week, but if I did (and again, I pray that I'll never have to), I know what I must do.

My flesh would not want to forgive, but my Spirit knows that I must. For two reasons: One, because (I know I'm about to sound like a broken record), God's Word COMMANDS me to, and Two, because holding on to such hatred, anger and bitterness will only eat ME up inside. I know a lot of folks who are holding on to negativity for far lesser reasons, and although they don't even realize it, I can see it eating away at them. They're angry all the time...belligerent all the time...want to argue all the time. Where is the JOY in that?!? Me, I have too much living to do...too much JOY to experience. There is NO WAY that I would allow that monster to rob me of my joy...absolutely NO WAY!

Now I completely understand how folks who don't believe in Christ can say that they would never, could never forgive such an act. I get that completely, because THAT is the way of the world. So it only makes sense to react as "the world" would react. Christians are "not of this world", so we are to act accordingly.

Would I be angry if someone brutally murdered (or even injured) one of my friends or family members? YES, of course. I would be angry, sad, want the same kind of harm (or worse) to come to the perpetrator, but...will harboring all of that negativity bring my friend or family member back? Will it heal their wounds? NO. It will simply lead ME to a very sad, slow, bitter death. That's just not the way that I choose to live the days that God gives me. If it's the way that YOU choose to live YOUR life, then knock yourself out. As for me...I choose FORGIVENESS and JOY.


Now...Let the DIALOGUE begin: For my Christian brothers and sisters, would you forgive? Could you forgive? Do you think that you could but maybe just not this soon? How long would it take? What if you die before you forgive?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

This is YOU...and this is You TOO???

So much to write about. So little time.

Here's what's on my mind at this very moment...people who have multiple accounts on Facebook with the same name. Funny...I just got a giggle as one of those folks is actually one of my faithful readers here at "The Dialogue Den". She's not who I was thinking of though when I came up with this post. In her case, I know that one page is her personal page, and the other is for her business.

I have 3 other friends though who have duplicate pages and I don't think that those dupes are for personal/business purposes. What really tickles me is when one "identically named page" will like something that was posted on the other "identically named page". I just don't get it. But then again, I don't get why folks "like" their own statuses either. I mean...isn't it implied that if you POSTED it... then you probably "like" it anyway.

I dunno. That's just me thinkin' again.

So anyhoo...

Let the Dialogue begin: Do YOU have multiple Facebook pages with the SAME EXACT NAME? And if so...please tell us why. My inquiring mind would like to know.

Talk to me!

Til next time...

I Made It!

So here I am...and I can happily say that I've made it through this day. My first Mother's Day WITHOUT my Mom. It's been 6 months and a day since she left this earth. Some days are rough. Others...not as much.

If she had still been here the day would have included a visit to her home, where she would have been sleeping until we arrived. She'd come out in one of her night gowns and hang with us a bit until she got tired again.

We'd give her a gift, which probably would have been toe-socks (she LOVED toe-socks) or something with a chihuahua on it (she LOVED chihuahuas even MORE than toe-socks).

All in all though, I'd have to say that today was a great day...mainly because my kids made it so. Even before today, they made sure that it was great by sending me roses which arrived on Thursday. A lovely assortment of multicolored roses. Then they topped things off today by all being here at home with me (which is rare). We had breakfast, took some naps, and then headed to my FAVORITE restaurant for dinner.

I'm home now and simply THANKFUL.

Although I miss my Mom, I am thankful for the fact that she is no longer sick, and has been "livin' it up" ever since she arrived in Heaven on November 9th, 2014.

And I am even more thankful for the three whom God chose to bless me with...the three who call me MOM. There's really not a whole lot more that a mother can ask for.

So that's about it.

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mom's out there...biological and in every other sense. And to those whose Mom's are no longer here on Earth...I bid you an EXTRA SPECIAL Happy Mother's Day...because I know more than anyone, just how much you need it.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: How did YOU celebrate Mother's Day today?

Talk to me!

Til next time...