Yeah...and so, anyway...

I told myself I would do a reflection blog the day after Race Unity Day, but...as usual, I overestimated my ability to have enough energy to do everything I intended to do (the Superwoman syndrome, Black women like me have it BAD), and I didn't take into account that I would not only be emotionally and physically depleted after an intense workshop, but also I would somehow have to drag myself out of bed the next morning and go to work. There has to be a self help group for Black women who do too much. When women like me get on the "gotta-save-the-world" tip, we forget that we have very human limitations. It never seems to occur to me to only do a little bit at a time, and ask for help with big projects. One day I'll learn. I hope. O.K., so how did it go? It went well. Many of the people who said they would come didn't, but I still had a nice little gathering. I have a pretty small place anyway, so it was good that only half of the people came. Next year...

My Dad, Richard S. Shortt, joined the United States Air Force not long after he graduated from high school at age 16. He told the recruiters that he was 18. There was a war going on at the time, the Korean War. He didn't care. Anything was better than life in Moss Point, Mississippi. So off he went, in search of adventure and a steady paycheck. He found both as a radio operator stationed at that giant hunk of ice located at the top of the world known as Greenland. A marriage to the former WAF Mary E. Graham, three kids and two wars took up the next twenty four years of his life. During that time, he gave our family a lot of great memories. My favorites: 1. Dad taking my Tam and I out in the boondocks to learn how to shoot a pistol when we were four and five years old, respectfully. I can't remember what type of handgun it was, but the recoil on that thing hurt like heck. Not too mention how much the BANG rang in my ears after I squeezed the trigger. I almost dropp...

There's been a lot of talk about race unity on the blogs that I try to read on a regular basis. I wish I could post a comment on all of them, but there's only so much time that I can devote to being on the computer before it starts becoming a compulsive habit. I'm one of THOSE people. I can easily slip into addictive behavior with anything except drugs (I'll discuss why on at another time), alcohol (same story as the drug thing), and playing video games. I have very little spatial discernment ability and manual dexterity, which makes playing video games very frustrating. I'm not very good at typing, either. Some of you probably guessed that! Oh yeah...if I were on a deserted island and I had nothing but coconut, okra and bitter herbs to eat, I would starve. Me, a serious food addict/compulsive overeater would rather starve than eat that stuff. It's true, though, even though my mother insists that if I were truly starving I would eat anything. Maybe, bu...

This was an essay that I wrote for a class that I took this past spring at Sacramento City College. Now, I already have my BA, and I'm going to go through the Master's program in English again so I will be able to teaching reading and writing at the junior college level. It's great to be able to just sit in a class that I never had the chance to take before because I was so busy trying to complete the English program. I loved the easy exchange of ideas and laid back atmosphere of this particular journalism class, which was an overview of mass media. But most of all, I had the opportunity to reflect and write about something that I have taken for granted--the fact that I grew up in a very literate household. After working with students who struggle mightily with basic communication skills, namely reading and writing at the sixth grade level, I have found that I am enormously grateful to my parents for being my primary teachers. I learned to read before I ever set one foot in...

Aries is symbolized by the Ram. You're initiating, bold and impatient, your fiery nature making you irresistible and exciting. While you can be impulsive and combative, you're the absolute leader of the pack -- in team sports, business or just your group of friends and family! Now, at this point I have to wonder...what part of my Aries nature decided to host a Race Unity commemoration next Sunday, June 10? The initiating side or the impulsive side? I really don't know. And I'm beginning to think this has to be one of my not-so-great ideas. It began with something that Baha'is are encouraged (but not required) to do, which is become involved in the core activities of the Faith. Almost two weeks ago, I became inspired at a cluster reflection meeting, and I decided that for the first time, I would form my own teaching team. It's not that the other teams hadn't worked, but I really felt moved to do so. But I'm often moved to worked by myself because...