When I'm not scribbling lines of poetry on Q'doba receipts or dialogue quips on my daughter's homework (hey ... Yale will not be asking for copies of her worksheet on words that start with "th"), I'm pretending to be a marketing consultant.
Actually, I'm pretty good at what I do (I'm allowed to say that, right?) I only say "pretending" because I'm one of those people who always thinks they could and should be better, especially since I started working independently 6 yrs ago. I used to recoil from the [whisper] overachiever label ... but I used to think I'd be a Size 10 again, too. Right. Get over it.
Anyhoo, I was hired to plan a 99th birthday gala for the first African-American woman to become a licensed mortician in the State of Wisconsin (I know). But, this sista was smooth, you hear me?! She's still vibrant and eloquent and graceful and warm and funny, simply amazing. I put together a photo montage for the reception and dinner, and it was uncanny fingering her life. Pictures of her as a child, her grandparents, friends posed in front of Studebakers, husbands wearing wingtips, children sporting curls, flips, hi-top fades. Black-and-white, faded colormatics, full color newspaper images. She has admirably lived a rich and honest life.
Earlier this week, one of the gala guests tells me that someone who did not attend said, "I just didn't understand why they didn't wait until her 100th birthday. I'll be sure to come next year."
Are you serious?
99 years of living is a blessing all by itself. So is four months. So why do we take the obviously-unpromised things for granted?
Well, before I get too high on my horse: I'm guilty, too. Two young boys have been missing in our community for almost a week now. Volunteers combing the park grounds. Police netting the rivers. Mothers making tear-steeped pleas on the news. The whole tragic nine yards. They were 10 & 12, I think, and good kids -- great in school, active with youth groups, well-liked, from loving families, (for "some reason," that has mattered). These two friends were last seen playing at a basketball court near their home.
Last seen?
I constantly have to remind myself that evil people are out there ... just walking around. In the grocery store, at the movies, in parking lots, near basketball courts, and somewhere on my block. My husband lectures and scolds me all the time about dangers that "could" happen. In my mind, I've always tempered his warnings with background music provided by Donny & Marie, with the new lyrics "He's a little bit paranoid ..."
Well, once again, he's right. "Could" happens everyday. A pretty juvenile statement to make at 36, I know. But, sadly, it's an epiphany I'll arrive at over and again throughout my life. I
I can only pray that it won't ever come behind a newswire story.
Please pray for the safe return of these babies.
Quadrevion Henning and Purvis Virginia-Parker and were last seen on March 19, 2006 at approximately 3:30 p.m. playing basketball. They have not been seen since. Purvis was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and gray jogging suit. He may go by the last name Virginia. Quadrevion was last seen wearing a white jacket with blue stripes on the sleeves, black oversize tshirt over a white tshirt, and black jeans. He was also wearing red, white, and blue shoes. If you have any information regarding these children call the Milwaukee Police at 414-935-7401
Actually, I'm pretty good at what I do (I'm allowed to say that, right?) I only say "pretending" because I'm one of those people who always thinks they could and should be better, especially since I started working independently 6 yrs ago. I used to recoil from the [whisper] overachiever label ... but I used to think I'd be a Size 10 again, too. Right. Get over it.
Anyhoo, I was hired to plan a 99th birthday gala for the first African-American woman to become a licensed mortician in the State of Wisconsin (I know). But, this sista was smooth, you hear me?! She's still vibrant and eloquent and graceful and warm and funny, simply amazing. I put together a photo montage for the reception and dinner, and it was uncanny fingering her life. Pictures of her as a child, her grandparents, friends posed in front of Studebakers, husbands wearing wingtips, children sporting curls, flips, hi-top fades. Black-and-white, faded colormatics, full color newspaper images. She has admirably lived a rich and honest life.
Earlier this week, one of the gala guests tells me that someone who did not attend said, "I just didn't understand why they didn't wait until her 100th birthday. I'll be sure to come next year."
Are you serious?
99 years of living is a blessing all by itself. So is four months. So why do we take the obviously-unpromised things for granted?
Well, before I get too high on my horse: I'm guilty, too. Two young boys have been missing in our community for almost a week now. Volunteers combing the park grounds. Police netting the rivers. Mothers making tear-steeped pleas on the news. The whole tragic nine yards. They were 10 & 12, I think, and good kids -- great in school, active with youth groups, well-liked, from loving families, (for "some reason," that has mattered). These two friends were last seen playing at a basketball court near their home.
Last seen?
I constantly have to remind myself that evil people are out there ... just walking around. In the grocery store, at the movies, in parking lots, near basketball courts, and somewhere on my block. My husband lectures and scolds me all the time about dangers that "could" happen. In my mind, I've always tempered his warnings with background music provided by Donny & Marie, with the new lyrics "He's a little bit paranoid ..."
Well, once again, he's right. "Could" happens everyday. A pretty juvenile statement to make at 36, I know. But, sadly, it's an epiphany I'll arrive at over and again throughout my life. I
I can only pray that it won't ever come behind a newswire story.
Please pray for the safe return of these babies.
Quadrevion Henning and Purvis Virginia-Parker and were last seen on March 19, 2006 at approximately 3:30 p.m. playing basketball. They have not been seen since. Purvis was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and gray jogging suit. He may go by the last name Virginia. Quadrevion was last seen wearing a white jacket with blue stripes on the sleeves, black oversize tshirt over a white tshirt, and black jeans. He was also wearing red, white, and blue shoes. If you have any information regarding these children call the Milwaukee Police at 414-935-7401
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