IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ANOTHER YEAR HAS COME AND GONE RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES! But here we are saying good-bye to 2009 and ushering in 2010 in what many of us hope will be better than the year prior. As I write this blog, the song “Teach Me” from Musiq Soulchild was played during the Best of The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and it’s one lyric of the song that stands out the most in my mind…Teach Me How To Love….something that I believe this world is so sorely lacking in the latter half of this decade! Yes call me crazy and overly sentimental, but what the world needs is LOVE and much more that what we’ve expressed to one another as of late. Sadly everytime I listen to the news I watch stories of death and pure hatred between countries or stories of young people who never will have the chance to be productive citizens or a future President of the United States because their lives were tragically cut short at the hands of an adult who molested or sodomized them and even kills not just the body but the spirit!! And I know that death is imminent will all of us, but can we show a little more love and respect and kindness going into a new year…in fact let’s add on to some of the good things that took place before 2009 comes to an end…like having our first(and hopefully not our last) President of Color! So in closing I ask, “What’s in store for you as a new year is about to begin..I’m just saying!!!!

One day I was shopping over the holidays and over heard a women commenting about an interracial couple in the store.  She was very loud and damn near rude when she remarked how could HE be with that white B****! She followed that up with a giggle and told the other person on the phone be blessed and I’ll see you in church Sunday! I know many would say that’s just an isolated incident but is it? You know someone just like that and it seems to me they are growing in numbers. You know the holier than thou on Sunday but Monday thru Saturday they’re talking about folk, cheating, drunk, high and whatever else. Where does it say that love is for just one race, one color, one heritage? Is it me or does that sound like the opposite of a christian? So tell me just how religious are you? Do you think like this?

Come January 2010 the kid here turns the big….20/20:) and during the holiday season of 2009, I’ve discovered that the more anniversaries I celebrate, the TRUE meaning of Christmas comes into play. As a child growing up, sure there were the fantastical stories of Santa Claus sliding down a chimney with a sack full of toys, and if I was a really good girl, Santa would bring the one toy that was a must-have from an already extremely long list! Now fast forward a little bit to Christmas 2009 and it is so NOT about how many presents I receive but the GIFT of life, love, fellowship, family and friends and how Jesus died for my sins so that I may have everlasting life! And finally I’ve come to realize that I REALLY do like the new meaning that Christmas this year and every year to follow has become:)

The first official…using that term loosely….winter storm of the season is here and there’s ALWAYS this tendency to make a mad dash to the grocery stores to stock up like we won’t see the light of a highway or street for the next several days! What makes us so determined to out drive, and in most cases out shop one another, because goodness knows by the the time I’M able to get to the stores, most of the bread, milk, and other items are completely gone! Remember when you do pay a visit to stock up for safety and/or survival PLEASE try to be kind and courteous(no snatching… or cussing the other person out for grabbing the last carton of liquid please)and above all PLEASE BE SAFE THIS WINTER!!!!

Ahhh…it’s that time of year again, when we ALL vow to stop smoking, lose weight, save (more) money or whatever the case may be. Last year, MY New Year’s resolution was NOT to make a New Year’s resolution and I’m happy to say…I stuck to it!!! This year, I think I’m going to make one though. I’m on a mission to help INSPIRE more people to be positive. Be positive about what they say and what they do. I’m also going to do it myself. I’m also encouraging people not to take whatever negative situations they may be going through INTO the new year. Resolve it NOW. If it can’t be resolved…then agree to disagree and move on. Life is too short to always be angry and harbor negativity. You push out negativity by being positive. Embrace positivity and bring about great things! This is my New Year’s Resolution. What’s yours?

Ok I know you just can’t ask a lady to choose one over the other but tonite for “Ladies Night” what would you rather have….A good Meal, a good movie or a good gift!

This particular subject struck me to write this blog after running into my former High School Band Teacher, whom I just happen to run into Tuesday afternoon, December 15th while shopping for some holiday cards. He and his wife look absolutely fabulous and immediately I begin to think to myself…(1) how long they’ve been married and (2) how many years young he was…but out of respect I declined to ask him face-to-face. Nonetheless, and I’m guessing here, well over 40 plus years of togetherness between the two. And then I reflect on the recent infidelities of Tiger Woods and a marriage that may be NO longer to his wife Elin, now that his many flings with MANY woman has come to light! A part of me feels kind of sorry for him because children are involved(although they’re way too you young and don’t a clue as to what’s going on), but mad as you know what for not leaving his ’sowing of wild oats’ behind and honestly respecting the sanctity of marriage. And thus I end by asking: “ Are you a strong soldier of marriage?”(cue music from Sade’s, I’M A SOLDIER OF LOVE) Do you try to respect and fulfull those vows, ’til death do us part?’… I’m just saying!!

Ok I know it might sound far fetched but people do it all the time and that’s being in a relationship because they’re lonely. You might have done this before and I’ll admit to it as well. We all have our reasons but sooner than later the shhhhh hits the fan and now you have to deal with it. So I ask you…..Are you with someone just so you’re not alone? Why/ Why not?

Do you have plans to see the new Disney Movie, “The Princess and the Frog” starring Broadway sensation and actress Anika Noni Rose? Not only will this mark a first for Disney to feature an African-American Princess, but some of the office chatter has been some of the dialect, which keep in mind the movie is based in New Orleans, may come across as being a bit ‘baffonish’ according to some..Although it may be a valid statement from some, let’s not lose sight that this can also be a teaching tool for our children that this is a world that suppose to accept persons of ALL races, creeds, colors, religions, and even languages. And the Princess, who looks beautiful from the movie trailers I’ve seen on television, and comes across to me as an intelligent woman of color..keep that as the focus to want to pass along to your child or children..especially to our beautiful young girls and teenagers, who otherwise may not be told on a regular basis!…I’M JUST SAYING….

Alicia Keys has released her entire album (The Element of Freedom) to her Facebook fans…all 1,411,897 of them…before it hits stores on December 15th. Quite an innovative move! I just had a chance to listen to the entire album. She’s done it again. Beautiful ballads about what else? Love! Some of the standout tracks…”Love is Blind”, “Unthinkable”, “That’s How Strong My Love Is” (My fav!), and “How it Feels to Fly”. A very solid project from Ms. Keys.