People say “back to normal” as if it is a good thing. What does back to normal mean? In the wake of COVID 19, is it really normal or a good thing to have hundreds of people packed in subway cars? Is it normal or a good thing that employees in food processing work shoulder…
I started cello lessons in February. My playing tortures the cello. I am awful; one in every five notes is correct, the rest is caterwauling. For the sake of my ego and my neighbors, I am happy the condo is soundproof. But, I love it. In music, there are rest notes and pauses. The transitions…
It’s been three weeks since the murder of George Floyd and the world is reacting. The gut level response in a disaster is to do a plausibility check. Video after video showing collapsing buildings after 7.1 earthquake in 2017 in Mexico City were stunning. Yet there is an internal dialog, I live in New York,…
“You speak about 120 words per minute. How many of your words are meaningful, how many are true, how many bring peace?” That was the theme I jotted down Wednesday that was confirmed when I later saw this post on Friday from Ted Cruz.“Dammit, stop it. Stop saying stupid, racist things. Our country is grieving,” This was in response…
“Wait, is this real?” That was a text I got along with an image of Policeman Derek Chauvin with his knee on the neck of a handcuffed, unarmed black man. In the next few hours, the world learned that Chauvin held this position for eight minutes while three of his fellow police officers watched as…
My dad used to sleep with a hammer in reach. He had a nightly routine. Check to make sure all three doors with entry to the house were locked, latched and that his hammer was on his nightstand. He did not own a gun but needed a weapon for protection should an unwelcomed intruder enter…
COVID 19 may very well lead to my death. People don’t seem to comprehend wearing facial coverings in public, so I got the full effect of neighbor’s look I encountered in the lobby. The jaw dropped and eyebrows shot up with a “why are you in this building” look. There was no sign of recognition.…
It’s award season, golden globes, sag, Oscars, blah, blah, blah. So, what about you create your own awards. Reflect back over the last year, what are the things you feel a sense of accomplishment. Of these things, what are the three things you could be nominated for an award? Who would be in your field of…
“Are you sure?” You know you’re in trouble when your blood pressure aps questions your entry of 167/90¹. I’m a little over 5’6”, I weigh 118 pounds, I walk over 20 miles a week and spend about 6 hours in that same week doing yoga. Why so high? I’ve been black most of my life.…
Nia Wilson died when her throat was slashed in an unprovoked attack on a BART train a few weeks ago; the day I turned 60. I determined I needed to work until 65 to ensure I am fully funded to the age of 96. I was in a bubble. I forgot Black women experience the…
There is a thing I do, make white people comfortable. Survival techniques my parents taught me. Be well-mannered and respectful as not be perceived as an uppity negro. It does not matter if you are better educated, better read and more economically advantaged, just make sure ‘they”don’t feel it. Over the years, I learned, be…
