Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Ode to Big Mama

While taking a break during a work day that included me skipping lunch (I’m missing meals, but getting fatter. Go figure…), I decided to go to Foster’s Market in Chapel Hill to satisfy my sweet tooth (OK, that probably explains a lot).

I purchased a brownie and beverage from Foster's and then drove back to work where a dozen or so e-mails were awaiting a response. After responding to e-mails for about 30 minutes, I remembered, “Hey, I got a brownie!”

Pulled off the plastic wrapping and took a bite.

“WWWHHHOOOAAA...”

The brownie had that homemade richness – you know, that taste that screams “I don’t care how much or how many calories it takes for it to taste scrumptious!”

For me, it took me back to the days of going by my great-grandmother’s house in Mobile, Alabama’s Roger Williams Project as a youngster…I’m talking 5- or 6-years-old youngster…and always being greeted by some of her fudge goodness.

My great-grandmother, Irene, was the best.

Like really.

She was the best great-grandmother any kid could ask for.

Whether it was my mom bringing me my sister, CC, by just for a few minutes to say “Hi” or my dad bringing us over to hang for a while, Big Mama – as we called her – always greeted us with a warm, teeth-filled smile (“Heeeeyyyyy Baby!”) and some baked, hard fudge in a plastic bag.

It felt as if even when we showed up unannounced she knew we were coming and had fresh baked fudge for us. We could’ve been minutes away from eating dinner, but Mama or Daddy would let us devour the fudge anyway; and on the chance she didn’t have any fudge for us, she would always have a freeze cup (literally, a cup of frozen Kool-Aid) in the freezer just waiting for us.

Big Mama always made time for us. We were kids, but she always made us feel so important when we were in her presence. She always made us feel welcomed. She always kept our stomachs filled and our sweet tooth happy. She cared. She was the quintessential Big Mama.

Needless to say, I was pretty sad when Big Mama passed away when I was eight years old.

I later learned – not too long ago, actually – that Big Mama was the "candy lady" in the area of Roger Williams that she lived in. She always had those goodies because she sold it to help her get by. That doesn’t take away from my memories of her. I mean, she didn’t have to give them to me and CC for free!

I don’t write this just to shout out my own Big Mama…even though she was the best…but as an ode to all Big Mamas whether they were just a grandmother, an aunt, or a neighbor that held their matriarchal position in the community. All of the Big Mamas that were able to brighten up a kid’s day and ALWAYS had the ability to keep a kid in line through use of words or the rod.

With so many youngsters straight wilin’ in the streets and terrorizing communities, we can use more Big Mamas to be there for these kids that obviously feel hopeless and lost.

I’m just thankful that I had a great Big Mama coming up. When I was around her, I always felt at home.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

I Made Up with an Old Friend

Before I ever had a real best friend in life - as in another human being whom I wanted to really get to know and share things with - my closest confidant was probably this 35mm camera that I actually found in a hotel room while on a trip in high school.

It was a like gift from above! It was a sweet camera,too - a black Nikon with a nice enough zoom on it to get some great shots. That camera stayed with me until my senior trip in high school...when while having fun in Orlando, I decided to take it in the beach water and a reasonably high tide splash water into lens, causing it to malfunction.

That came gave me three good years of photos, though, and I used it to photograph EVERYTHING.

My family. New Orleans sites. High School memories. Spiders and spider webs in my grandma's front yard. If I was there to witness it then you best believe I was capturing the moment via photography. I was the school photographer pretty much at both of the high schools I attended; knew how to develop film in the dark room; I used to enter contests everything - I was a beast and even considered becoming a photographer for a living.

Cockiness aside, though, I not only was good at it...I enjoyed it so much.

Then, I just lost the luster. For a couple of reasons - reasons I should probably be sharing with a professional while lying on a couch so I'll just do us all a favor and not go into details.

This summer, though, provided me with a number of moments that I wanted to remember via photography. A trip back home and priceless moments with family. Adventures around and outside the U.S. Seeing sites and meeting people that I may never see again.

I had to capture the moments.

While shooting the shots throughout the summer, I felt an old...something. Camera in hand felt so familiar.

Then, while at a Bun B concert, it was like I reconnected with an old friend. It was a free concert and I was right up on the stage and got some great shots that made me realize how much I missed the art of photography. That something was that "itch" - you know the "itch" I'm talking about - and it was back.

Bun B at The Cat's Cradle, August 18, 2008
Like the other photos on the blog, I shot the photos with a four-year-old Sony Cybershot camera that I *coughs* borrowed from my job. I takes good shots - especially portraits that need no flash. I plan on investing in a more professional model in '09, though, and I hope to take a photography course at The ArtsCenter to get better at photography.

At the moment, though, I'm just glad that I've reconnected with my ol' buddy!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Best Birthday EVER!

So I kicked off my birthday festivities a couple of weeks before the date of my birth - due to a previously planned trip to the West Coast.


It began with a cookout at the crib that the homey, B and Coy, made it up for along with Coy's friend, Jeanette. Nothing out of the ordinary...I have a cookout year-after-year. What made this year so much more fun was that fact that I actually made it out later in the evening to go partying.

I have habitually enjoyed myself a bit too much (*coughs*) at the cookout to make it out on the town. This year was different, though, as we hit up The Office in Raleigh!

B and Coy

Alex made a three hour drive after a 15-hour work day to party with The Kid

A week later, Annie and I hopped a plane to the West Coast to chill in Palm Springs, California.

That's an oxymoron because it was hot as HELL out there. 108 or hotter every single day. Crazy! The place was scenic and serene, though, with mountains in every direction you looked. I love mountains.

The San Jacinto Mountains...I believe

We mostly kicked back with plans to go to L.A. on my birthday. Then...we decided to bring in my birthday in LAS VEGAS, a four-hour drive from the balmy Palm Springs. The Strip and Planet Hollywood were the spots where we brought the party! We met a cool dude name Andy out there who, like us, came to really have a good time. Good times, indeed!

Plus, I don't know how he worked it out...but even Elvis came to party with The Kid.

I don't ask questions.

Vegas buddies, Andy and Elvis


The Joneses on The Vegas Strip, "Happy Birthday to me!"

After a night of frolicking, we woke up and drove it over to Los Angeles for a birthday lunch at Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles.

"We came from three time zones away just to eat here!"


My Howard U., School of C folks know about Mr. Micheaux

After all of this fun, we made our way back to the East Coast.

I've been saying it since I've been back home: this was my best birthday ever! Not only because of the overwhelming fun I had or the great presents that I received - no, solely because of the folks took the time to spend time with The Kid in celebration of my birthday. Who knew turning 27 could be so fun and exciting!?

Now, the plan is to talk my Pops into going along with him on a European trek that he's been pondering for a few years.

Get those fingers crossed!