Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Moving to My Other Blog

I have decided that maintaining two blogs requires more attention than I have to give at this time, so all new posts will appear on my other blog, SKCreations, LLC, until further notice.  I hope you'll visit me there, and thanks for stopping by.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Vignette: The Handyman

He had to be 6'5" tall and his lanky frame made him appear taller.  As he climbed the ladder leaning against the house, I couldn't help but wonder what he was about to do.  What was in the bag hanging from his shoulder?  He stepped very tentatively off the ladder and onto the roof.  Was that look on his face a sign of fear or caution?  With his next two steps I could clearly see fear.  As the shingles crumbled under his work boots he quickly leaned forward, placing his hands on the roof for support.  His bag pitched forward and hit the roof with a thud.  It was almost comical watching him crawl across the roof to the chimney, dragging the bag along.  Holding onto the chimney, he raised himself up to his full height and I thought his head would disappear in the clouds.  Reaching into his bag he pulled out a screen and some tools and, for the next 20 minutes, worked intently installing the screen over the chimney top.  When he was done, he gathered up his tools and his bag and moved slowly toward the ladder.  His climb down was so swift I almost missed it.  When he reached the gound I heard him say, "Praise God.  I'll never do that again."

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Movies: Precious and The Blind Side

Recently I went to see the movies, Precious and The Blind Side, in that order.  In both movies, the protaganist is a Black teenager living under challenging conditions.  In Precious, the main character lives in an abusive home from which she needs to escape, while in The Blind Side the main character is in desperate need of a home.



Precious was based on the novel, Push, by Sapphire.  It is supposed to be fiction, but I suspect this unfortunate story is true for far too many children.  I had heard a lot about this movie over the last couple of months and was anxious to see it.  I even considered reading the book beforehand in an effort to enhance the experience, but changed my mind after someone told me it was so heartbreaking that they had difficulty finishing it.  I'd seen several interviews of the primary characters on talk shows, and read many reviews.  The Washington Post gave the movie four stars.  I knew it would be powerful so, as suggested by a friend, I packed some tissues and off to the theater I went.

Gabourey Sidibe, as Precious, owned her character, and it was hard to believe that this was her first role in a film.  I was also very impressed with Paula Patton, whose character carries so much of the heart in the story.  Mo'Nique was truly transformed, and was as dark and abusive in her role as she is funny outside it.  I enjoyed the film overall, but what surprised me was that it did not blow me away.  I didn't need the tissues.  I felt sad and even angry at times, but the tears never came.  Maybe, as a result of all the hype, I was too prepared.  I don't know, but on a scale of one to ten, I'd give it a nine.  It's definitely worth seeing, but for me the real treat was...



The Blind Side.  Hands down, I give this movie a ten.  I hadn't expected to be so touched by a movie whose trailer gives you reason to believe that it's message is wrapped up in the Great White Hope swooping in to rescue an underprivileged Black boy.  It is so much more than that.  This movie is about family, no matter what the dynamic, or the biology.  Based on the true story of Michael Oher, whose unlikely path led him to playing professional football for the Baltimore Ravens, it is indeed a movie that makes you cheer.  For this one, I needed the tissues.  My recommendation is that this movie is not to be missed.  The Washington Post gave it three stars, but I give it four.

Monday, November 23, 2009

I Know Fear

You think you know Fear?
I say I'm the Queen
How can I deny it
With all that I've seen?

I've been through some battles
Both big ones and small
Although I've survived
I was wounded in all.

I've got scars to prove it
Right here on my heart
Each bound with a stitch
So it won't fall apart.

At times I was blind
And led down a track
Sometimes I could see
But didn't pull back.

I ended up hurt
Upset and confused
Perhaps worst of all
My psyche was bruised.

It made me retreat
Because I was scared
I locked up my heart
And no longer cared.

But now I have learned
That Fear is a thief
It robbed me of dreams
Destroyed my beliefs.

So now I've released it
Emerged from my shell
But yes I know Fear
And only too well.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Vignette: The Workout

He enters the room with a boom box the size of a Volkswagen Beetle, and a duffle bag that could carry a small child.  He sets down the box and starts rummaging through the bag, at which time I see that it's filled with CDs.  While searching for the right one he yells out "the class is box aerobics!  I hope you're ready because we're going to work tonight!"  He loads his CD of choice and the room fills with what sounds like house music at a night club.  He turns up the volume and moves to the front of the room.  He immediately jumps into a routine that has the class moving double-time, and after five minutes yells out, "that was your warm-up!"  I thought, he's got to be kidding.  He then leads us through a series of steps involving marching, lunging, kicking and punching, adding a new move after we've mastered each previous one.  Although his workout clothes are drenched with sweat and sticking to his lean but muscular frame, he doesn't even appear to be breathing hard.  The music increases in tempo and all of a sudden he breaks into a dance routine that looks like he's auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance.  It was as if the class had disappeared.  He's clearly in a world of his own.  When the song finally ends he comes out of his trance and calls out, "take a break everybody!".  I guess he didn't realize we just had.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The World Has Changed

I wrote this poem in 2003.  Over the previous two years, the country had been attacked by terrorists, our mail was laced with anthrax, Enron corporate bigwigs were brought down, and John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo had held the Washington metropolitan area hostage for three weeks.  It was a very difficult time and our lives were changed forever.  Yesterday evening John Allen Muhammad, the DC sniper, was executed for his crimes in the Commonwealth of Virginia, while Lee Boyd Malvo serves a life prison term.

The World Has Changed

As kids we'd play outside till night
We'd laugh and scream and sometimes fight
On bikes we'd travel far and wide
Till street lights on meant "come inside"
With dodge ball, hop scotch, double dutch
Hula hoops, marbles, jacks and such
Bubble gum cards five cents a pack
And penny candy cost just that.

Funny how the world has changed
What's normal now is oh so strange.

The kids today stay in the house
With hands connected to a mouse
Desktops, laptops, hand-helds too
Instant messaging with the crew
Video games that each must own
At prices that make parents moan
Cable TV is a must
With violence, drugs, sex and lust.

Troubling how the world has changed
What's normal now is oh so strange.

Bottles had only screw-off tops
Doors and windows were left unlocked
9-11 was a call to police
Terrorists hadn't affected our Peace
Only law men carried guns
Priests were trusted with our sons
Metal detectors weren't in schools
Traveling on a plane was cool.

Scary how the world has changed
What's normal now is oh so strange.

Bottles now have protective seals
Yards display security shields
Alarms are standard on most cars
Windows in our homes are barred
Girls can't walk to school alone
Nanny cameras in our homes
Teachers fear the kids in schools
Sued when trying to enforce rules.

HIV is claiming lives
Fighter planes police our skies
Cars are jacked with frequency
Kids are taking Ecstasy
Anthrax threatens through the mail
Corporate honchos seeking bail
Kids kill kids in gangland wars
Snipers lurk outside our stores.

Sad the way the world has changed
What's normal now is oh so strange.