Change 2
M AGAZI NE
to pick apples so she could have to take home. (The two met at a bus stop and she was eating an apple when he asked her if he could take a bite of it jokingly.) She told me she doesn’t even remember their exact conversation driving down to the farm some 20-years ago, but remembers how his thoughtfulness made her feel—as she smiled from ear to ear when she told me—"SPECIAL! Gee." Now, family, don’t get me wrong, I’m a strong, independent, black woman who can take care of herself; but there are times I just want to feel gentle, special, be pampered and appreciated. I want someone to take me on a date. Bring me a flower (just one or two), maybe one that you spotted along the highway and thought about me as you got out the car to grab one. (Okay, most of you are probably saying (especially the brothers): “You’ve got to be kidding, right? You’re not going to get me on the side of the road picking no flowers; getting arrested (or worse) for stealing plants!” Nevertheless, make me feel special. I want to know that my man has taken a little effort to think about me and not copy—or as my momma would say, "take the easy way out and steal"—from something or someone else. “Be original,” she always told my dates she liked (she didn’t say a word to the ones she didn’t), “so you’ll stand apart from the rest and have my daughter remember you for it.” For example (and I have to laugh at myself for remembering this), one day I was conversing with a married couple and they were chatting about their early days together. The wife shared that her husband, who didn’t have a lot of money at the time but was a hardworking man, borrowed his brother’s car for their first date and drove to a nearby farm
Family, as she told me this, why did my mind flash to mother Maya Angelou’s saying: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” For good or for bad, family, people will never forget how you made them feel—beautiful, special, or cheated. And I know, personally, that what we truly need at our core cannot be purchased. And, family, there is an old quote somewhere that says, “Happiness is not getting what you want, but wanting what you have.” And if you really think about it, it holds some truth. As for my male friend, after a lengthy conversation, I left him with this (I don’t know why, but my momma always threw in a Bible quote when trying to make a point and so did I): "The Book of Proverbs says a leech has three sisters, 'Give Me, Give Me, and Give Me'! If this is the type of companion you’re running after or looking for, then of course, you’ll have to pay to maintain and keep them—you feeling cheated or not." C2Change family, as always, share your comments, thoughts and well wishes. Until next time, let's continue: Channeling “Creative Change” in every aspect of our lives. — Gee
In this Coronavirus driven world of today, many of us are facing challenges and life-altering changes—be it through the loss of a loved one; a change in job status or finances; or simply through the loss of one’s mobility as we shelter inside our homes for safety. And as I suspect throughout this pandemic and many moons afterwards, the challenges will be long for some and many more will be forced to walk a new path in life. Challenges. New life paths. New beginnings as a result of not-so-pleasant circumstances.
55/ 0 4 6
