Adams-Brown Reunion Newsletter - July 2018

ISSUE NO. 4

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JULY 2018

IT'S ALMOST TIME!!!

The family reunion will get kicked off in just under a week! All of us here in Chicago can't wait to welcome family from all over the country. Look inside for all of the new updates and information developed to keep you in the know!

WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE

GET READY! - WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW SIBLING SPOTLIGHT WEEKEND ITINERARY FAMILY PUZZLE "UNCONDITIONAL" EPISODE 4 AND MORE!

The Hyatt Place Chicago-Lombard Directions from O'Hare Airport: Get on I-190 E from Exit 2B Follow I-294 S and I-88 W to Highland Ave in Lombard.

Take exit 134 from I-88 W Take IL-56 E/Butterfield Rd to your destination Directions from Midway Airport: Get on I-55 S in Stickney from S Cicero Ave Continue on I-55 S. Take I-294 N and I-88 W to Highland Ave in Lombard.

Take exit 134 from I-88 W Take IL-56 E/Butterfield Rd to your destination

Thursday, July 26th Get Re-Acquainted Night 4S794 Pinehurst Drive Naperville, IL 60563 6pm - 10pm Friday, July 27th Dinner Banquet Drury Lane Banquets 100 Drury Ln Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 6pm - Midnight

Saturday, July 28th DuSable Museum Tour and Six Flags Meet at hotel at 9am Sunday, July 29th Cookout Centennial Park Grand Pavillion 912 Honorary Sindt Memorial Ct, Naperville, IL 60540 Noon - Dusk

EARLINE HALL Born January 3, 1944

Favorites

Color: White and purple with rose red Food: Collard Greens and fish Musician: Old School Gospel

Legacy 4 Children: Theresa Tatar, Linda Frazier, Robert Hall, and Keith Hall Grandchildren: 4

Interview

What does family magic mean to you?

It means good surprises, good care, things you talk about things no one knows about, religion and children - how you expect them to be. Things you ask God for, faith and believing.

What do you consider to be your role in the family as it relates to your siblings?

Everytime someone gets sick, they always call for prayer. Not that I'm the only one, but God gave me that gift to lay hands and pray for people.

Everybody has their own gift. I didn't know I had it until mama said I had it and that was proof.

What is your first memory of Big Mama Hattie?

I was real small, about 5, mama took me and Oscar down south and she was nothing to play with. She expected you to listen. She was like a woman back in the old days that didn't have time to tell you over and over again. She had a lot of work to do and she was very serious. She believed in children minding her. If we had people like her today, we would have better children.

What is your favorite part of the reunion or the part that you look forward to the most?

I'm always satisfied with what the family puts together.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

Going to Catholic school on the north side. I was going to a job a few months back and went past Hudson street. I was walking down the street praying...seeing the school I used to go to. praying because mama and weren't there. It was a beautiful neighborhood. That's where me and Oscar halfway grew up. I kept praying. Thank you God for allowing me to go back to retrace my footsteps to when I was a little girl. Thank you. Thank you.

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STANLEY HALL Born May 15, 1954

Favorites

Color: Green Food: Pork steaks Song: Loosing You - Temptations

Legacy 3 Children: Stacey Abrons, Lauren Newell, and Stanley Hall, Jr. 8 Grandchildren

Interview

What does family magic mean to you?

The magic is being around the family things coming together and everyone is getting along.

When it all comes together THAT’S MAGIC! What would you say is your role in the family as it relates to your siblings?

My role is to try to keep everything alive. I keep everything alive I don’t go over here and not go over there I be everywhere.

What is your first memory of big Mama Hattie?

We lived on Francisco she came to visit and she came. I was just glad to see our grandmother. I was always trying to know where she was at. When we got older we sent for her every birthday. She was nice to us never gave us any problems.

What is your fondest childhood memory?

I can’t even remember my childhood, lol… I’m just kidding, I guess the fondest memories I have were like Christmas time ya know, we were kids getting toys. It was the joy of Christmas, it seemed that everybody was happy around Christmas time.

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What is your gift or talent and how did you discover it?

Seeing who’s coming meeting those who we don’t know and cooking. I be on the grill, they be like can I cook, [hell naw].

PENNY HALL Born August 25, 1957

Favorites

Color: Mauve Food: French Fries Singer: Luther Vandross

Legacy 3 Children: Marisa Dickson, Kelly Hall, and Jerome Hall 8 Grandchildren

Interview What does family magic mean to you?

Family is made up of people with different personalities, thoughts, and ideals, but the magic of it all is to be able to get together and agree on different things, and support and enjoy each other.

What is your role in the family?

Keeping my fathers tradition alive...spreading holiday cheer.

What is your first memory of Big Mama Hattie?

My best memories of Big Mama Hattie is when I visited her for the first time in Arkansas. When we drove up to the house and opened the door, a chicken ran up to the car and I jumped back in.

Needless to say, I did not eat chicken the entire time I was there which was two weeks and she laughed and called me Miss Nixon (the president's wife at the time).

What is your fondest childhood memory?

My fondest childhood memory was the holidays. All of them. I liked the aroma of each one of them. The summer ones with the homemade bbq grills and the smell of the ribs cooking on the back porch and the ice cream machine going making the homemade ice cream...and the winter ones. The smell of turkey and dressing all through the house. Cakes and pies lined up on the counters and tables. The smell of the Christmas trees and seeing Daddy enjoying the cooking with his shot glass filled with Old Granddad.

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What is your favorite part of the reunion?

I don't have a favorite part of the reunion. I appreciate each and every event from the meet and greet...seeing family that has been faithful to the cause and meet others for the first time. The banquet...everybody dressed and formal attire looking cute with a plated dinner...to the outing with the kids with the kids enjoying the activities at the park..

Banana Split Bites These Banana Split Bites are a healthy dessert or a fun after school snack for kids that is full of fruity flavour!

Ingredients 3 Bananas 1/4 lb Cored Pineapple 6 Strawberries 1 cup Dipping Chocolate 1/4 cup Chopped Peanuts 12 Popsicle Sticks (or skewers)

Directions Cut strawberries in half.

For each strawberry half, cut an equal size piece of banana and pineapple.

Place pineapple on first, then banana and lastly strawberry.

Place in freezer for 10 minutes.

Line a tray with wax paper or parchment paper.

Put chopped nuts in small plate to use for dipping.

Melt chocolate by heating in microwave for 30 seconds, stirring and repeating until melted and smooth.

Dip cold fruit in chocolate, then into nuts, then place on prepared tray..

Unconditional “OK mama” I said, blinking and rolling my eyes, now she’s getting ridiculous. I put phone on speaker as listened for my name and pauses so that I could reply then, she would think I was listening. I begin to dress for my date. Mama eventually calmed down and we got off the phone. Just in time!

“You cute”, I said to myself and blew the lady in the mirror a kiss. “I love being me.”

The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.

Pslam 27:1-2 (NIV)

Discernment

“I don’t care what you have to do you betta get home for your grandmother’s 95th birthday!” My mama yelled in the phone. I rolled my eyes in the back of my head and took a deep breath. “DON’T DEEP BREATH ME!” Here she go, I thought to myself. “Zara! Do you hear me?” “Yes ma’am” I replied, “I’ll be there.” She told me that she loved me and that she couldn’t wait to see me. I don’t know how she believe that this is love, she props me up to tear me down, what kind of love is this? Uhhh, she so bipolar, this is why I haven’t been home in a while. “Close your eyes girl, the Spirit is leading me to pray.” my mama begin her usual over dramatic prayer over my life, again.

“Yea, God! Um, Ummmm, yes Lord! Hallelujah!” My line beeped, I clicked over to answer for Gary as my mama continued to pray.

“Hey baby” I said to him, I was excited about our date. I’ve been seeing him for the last 3 months. Gary is about 6’5” and loves to workout. His diet is “clean” no grease, minimum starch and nothing sweet. Since we’ve been hanging out, he has introduced me to some really good alternate food selections.

Much different from the food my family cooks. Last be not least, he was a student at Morehouse School of Medicine. This man is gonna be a doctor!

“What’s up beautiful, what time will you be ready?” He said to me, his voice was deep, when he spoke it was like listening to my mama’s old Barry White albums. He was extremely intelligent at the same time he was "hood". I loved the way he was able to apply his personality the fit the situation. My friends think that he’s crazy, controlling and possessive, but we all are in some way. Right?

“I should be ready to go in an hour or so. Does that still work for you?” I told him as I stood from my bed to see myself in the mirror. I need to put some heat on my hair, my fly‐a‐ways were out of control. I grabbed the brush from my drawer and brushed my hair.

It does” he replied. “See you then” I told him, I blew a kiss in the phone then clicked back over to my mama still praying.

“Thank you for her life God! Thank you for her safety Lord! Place a hedge of protection around her God! Whoo! Zara, I don’t know who you’re around but the Lord is telling me, huh to tell you, huh, to let it go! Let them go! BACK UP!” This lady is crazy. It is not Sunday morning.

As I exited to doors of my dormitory, I could see Gary’s black Cadillac, Escalade waiting in the visitor’s parking space. There were 28 inch chrome rims on his truck and the paint was perfectly waxed, the sun roof was open and his music was loud. “I won’t deny ya, I’m straight rida, you don’t wanna mess with me” I hadn’t heard Tu‐Pac in a while. I opened passenger door, the smell of Black Ice car freshener tickled my nose. “Hey, handsome” I said to greet him. He turned the music down and smiled. This man is fine.

“Zara, you look beautiful as always” he leaned over and kissed my cheek as I reached for my seatbelt. We headed to Iron Cast, a local upscale restaurant, for dinner, Gary loved giving me the best. When we arrived, Gary walked around to the passenger door and opened it for me. He held my hand as I stepped out of his truck. He opened the door to the restaurant and I walked in. We were greeted by a short dark complexion lady with a huge smile showing off her gold teeth.

She had a southern twang, “table or booth for two?” she asked. Gary answered her, as I observed the restaurant’s décor’. The ambiance was nice, dim lights white linen table cloths with candles. A man played the piano as the lady on stage sat next to him with a microphone humming, I was so romantic. Gary choose a C shaped booth in the back facing the stage, there were 12 long stem red roses waiting for me. I smiled as I looked at him, “Thank you” I said to him as I slid to the middle of the booth. “Beautiful bouquet for a beautiful girl.”

Dinner was great, but we had a difference of opinion as it pertains to family. I believe that people should be financial stable and in their career for a few, then get married and have kids like 3 or 4 years into the marriage. Gary on the other hand wants to go with the flow. “Not here! I have goals and I’m not flowing with that.” I laughed but, he was looking weird. To calm the conversation down, I stood and excused myself, then headed to the restroom. When I got back to our table, Gary stood and asked if I was ready to leave. I nodded yes, he handed a glass of champagne and we toasted to a great night. We walked out of the restaurant with our arms entangled. The evening wind blew softly, it was so refreshing. He opened the passenger door and suddenly I felt dizzy, then sick to my stomach. I struggled to get in the car, now the smell of the car freshener was killing me. It smelled horrible! Gary hopped in the driver’s seat. “Gary, I think I have food poisoning”. Just then I felt myself falling to sleep. I let the window down thinking it would help. “Gary, I don’t know what’s wrong with me!” I fought to keep my eyes open. “Gary, I’m sick, don’t you hear me?” He turned the music up really loud, I reached to turn it down but my coordination was off. I was off balance. My vision was blurry and I kept blinking, hoping that it would clear up. “I’m seeing double” I wanted to shout, but I kept burping. Gary laughed, “You’re mine tonight” The tone of his voice made my heart skipa beat, I pretended not to be scared. I began drifting in and out of consciousness. I tried to watch were I was going as he drove for what seemed to be hours, but I was lost, sick, seeing double and about to vomit. Where was this man taking me?

CONGRATULATIONS to Patrice Fisher for receiving her Bachelors in General Studies from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff!

CONGRATULATIONS to Jalen Garmon who will be the Defensive Coordinator at Mills High School in Little Rock. He will also teach Pre-AP 9th grade English!

CONGRATULATIONS to Nathaniel Treadway on his 8th grade graduation!

CONGRATULATIONS to twins Amber and Autumn Armstrong on their graduation from Bolingbrook High School!

CONGRATULATIONS to Deaje Hall on her graduation from Downers Grove High School!

Submit all "Celebrations" entries to: The HFA Newsletter Committee hfanewsletter@gmail.com We hope you have thoroughly enjoyed the fourth installment of the The Magic Monthly. If you have any questions or feedback, please reach out to the HFA Newsletter Committee. hfanewsletter@gmail.com HFA Newsletter Committee Yolanda Robinson - Tierra Muhammad Antonio Hall - Marisa Dickson - Carla Curry