Trippin With Dad

Marriage is a sacred institution blessed by God.  That was apparent at the wedding of my niece and namesake Sylvia L. Daniels to her soulmate Clarence Ray in August.  I have never attended a wedding that was truly a life-giving service to all in the room.. You could just tell something extremely special was formed that evening as the couple gazed lovingly at each other.  I know it is a match made in heaven that will withstand the test of time.  Congratulations Sylvia and Clarence! There's a Spark of Magic in Your Eyes! Looking Regal Bride, Groom and Crazy Aunt Blended family Love T & T connection Ohio and Indiana in the House Sylvia L. and Sylvia D. The food was ahhhmazing! Cute and classy cake

See.  Here's the prickly truth about Detroiters. They know that if you don't have anything good to say about Detroit then you must be from one of the suburbs.  Or Ohio.  Either way, your opinion is just that.  My 318 year old hometown is a complicated mix of pretty much everything most folks can imagine.  Since the "D" is in my blood though I can hardly be totally objective.  BUT, I haven't lived there for over 30 years so I can only know it the way a mom might know the child she gave up for adoption; I recognize her but I'm shocked at how much she's changed.  All of my relatives brag freely about the amazing transformation taking place downtown while they also bemoan the fact that they, say, don't have street lights or that whole swaths of neighborhoods are blighted beyond recognition.  What can one do besides watch it all transmogrify?  It's like watching your child survive their  terrible teens;  you just pray they emerge from ...

Shhh.  Don't tell too many people I said this but, I.Love.Cleveland.  Yup, ALL of Cleveland.  Of course my family makes it extra special ( and so does Slymans plus sized corned beef sandwiches)  but truly I love the city of Cleveland and it's lesser burbs.  This visit, the Three Amigos trekked to somewhat cooler climes  to meet new family members and hang out in a part of Cleveland I was totally unfamiliar with; this really helped me see Cleveland in a completely different light.  And I've been trekking to Cleveland for over 30 years!  Cleveland has always had this gritty but friendly industrial, urban/academic feel to me.  This time I got to experience a calm and serene Cleveland I didn't know existed.  We chose a home a stones throw from Lake Erie which got me excited the moment I saw the photo.  The opportunity to walk along the amazingly beautiful lake shore every morning had us seriously considering buying a cute fixer upper on...

I finally, at the age of 57, got to experience the phenomenon known as 'Black Excellence', AKA the Essence Festival.  Talk about a game changer!  What a sense of pride and belonging that has lasted longer than the 96 hours I was fortunate enough to be there.  First off, let me just say that it was a stone cold blast rooming with 14 of the flyest women in my family.  It's not often that 15 cousins (OK, some are honorary cousins but it doesn't matter) get the opportunity to spread our wings away from home and enjoy a joint vacation.  We flew into New Orleans, LA from Arizona, Michigan, Georgia, Florida and Virginia with a BUNCH of other really amazing women to take part in whatever you wanted to take part in.  This was the 25th anniversary of the Festival and they had something for e.v.e.r.y.b.o.d.y.  Some came for the beauty products, some to interact with celebrities, others to gain entrepreneurial prowess, many for the concerts, lots to hear from Mich...

Forecasting.  It is the state of prediction that gives us a reasonable probability that something is going to happen a certain way in the future.  Some might think of it as educated guessing which would be accurate.  I see it as visioning which for me rings truer. I'd guessed a busy travel year for our family this year and so far all of it has come to pass as forecast.  To make the plans real I even went so far as to create a grid on, gasp, PaPeR so that I could see just how wacky things were potentially going to get.  As I stared into the future I quickly noticed that twice this summer I had less than 48 hours to wash, repack and head out again on another trip.  Both of those trips required me to pack Dad's things two weeks in advance to stay ahead of the game. As I fully took stock of the plans, I had to make note of who was travelling when to be sure we weren't double booking ourselves. Each trip required airline bookings, hotel or Airbnb bookings with l...

Hey hey hey dear reader!  I am back from summer vacay and before you admit to yourself that you missed me (muah) I want to say first that I missed writing to you!  It was a much needed respite BUT I've been itching to get back on the 'beat' that is L.I.F.E.  (Living In Full Expectation!!!).  It has been an incredible summer and I plan to fill you in on all of the travel details but for now, let me just say I am happy to be cracking on the keyboard sharing and caring.  I'd love to hear about some of the shenanigans you got into this summer--Let me know in the comments section, on Facebook or by email.  I will be coming atcha Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays so stay frosty and stay in love with LIFE!