Mother Nature scares me!

Hola, Hello, I’m back! 

I hope you noticed that I was missing in action for a couple of weeks or so.

Here’s the deal: I have a day job, this means I’m usually pretty busy most days of the week; by the time I leave work in the evenings it becomes a toss-up between going straight home and going to the gym. Two or three nights a week the gym wins; that means when I get home there will be nothing left to do but eat a quick meal and take a shower, after that give the brain a rest for the day—translation: mindless TV channel surfing.

This week, however, the need for self-expression came crashing back in more ways than one. First, the news was so full of unfortunate events that it just made me worry about where this world of ours is headed. I mean, there were the ongoing news of Japan’s nuclear reactors (after the earthquakes and tsunami) threatening to wreak havoc on the already extremely taxed nerves of the Japanese people (mine too). I can’t begin to imagine what to do in such a situation.

Then there were the “social networks” driven revolts in the Middle East, and ongoing threats of war. Here is my thought on this and please correct me if I am wrong, the power of God, (I am a believer) or whatever Higher Power rocks your boat, should be self-evident; we have no control over this earth and it appears, very little control over ourselves as well. My immediate thoughts after the Japanese events was Mother Nature has demonstrated to us once again that she is the ultimate “equalizer” and we should be taking notice of this fact and begin to treat each other with the utmost care, compassion and kindness.  Or as Rodney King would say: “Can’t we all just get along?”

It should be enough for us to know there are more pressing things (feed the hungry, educate our children, eat some ice cream) that require we put our collective energies into; rather than trying to tear each other down. When we die, and we all will at some time or the other, all our worldly possessions will be left behind and even if we managed to take something with us (can’t imagine why) I am sure whatever it is would be useless wherever we end up.

So come on people, let’s decide to help our fellow human beings in every way we can. We do not have to give money away; a little loving and caring should be enough in most cases. Most people would appreciate a gesture that says: I feel your pain, rather than a put down. An uplifting message is always better than a negative comment. People who are down, do not need you to remind them of that fact; they need you say you understand, and if you don’t, please keep your mouth shut!

And that is what I’m talking about!

Marcia C

Reality TV? Whose Reality?

First of all, I want to point out that I believe the world as I knew it has gone crazy; that said, I will repeat: the world has absolutely gone crazy. If you don’t believe me, check out the daily news for confirmation. If the news does not do it for you; check out the TV Guide to see what’s on. On any given day or night, the programming sucks, there is a proliferation of so called reality shows. Whose reality exactly? I am not sure. But the number of people who are willing to get paid for exposing parts of their life, those parts they should clearly be keeping to themselves, never ceases to amaze me. It is evident that we now live in a society which has given up on basic common sense, manners, and dare I say it… decency.

Go ahead and watch any of the number of “so called” reality shows and you’ll feel your “cringe factor” go up a few notches, “it will be kicked up a notch” as Emeril would say. It used to be that there was some level of censorship applied to TV shows who make use of “objectionable” language, and certain intimate scenes were deemed too risqué for general audiences (especially during daytime shows); surely, any kind of “sex talk" was out of the question; that does not seem to be the case anymore.

I am no prude, never have been, but I’ve now gotten to the point where I only watch some news programs, and select shows on TV; I dislike anything that displays a lack of sensitivity toward those of us watching, so that pretty much leaves out all crime shows (too much violence), some cartoons, and of course, most reality shows, especially the housewives series (what a joke!) as I cannot relate to any of them (NY, LA, ATL, whatever). None of the real housewives I’ve ever known behave like these women on TV do.

I am a fan of HGTV, because I am able to learn something from the shows I chose to watch, things that I can actually use; I am a dog lover, so Dog Whisperer tickles my fancy, so do many of the shows on PBS, History, and Discovery channels; again, because I can learn something.

One of the bright spots on the “tely” (as the British say) is CBS’s Sunday Morning Show. It “reports” not “fabricates” the news as many of the other shows do. That aside, the segment titled “Brain Drain” featured during a recent broadcast, got me thinking about the serious problems we are experiencing educating our children. Jobs are been outsourced to countries like India, Philippines, and many others because they have figured a path to success. They place a higher emphasis on education and training; while our students think the way to success rests on playing with a ball (football, basketball, baseball).

Many of the foreign countries have also decided that sending their children to receive their education in the old USA is their best investment to ensure they are in the best position to compete; they get trained by the best scholars money can buy, and go back to their countries—degree in hand, to apply what they learned, help grow their countries’ economies and surpass Americans at their own game. Genius!

This is serious stuff and we better get cracking to reverse this “brain drain” trend. Parents: YOU must step up to the plate ASAP to make sure your children receive the education they not only deserve, but desperately need in order to compete and to make headway in the increasingly global world we now live in. And, it would not be a bad thing if they also learn to speak other languages (once they perfect English, of course). Japanese, Chinese, or Spanish come to mind.

Who knows, the trends may soon reverse and mastery of a foreign language may be required of our students in order to get a job; be it at home, in China, Japan, Spain or anywhere else in the world.

That’s what I’m Talking About!

Marcia C

Balding heads, holding on to ponytails?

Okay, it is obvious to me that I live in Florida.

I say that to say this, I am old enough, been around and witnessed the days when White dudes wore ponytail and mullet hairstyles everywhere, and Black men (and women) sported afros of all sizes; that was fine back then; after all, they were all the rage back in the day. They were in vogue. I even wore my cute little ‘fro for a number of years—say it loud, I’m Black and proud, as the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, used to say. Lol! Yes, I am dating myself.

News flash! That was over thirty years ago! It is now 2011, a new millennium, dudes; and there have been many other hairstyles introduced since the sixties. So I submit to you there is no good reason for anyone to be still sporting any of those hairdos today (unless, of course, you are taking part in a play or movie) read: retro.

Recently, as I waited my turn in a jury selection box, I had to use all the will power in me to suppress the giggles as laughter threatened to escape me and possibly get me in trouble. Obviously, I had plenty of time on my hands, otherwise I would not have noticed the three--count them: one, two, three balding men still sporting their sixties ponytails! What are the odds? There were only about twenty five people in the courtroom, that’s got to be some kind of freaky statistic!

Anyway, I can see trying to hold on to our youth; heck, those were fun days and it was fun to be a hippie, or flower girl, or burn our bras and all that stuff. But guess what? Those days are over and they are never coming back, just like our hair! Let’s face it, we are now (Gasp!) our parents. We are the establishment, OMG! We grew up—or should have, to have our own jobs and children and homes. And now, we are quickly becoming our grandparents. Where did all that time go?

Anyway, I am ranting. But as we go into the sunset, let’s do it with the same gusto we displayed when we were younger, and please let’s find a hairstyle now that speaks to our new station in life. After all, our grandchildren are looking, and I think, they might be saying:

“No, I can’t like it” to our continued use of outdated hairstyles.

And that’s what I am talking about!

Marcia C

My Neck of the Woods

Port Charlotte? Punta Gorda? Where is that? It does not sound like there will be much to do there. This is usually how a conversation goes after the standard brief introductions with almost anyone that comes through this small town of ours. The explanation usually goes something like this: we are located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, right between Fort Myers (to the south) and Sarasota (to the north) and suddenly, recognition, an--Aha! Moment, as Oprah often says. I know where that is, my grandma has a house over there. Lol!

These days, when I listen to the weather reports, and hear about places up north being dumped on by many feet of snow, and enduring all kinds of minus -0 degree weather, I’ve been having my own “Aha Moments”! Don’t get me wrong, I will complain just like everyone else about the weather, at the right time, it all depends on weather conditions (hurricane season comes to mind).

But last night and the night before, I was very glad to be living in “my neck of the woods” (Thanks, Al). It was around six in the evening when I felt a smile begin to form within me, there it was again as I crossed the bridge--another SW Florida present, a beautiful mix of clouds and sun that is very hard to describe. A beautiful sunset, and I did not have my camera with me this time, plus I was driving. Ughhhh!

Sunsets are a spectacular sight in our area. I lived in Brooklyn, NY for many years before moving south and can honestly say I never paid as much attention to the skies there, as I do in Florida. Maybe that’s because most of the year, I was running in or out of subways or ducking people bump-ins in between high risers in Manhattan. Or maybe I was just too busy and frazzled, going about my business to stop and appreciate nature; even as I appreciated and explored everything else NYC had to offer; to this day, it is one of my favorite cities.

Funny thing is there are, more than enough things to do in Port Charlotte and its surrounding areas; it boasts some of the best beaches (Boca Grande, Manasota) you can find anywhere along the Gulf Coast of Florida. Sunsets are beautiful and plentiful, except of course when the skies open up and let out their fair share of rain, thunder and lightning. There are many festivals, music, arts, and lots of fishing and boating to keep the most discriminating soul busy for days on end. Totally worth the experience. So come on down!

That's what I'm Talking About!

Marcia C

No, I can't Like it!

This was our granddaughter’s way of letting everyone know, during a recent holiday visit, whether or not she was planning to accept whatever it was that was being offered to her; be it food, a change of clothes, diapers, or whatever, you name it. If she had previously been enjoying a bowl of cereal and all of a sudden did not feel like having any more of it, she would adamantly state: “No, I can’t like it!” to let you know she was having no more of it. We, of course, almost fell to the ground with laughter the first time we heard her come up with that one. (Still do)

Do you remember? During the late nineties, there was a show on TV hosted by Bill Cosby called “Kids Say the Darndest Things”? It was hilarious. It focused on young children and the things they innocently say and do; it shed a light on the little things we all take for granted when raising our children, and the effect it can have on the grown-ups around them too.

Out of nowhere comes a statement like that. What do you answer to that? Have you ever tried to have a logical conversation with a two-year old? Please note, I said: logical.

What I tried, went something like this: “What do you mean you can’t like it?” You liked it just fine a few minutes ago, what happened since then? She had been eating strawberries—which she actually asked for by name—and all of a sudden, she can’t like them? They are her favorite fruit of the moment, for God’s sake! But, she insisted, “No, I can’t like it” to which I then asked: So, what is it you want? You know what’s coming, right? She is a two-year old—I just told you that!

Strawberries, “No, I can’t like it!” Banana!

Banana? I said. You now want a banana? Yes, she said. Of course, I went for it; got her what she asked for and then… when she had had enough, guess what? Yep, you know it, “No, I can’t like it!”

I’ll tell you what Bill Cosby; they still do… Say the Darndest Things!!!

And that’s what I am talking about!

Marcia C