“To Reflect”           

"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." –Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)~

"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." - Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)~

"Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain." - Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805)~

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." - Henry Ford (1863-1947)~

"When I am working on a problem I never think about beauty. I only think about how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong." - Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983)~

“Tooth Ache VS Tight Shoes”

When your teeth is hurting, you may get a headache along with it~ Your eyes may even hurt, but when your shoes are tight… hmm~ Your feet, head, ears, eyes, even your teeth hurts, but you take the pain and you step the living daylights out of them shoes~

What I cannot understand is that some people really don’t know the pain you are in, but they are trying their best to step into your shoe~ And I say, “What the~ JESUS!”…

"Don't stay in bed, unless you can make money in bed." - George Burns (1896-1996)

"I find that the harder I work the more luck I seem to have." - Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

“The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work." - Emile Zola (1840-1902)

“One Is The Stepping Stone”

A friend of mine wanted to start a program to help children. She asked me my opinion. I told her that it was a great idea and she should start working on it immediately.

“I don’t know who to ask to help me with it,” She said.

“It is your idea, so don’t ask anyone to help you. Make some flyers and hand them out to all the people you see with children~ Even those people who don’t have a child with them.”

She made the flyers and handed out more than one hundred.

Days turned into weeks, and she did not receive any response. She spoke to me saying that she was feeling embarrassed and hurt that no one responded.

I said, “Why are you hurt~ Trust that someone will respond~ Come on~ Just be patient.”

I know I probably sounded condescending, but that is how I felt when she spoke to me, and I usually go with my feelings about a situation~ Yes, there are times I might be wrong, but in most cases I am on track with my opinions.

The days dragged on until one parent approached her and she accepted the child~ Three weeks after the child was in her program, her new grumble was, “I only have one child. I think I should call it quits.”

“Why quit? More will come!”

“You always say that,” She said.

“And you should start believing it!”

A year later, 75 children are in her program.

My belief in this life is, that “One is the stepping stone to VICTORY!!!!...”

“This Is Truthful”

"The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready." - Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance" - Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

"Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens." - Jimi Hendrix

"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." - Antoine de Saint Exupery

 

“We Faced It”

It is a beautiful, sunny day~ A vast difference from yesterday’s lightening striking~ thunderous~ rainy and bleak drab day. Although it was stormy, my daughter and I faced it by heading to the cinema to see BRAVE… We loved it and from the reaction of the kids who were in the cinema~ I think it is a must see for them this summer….    

“Big Hands”

He went to the market with his mother. She walked slowly from stall to stall choosing and buying the provisions she needed. When they got to the lady who sold plums, his mouth watered because the plums looked luscious. He was about to ask his mother to buy some, but she and the vendor suddenly started to converse. They seem to know each other so he stood there look on.

The vendor then asked, “Is this young man your son?”

“Yes, he is my son. His name is Michael.”

“Hi Michael. Take some plums.” He did not move from where he was standing and she kept insisting. The vendor then turned to his mother, “Michael doesn’t like plums?”

“He does. I don’t know why he is acting shy.”

The vendor took up a handful of plums, put it in a bag and handed it to him. He told her thanks then he and his mother moved on, but she whispered, “Why are you so stupid Michael. The lady told you to take some plums and you stood there refusing to take it. That was so embarrassing.”

“Why are you embarrassed? Her hands are bigger than mine.”…

“Important Words”~ (Three)

"Basically, I no longer work for anything but the sensation I have while working." - Albert Giacometti (sculptor)

"There's a limit to how many times you can read, how great you are and what an inspiration you are, but I'm not there yet." - Randy Pausch (1960-2008

“Me And My Deceitful Self”

A woman I knew for a very long time always used to say, “Me and my deceitful self.” I always laugh or smiled when I heard it~ It was not until I was at the end of the receiving line did I realize how much of a true statement it was…

“Important Words”~ (TWO)

"You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you." ~ - Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)

"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." ~ - Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

“All Night Long”

Lightening brightened up the sky and flash after flash brightened my home… Then, the sound of thunder~ Yes I know that thunder is the sound of lightning as it hits the air, but oh gosh! All night long, the flash and the rumble kept me up~ Now, I feel like an Ash Wednesday Morning after I pranced the streets of Port-of-Spain for carnival…

“One Chance”

The easiest thing in life to understand is that you are not alone. Someone out there is experiencing what you are experiencing~

You only have one chance at life…

“Important Words”

"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." ~ - Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." ~ - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

“Heat Wave Thunder Storm And Watermelon”

It is another hot day in NY so lunch for me today is, watermelon~

I put a watermelon in the refrigerator for three hours~ Now I am sitting down to a bowl of cold watermelon and I am listening to thunder… 

“September Morning”

I remember it as though it was yesterday~ That chilly September morning~ The first day of high school, for my daughter. She was excited to start the school year and today I wake up and she is more excited that summer holiday started for her~

The months slipped by so quickly~ Where did they go~ hmm…

“Just Irrational”

Illogical, unreasonable, absurd, silly, unfounded~ Just Irrational.

In a fleeting moment of craziness, we all do something irrational~ Just foolish! After the moment, it hits you how ridiculous it was~ Then you ask yourself~ “WHY!!!!”...

The temperature is going up to 96ºF, but it is going to feel like 105º. New York is hot hot, but  it is where dreams are made of~

“Stop Wondering”

Go to the source of the accusation~ The truth is within~

You will stop wondering…

“A Brand New Day”

I woke up this morning to a brand new day, and I smiled because I feel blessed that I am graced with another day~

I prayed, “Thank you God for making me see another day and I asked Him what can I say today then I whispered, “KINDNESS!!!!”

Kindness is an infectious disease that you are born with~ If you share it the only infection is a warm smile or a hearty laugh… A Valentine Joseph.

 “Mister Sampath A Good Person”

Children can tell if an adult is a good person just by being in there presence for a moment. Our neighbor –Mister Sampath was East Indian. Our friendship started when I was very young. Every Friday when I came home from kindergarten, he used to tell my mother to send me over to his home. The moment I arrived, he would tell me to have a seat on the little bench on the porch and he would sit in a chair.

Mrs. Sampath would be in the kitchen cooking and the food always smelt delicious. He would be talking loudly to her. Every now and then, they would both laugh at their jokes. I would quietly sit there looking seriously at him and listening. I was never afraid or uncomfortable with him. He would eventually look at me and say, “How was school?”

I always had a story to tell him, so I would start to chat. Mrs. Sampath would come out of the kitchen with a large enamel bowl of curry goat, put it on the table then hand him one medium size bowl and a small bowl. He would dish out some curry goat into the small bowl and hand it to me, serve himself then say to me, “Eat. Tell me how it tastes?”

“I would say, “Nice~ Hot~ Pepper.”

He would smile and say, “Bring some water for the child.”

I sipped my water and ate the curry goat. When I was finished eating what was in my bowl, he would put more meat into it. We would talk over our bowls of curry goat. Sometime later, I would head home with great anticipation for the next Friday, of our little chats over bowls of curry goat…

Happy Father’s Day”

To all fathers and to all the mothers who are doing double duty.

“The Aura Today”

The sun is shining brightly~ I don’t see any clouds in the sky, only blue skies all around me~ The air feels just right from the gentle breeze~

I said, “This is a nice summer morning.”

My husband said, “Summer!? It’s still spring.”

And I said, “Really! Okay!" 
I started to sing with my bathroom voice, “Oh what a beautiful morning~ Oh what a beautiful day~ I have a beautiful feeling~ Everything’s going my way…"

 “Those Were The Days”

One evening, I stood on the beach waiting on the sun to set. For some odd reason, sunset was taking a long time, so I sat in the car with the door open, took off my slippers and left them outside of the car. Sometime later, the sun set and darkness came~ I kept looking at the sky until the moon started to brighten it~ It was really a beautiful night~ I closed the car door and drove home~ It was not until I woke up the next morning that I realized I left my slippers on the beach. I drove to the beach and they were exactly where I left them…  

“It Tastes Overly Delicious”

My daughter was heading to school for an exam so I decided to take her to lunch. I took her to a restaurant that serves about 68 million customers daily in 119 countries~ Her choice. She loved what she ordered, but to her the French fries always taste overly delicious~ I did not have any of it~ I had a strawberry banana smoothie…

 “NO”

I have been told ‘No” since I was little so if every

‘No’ I received turns into money~ I would be wealthy…

Rejection~ Was cooked with me in mind,

Refusal~ Was then dished out,   

Rebuff~ Was put on my plate,

Thumbs down~ Was placed in front of me, but I did not eat...

“God doesn't require us to succeed; he only requires that you try”~ Mother Theresa

“Memories Of Trinbago”

Toupi tambou, dasheen, yams~~~~

Balata, cerise, caimite, sugar apple, penny piece, ma mie apple, ma mie separte –(mammy see-pote), sapodilla, cocorete, tonka bean, portugal, tangerine, hog plum, pommerac, pommecythere, governor plum, guava, groo-groo beff, soursop, mango, pineapple, cherry, cashew, orange, grapefruit, five fingers, chinee tambran, tamarind, banana, watermelon, chennette, breadfruit~~~~ cane, pewah, chataigne, corn, coconut ~~~  and so on and so on…

“Stumbling Block Or A Hindrance”

Therefore let us no longer judge one another, but rather judge this, that you should not put a stumbling block or a hindrance in your brother’s way… Romans 14:13

“I Forgot To Buy”

I came home from the grocery and I forgot to buy Crix Crackers~ I decided that I would buy it on my next trip. It was not long before my daughter shouted, “Mom we have no Crix! I must have it to eat my bagel bites.”

Her brother repeated, “No Crix! I must eat it with my cheese fondue!” and their father shouted... “I wanted to eat some with fried fish.” “You guys are rubbing it in,” I said.

“But when I thought about it… hmm~ I love it with guava jam, jelly, lentil peas, cream cheese, split peas soup, baked salmon, peanut butter, ham, turkey salad and Crix with a cup of coffee…”

Kindness and truth shall meet~

Justice and peace shall kiss~

Truth shall spring out of the earth~

And justice shall look down from heaven… PS. 85:11-12

“DELIVER US FROM ALL THAT IS EVIL”

“A Very Nice Day”

It was, but the area took on a weird moment. Yes, the sun rises in the east and it sets in the west. Twilight was going to be upon us very soon and I was standing on the west side waiting for it. That rich orange glow that hits the area always looks really nice, so I waited and waited, but it did not happen. The area took on a dark, dismal glow. I turned and walked away and headed to the kitchen to warm dinner. Little drops of rain started to hit the kitchen window. As I looked through the window, I noticed that the area had an orange glow and the rain drops were glittering…

I whispered, “This is weird~ I am seeing the reflection of the sunset on the east side.”…

“Good judgment”

Doubt asks who believes? Faith answers, "I"~ Unknown Author

"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered; forgive them anyway~

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives: Be kind anyway~

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight: Create anyway~

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway~

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway~

Give the best you have, and it may never be enough: Give your best anyway~

In the final analysis, it is between you and God: It was never between you and them anyway."… Mother Teresa

“Words To Note Well”

But thou why dost thou judge thy brother? Or thou why dost thou despise thy brother?  For we shall all stand at the judgment-seat of God~~~ Romans 14:10…

“Them Damn Secret Agents”

Yes I love the older folks, but not all of them have my love~

They are the best secret agents in the entire world~

They could keep a secret hidden so deep within that they go to their grave~~~ burying it!!!
Them Damn Secret Agents thought they got me, but~~~ I cracked the code…

“Trying To Impress”

You are just showing off~ In most cases, it leads to an embarrassing moment~

Don’t try to impress, just go with the flow~ Sit back and watch~ In most cases, you will win the prize…

“Time Is Longer Than”

Yes you can stay~ remain~ linger~ hang around~ Stop as you try to~ kill time~ pass the time, but time doesn’t do any of those things… hang around~ linger~ It waits on no man, animal or thing.

Time is longer than twine~

“Who Cuts Off The Ends”

I went to the Deli to buy some hero sandwiches. I placed my order to the guy who was making the sandwiches. I said, “I want Boar’s Head honey turkey, American cheese yellow, lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise. Please do not cut off the ends of the bread.” The guy did not answer, but he proceeded to get the items for the sandwiches.

I said, “Sir, did you hear me?”

“Yes,” he said and he repeated the order, even the part about not cutting off the ends of the bread. He made the sandwiches. I paid for them then headed on the bus which was taking my family and me on a long trip. When we arrived at our destination and we sat down to eat our sandwiches, all the ends were cut off…

We were all flabbergasted as we asked~ “Who cuts off the ends of a hero sandwich?!!!!!

“Not A Drop Of”

My husband called yesterday and he said, “What did you cook?”

“Spaghetti, mixed with shrimps and vegetables,”

He said, Hmmm… What do we have in the freezer, to cook?”

“Chicken and Tilapia.”

“Take out the tilapia. I will cook when I get home.”

He cooked all the things I like, but not the way I like~

His way –steamed tilapia with vegetables, boiled green figs, ripe plantains, eddoes and ochroes~

NOT A DROP OF SALT WAS IN THE FOOD~ I AM A SALT-O-HOLIC, BUT I KNOW MY HEALTH COMES FIRST SO I ATE IT…

“You Can Feel The Moment When The Struggle Is On”

“The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It’s the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun.” -Napoleon Hill (1883-1970)