So here I sit in Starbucks on 78th & Lexington in NYC reading & writing all morning on a Monday. My boys #2 & 3 are in Scitech Camp until 3pm. So I am waiting on the time to pass. What a difference two decades make. Who knew the things I did while homeless would be yuppie chic one day. The big difference is today, I have money to buy 'whatever I want,' I have a few homes to go back to, and my bags are now Louis Vuitton. Dreams definitely do come true.
The boys' classroom for the week is Central Park and various places around the city that will teach them about the science of nature. Son #1 is back on his classes at NYFA and loving New York in the summertime. Before we got here for our visit he emailed me a photo of himself, "wrecking shop at Double Dutch." His ability to get the crowd amped got him noticed, and he made yet another business contact via business card. My good mommy plan is to buy him a business card holder to keep his contacts in order.
Well my summer is wrapping up with the submission of my first screenplay for my screenwriting class on Wednesday. The final assignment is to complete the first Act, a tag line, and a step by step outline of the entire movie that I am writing. How awesome! I decided to update this blog while taking a break from writing dialogue (that rhymes).
Here's what you missed: in May I sent out 10 copies of Wendy Williams' new book, Ask Wendy, as Mother's Day gifts. I hope someday someone will buy lots of copies of my book and give them as gifts. I am so close. Wendy's book was great, by the way. No one gives advice as well as Wendy. Btw, we got to see her last night after her evening performance in the broadway musical, Chicago. She was great as usual. I got to tell her that I bought two wigs from her new wig line with Especially Yours.
Anyway, I am going backwards, better in the blog than in life.
On Saturday, my family and I had the distinct pleasure of once again seeing Beyonce' aka Mrs. Carter perform in her hubby's hometown. She was great as usual. Does excellence ever get old? I sure hope not. I will be buying Beyonce' concert tickets for the rest of my life. She makes me glad I am a black girl, a feeling I only get from Beyonce', Michelle Obama, Wendy Williams, and of course Ms. Oprah Winfrey. Btw, Gayle King and her daughter were at the concert rocking out like they were glad to be Black Girls that rock as well.
Oooh that reminds me of a story; my sweet Caucasian hubby finally wore the t-shirt I bought for him out in public and the reactions he got were almost unbelievable. The t-shirt said, Black Girls Rock! Seeing as his wife and daughter make the statement true, I thought how apropos. But wow did it rub some people in a certain kind of way to see a Caucasian man wearing a shirt that says Black Girls Rock! He experienced more black folks having a negative reaction than whites.
Well it was a precursor to the conversations of the summer. A Cheerios commercial sparked controversy when it portrayed a biracial couple. Followed shortly thereafter by the Paula Deen disaster. May I go on record as saying I still love Paula Deen. I too unfortunately, in the past, have used the horrible n-word, but then per Avenue Q., the musical, I believe "Everybody's a Little Bit Racist." It is not something to get up in arms about, instead let's keep having intelligent conversations about race and bias in America. Start with the September issue of Essence magazine with Kelly Rowland on the cover. There is a great article inside that sheds light on unconscious bias.
With all that said, I join the boycott of Florida. I will not spend any of my money there until they change their, "stand your ground laws." I have three black boys that I pray to God for the strength to see them safely into adulthood and beyond without racism negatively affecting them permanently. The conversation that every black boy must hear to prepare him to save his own life when faced by a scared Caucasian with a gun, is a rites of passage activity, unfortunately. Trayvon Martin and Emmett Till will forever be honored by any success my three black boys have in this life.
Back to blogging, on Friday in New York we got to see the very incredible musical, Kinky Boots. A great story about the plight of a different kind of black boy that is equally important. Watch the movie if you can't make it to Broadway. It made me want to buy some new high heel shoes. When I learn to post videos and photos you can see first hand how Joe does retail therapy. (I need an assistant!)
Prior to coming to NYC, I wrapped my summer term at Harvard Summer School. Like I mentioned earlier on Wednesday I submit my final assignment via email. I love technology. I had to withdraw from my government class due to the fact that it conflicted with my plans to see Beyonce' this weekend, but alas I learned a lot about our government and politics in general.
And finally the report from the mountain top. Yes, I, Joe Williams-Nelson did manage, without injury to my body or my ego, to climb Mt. Shasta in California. It was definitely as hard as the marathon but not as inspirational as the marathon. I climbed to 11,100 feet before having to come back down in the dark of night. The staff at the Breast Cancer Fund is amazing to say the least. However, I will never do that shit again. Next on my list is a triathlon in Chicago by the time I turn 50. This gives me 9 years to learn to swim, but my 8 year old tells me I am a fast learner. He is teaching me more and more whenever we have access to a pool. Thank God for the Ritz Carlton in Boston. It was a lifesaver when the 13 year old decided not to come back to the summer apartment for the weekend. He was in Gamers' Academy at Harvard, and the baby boy was stuck with the parents for two weeks without his big brother.
Well, I have definitely gone passed my break time. "Back to Business" for this writer.
I will wrap with this little tidbit about progress. In this very crowded Starbucks, I have shared my small table with at least four people who happen to be beautiful Caucasians. One man set up his computer and worked right across from me; another man ate his lunch then left; now a lady who has finished her meal sits across from me reading. Even when other tables opened up they remained. God is Amazing! I pray you are loving life as much as me these days.
Stay blessed. Until next time . . .
Take care of you.
