What A Week!

This has been an incredibly emotional week.  

Coming up on the Five Year Anniversary of the ICONIC PRINCE leaving us so suddenly, I was already becoming emotional.  

Knowing the impending verdict in the former policer who killed George Floyd’s trial was coming, just added to it. Minneapolis holds a special place in my heart, and under normal circumstances, I’d be with them, in remembrance and celebration. Coupled with school work demands, I just couldn’t fly In this time:(

Add my final film project stress to the mix and it’s a powder keg of emotions! 

I still can’t quite put my feelings into words about the guilty verdicts.  

Except to say, it’s extremely bothersome that it took ALL of that, to hold ONE individual accountable for ONE of the COUNTLESS murders of my people.  

Only a GLOBAL uprising against the complete LACK of humanity we saw on that horrible video took hold.

Folks who don’t live in this skin can choose to turn away.  

Some pretend to unsee what we see everyday.  

WE don’t get that option. 

It’s difficult to continue to love a country that clearly doesn’t love us back. 

IT’S exhausting!

So, I said all that to say, that the Guilty Verdicts left me relieved and pissed off at the same time.

George Floyd was a human being. 

The time is now to stop pretending that demonic LACK OF HUMANITY is ok.

IT’S NOT.

IT NEVER WAS.

NOR SHALL IT EVER BE.

If you don’t like us. Fine!  Truth be told, it’s a good chance that WE FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT YOU!

JUST 👏🏾LEAVE 👏🏾US👏🏾 THE 👏🏾HELL 👏🏾ALONE‼️

Phew! 

That was a mouthful, but dammit at 53 years old, I’ve lived and seen enough. 

I SAID, WHAT I SAID!

Wednesday, Marked the Fifth Anniversary of Prince leaving us.  There’s NO doubt in my mind, he would’ve been at the forefront for social justice, especially in his city where he was born.  

No doubt. 

He’s NOT this Purple unicorn, the un-informed try to paint him as. He’s been an activist for artist’s rights and social justice since DAY ONE. 

I miss you Prince.  

Thank you for sharing your gift with us🙏🏾💜

I’m channeling a little purple energy with the cover photo. It’s a Purple Teardrop, located in North Minneapolis, paying homage to Prince. Why they don’t have at least a plaque at the base of this so those unaware could find and understand the significance is beyond me. Anywhoo, enjoy! And do y’all see those clouds? Minneapolis is such a beautiful place:)

I also, got my first shot of the two rounds of vaccine, finally.  So then there’s that!  I’m not immunizations averse.  

I’ve gotten them my whole life.  And, I DEFINITELY had my fair share of them over my  20-year military career, to include the Plague, Yellow Fever, and the Anthrax Vaccine which was a DOOZY!

What I didn’t know was how I would react.  There’s so much stuff in my system as it is!  

And well, my natural skepticism as a Black Woman with a Grandfather who served during WWII and who was alive at the peak of life during that HORRIBLE and DESPICABLE Tuskegee Experiment.  

This is how they lured the unknowing victims in. With free community vaccinations. DEMONIC!

Thank God, he wasn’t part of that! 

Prayers and blessings to the many others who unwittingly were.  

Such a shameful, shameful, SHAMEFUL event in this country’s history.

So, to those who don’t understand or agree with the trepidation many of us feel, I have TWO WORDS for you.  

And I’ll leave it at that.

I forged ahead and decided to get the vaccine. Just like with Anthrax, because ultimate,  I feel that I’ll be better off WITH it, than without.  

It’s all about peace of mind. 

Further, here’s a case in point: when I received the anthrax vaccine overseas in 2000, and returned to the States 2001, I was sent back to the D.C. area on orders.

When the anthrax attacks happened and people died, though nervous and concerned for my safety, I was indeed relieved to have received the initial series of three shots.  

And let me tell you, those shots KICKED MY ASS!  

My arm was jacked up for about a month following the last shot. 

YIKES!

Two days after this first COVID shot my arm is sore, there’s been some slight fatigue but smooth sailing otherwise.

I’m fine.

So, fingers crossed, the same for the second shot.  

I’ll be happy to be fully vaccinated against this virus that’s still raging out of control in places like India. 

I’ve got family to visit, places to go, and stories to tell!

So on this Self-Care Saturday, I hope to spread a little cautious optimism✨

Hope goes a long way. Keeps me flying high. 

Keeps me on the quest to find my light.💫

Wishing you all the same, this Self-Care Saturday🙏🏾