Month: May 2025

the unmother

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AI-Generated Image: A young, Black woman holding her puppy up in the air while smiling. She is wearing a dark pink top, has curly hair, and in the background, a faint image of a yellow house is visible. The dog is a tan color with a black snout and sweet eyes.

to be a fur baby’s mom
takes everything the body
doesn’t willingly give

you sacrifice bits of yourself
you never thought you
would–you live a different
life than what you’ve
ever known,

and the four-legged
creature who looks to
you as his world only
sees love and loyalty.

some will say your
mothering isn’t real.
others will tell you,
“it’s just a dog,” but
what they will never know

is the unfailing, unconditional
love that merges the two
of you together . . .
glue that cannot be
undone.

and it’s the most
indescribable beauty of God–
possessed and shared
with us.

I wrote this poem a few days ago for the crush’s daughter, who is now a fur baby mom. At the tender age of 19 years old, she has a companion who will love her like no other living and breathing being ever will. I am so happy for and proud of her!

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.

the pull

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holes come at unexpected
times, bearing down
on weary hearts–taking
our last moments of peace.

the strong hold on–ending
the fight before it’s time
can place a wrinkle in the
waves of life.

we grit our teeth and lean
into every storm until
we ache from years of
battling–the war, never-ending.

the pull is a place we find
ourselves lagging in
navigation, stuck on
fear, and when we stay
there too long, it becomes
home.

the key to remembering how
to escape is to grab
the closest thing to you
and lasso it to your beating
heart–give it the life it
has no chance to steal,

and watch it falter
before your eyes.
you’ll defeat it, and it
won’t ever see it coming.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.

Photos From Memorial Day Weekend

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I lived. I loved. I ate delicious food. I am better for having done so.

800°. Southpark, Charlotte, NC. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
On the table: Yellowed beauty. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
What we ate: My friend had a double pepperoni wood-fired grill pizza. I had their specialty wood-fired grill wings with honey bourbon sauce & house wood-fired grill Brussels sprouts. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
A friend who is a gem (and like my kid sister), Diamond. We both worked for the contracted company of our bigger, more established company. And now that the contracted company will no longer be a thing, we are linked to each other’s lives in a way I am not with any other co-worker I have ever had. We’ve been through A LOT, and we’re still standing, still smiling, and still here for each other. The lunch spot was her suggestion. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
She is yet another person who understands my silliness. At 23 years old, Diamond must’ve been here before. I am grateful for her presence in my life. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
A peaceful resting spot. Jernee sleeps whenever she can and wherever she wants. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
The movie theater. Sinners was the feature. Although it was a good movie, the hype about it was TEN TIMES BETTER. This was before six more people entered this theater. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
And again. The seat with the napkins on it is where I sat for the film. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
After the movie, in my car, preparing to go to the store. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Cast-iron skillet homemade macaroni and cheese. Yes, it was delicious! Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday dinner: cast-iron skillet mac-n-cheese, thinly sliced BBQ steak, & oven-baked cabbage with tomatoes & onions. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Manifestation Monday: On Memorial Day, a small part of my day included watching/listening to an audiobook, How to Talk to the Universe. The link was sent to me by one of my long-time friends, Raina. Monday, May 26, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

I needed this break from working. I ended my time with the contracted company on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thursday and Friday were spent attending doctors’ appointments, visiting my cousin in the hospital, and enjoying every moment I could.

I am ready to take on whatever is headed my way, and I welcome it all with open arms.

I hope this week will be more than kind to all of you. Peace and blessings!

Something To Think About #14

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“What about your friends? Will they stand their ground? Will they let you down?”

Fortune Cookie Wisdom. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

I will share “Something To Think About” for the next two weeks on Sunday afternoons. It may be a quote, a picture, an interesting phrase I heard, artwork, etc. Whatever I share will surely be intriguing or involving enough to spark a casual discussion or in-depth conversation. Stay tuned every Sunday for this feature!

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.

a Sunday with Sinners

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Fandango’d the ticket for Sinners
for this morning at the
theater up the block.
a friend of mine has been
waiting for me to see it so
we can discuss it.

she’s anxious to know my thoughts,
but I haven’t movie’d in a while;
a little over two years, to be exact.
theaters make me feel out of
place… the awkward
coughs, people who talk
when the movie begins, cell
phones ringing when they should
be on silent.

my nerves usually become
so worked up, I find it hard to focus
on the movie.
therefore, if I go, I show up
early in the morning, a Sunday,
preferably, when most people
are God’ng themselves to death.

and that’s what I’ll do
today. when I have
had my fill of a movie that
has The Green Mile of hype, I’ll
come home to get a little
more God, too.

The Man Is Still Selling America

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A Book Review

The Man Who Sold America by Joy-Ann Reid. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

I recently finished reading a book by Joy-Ann Reid, one of my favorite journalists and all-around politically savvy Black women.

The Man Who Sold America isn’t your average informative novel. It has everything you want it to have. All the tea with a bit of spice, and the dark tales of a past that Trump doesn’t share openly.

I took my time with this book, and I am so glad I did. I wanted to savor it, understand the recounting of a number of important events, and linger with the metaphorical language and wit, too.

Below is my review, shared on Amazon and Goodreads:

It’s Exactly What I Thought It Would Be–Informative & Invigorating

Joy-Ann Reid pulls no punches in this book. She did her due diligence regarding research, and also weaved wittiness and metaphorical blends within every chapter, too.

Her journalistic history and editorial presence shines through on every page. Although incredibly informative, The Man Who Sold America isn’t boring. It is a book that will lasso you in, slap you on your leg, and bid you to pay attention.

It is a great reminder for a high percentage of Americans to remember “all that glitters isn’t gold.” Trump rode in on a golden horse, with a field of lies on his tongue, and shouted incessantly to a particular group of people who held the hem of his garments, and would not let go.

Reid does an incredible job posing different points. Bipartisan points were discussed and views and perspectives were shared from several people who were affiliated with Trump and found themselves in dire straits after their affiliation with him. Wherever he goes, trouble follows and it’s usually the monetarily destructive kind.

If you’re looking for your next favorite political read, this book is it! It has recaps of greed, lies & deceit, cover-ups, and a detailed overview of Trump’s past and claim to fame.

Make yourself at home with it. You won’t be disappointed.

I am reading Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump, Trump’s niece. And let me just say, I cannot wait to write the review for this book!

Both are going to go down as two of my favorite politically informative biographical-like novels!