1. Marvin Gaye was such an empowering, soulful, and talented human being. The above quote is one of my favorites from him. He left a legacy–this cannot be denied. He had a voice that could tap into your heart and make you release every emotion simultaneously. I don’t think there will ever be another entertainer/musician-magician quite like him.
2. Fantastic Mr. Fox is one of my ABSOLUTE favorite movies! I love the characters, plot, and overall theme of the story. Above is one of the scenes I can watch repeatedly and never tire of it. Ash, Mr. Fox’s (or Foxie) son faces his bully and gets a muddied face. His cousin, Kristofferson, is there to right the wrong of this bully and it is EVERYTHING to me.
1. My best friend’s dogs; Bella-Rue (Baby B, on the left) and Stacey-Lou (Lil Miss Busy Body, on the right), and a pair of my glasses. Why did I choose this photo? On Tuesday, March 05, 2024, I had yet another follow-up on my eyes with my ophthalmologist to determine where we stand with keratoconus (a “rare” eye disease that currently affects about 200,000 people each year) and its progression in both eyes.
My right eye is still getting worse and now my left eye has decided to join the party and cave in as well. I have written at length and ad nauseam about myeye disease, and I am sincerely over it at this point.
As I type this, I am still hopeful and prayerful about a positive outcome, but it will not occur without moving forward with Collagen Cross-linking. We decided we would focus on the right eye first and when it has healed, a recheck on the left eye will occur, and if necessary, we will move forward with the procedure for it as well.
I am now in the waiting stages for my ophthalmologist’s office’s surgery scheduler to contact me so we can select a date for the procedure. Once the date is set, I can further assess the logistics of it all: who will take me, who will stay with me for about two days, and how much time I’ll need to take away from work.
It’s a risky business dealing with one’s eyes and invasive and/or surgical procedures, but it is what it will be, and I cannot do much about that now.
2. A Shirley Chisholm Quote. “Shirley Anita Chisholm was an American politician who, in 1968, became the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress.” –Wikipedia
Not only was she a force to be reckoned with politically, but she fought fiercely for her rights and the rights of others in the United States.
From what I have learned about her, she never bit her tongue. She was forthcoming about any of her political plans and decisive about the goals she implemented for herself. She also ventured down the road of Presidency and became the first Black candidate to be nominated by a major party.
There is a biopic about her and it will release soon. The incredibly talented and gifted Regina King will be in character as Shirley Chisholm, and the movie is set to drop on March 15, 2024, and trust and believe, I will definitely be lending my coins to this fantastic production! The trailer for the SHIRLEY is below:
1. Doing Jewish: A Story From Ghana screenshot directly from my TV
2. A lovely card from a dear friend. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
1. Doing Jewish: A Story From Ghana, is a documentary about filmmaker,Gabrielle Zilkha making the trek to Ghana to learn more about Ghanaians practicing Judaism and learning, loving, living, and letting others know about their faith in Africa (specifically Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe, with a prominent focus on Africans in a small village called Sefwi Wiawso, Ghana).
I watched the documentary on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, early in the morning. I found it to be interesting and informative. In all honesty, I needed this particular movie at that particular time.
Here is a brief synopsis of it:
A tiny community in rural Ghana recently discovered that the religion they have been practicing for centuries is Judaism. Filmmaker Gabrielle Zilkha explores their story from isolation to global connection and the challenges and rewards they face along the way.
2. A lovely card from a dear friend. This beautifully multi-colored card arrived in my mailbox on the same day. Again, I needed this. It seemed like things popped up or occurred on Tuesday when I was NOT feeling like myself at all, and I had spiraled into a complete downward unwelcome place.
The Lord knows when to send help. He knows when you need it most. And on Tuesday, I had to be pulled out from a dark place to which I had landed.
I am grateful for good movies, great friends, and momentary interactions with darkness . . . it reminds me just how important love and light is.
I posted my last piece on Medium for the time being. I am sharing that same piece here as well.
Every day, there is a new form of pain to sort through
Sister Death Intro via Netflix. Photo Credit by Tremaine L. Loadholt
I want to say I am moving through every day without problems. I want to say I am moving through every day without pain. I want to say . . . I am moving through every day without leaning into the fears that stare at me at every turn. The truth is . . . I am hanging on by a string.
Every day, there is a new form of pain to sort through. As soon as I have made my way past that form of pain, there is one waiting just at the edge of my uneven breaths for me to fight as well.
I am not alone in this. I know. The world is steadily crumbling around us and fire and brimstone are piquing at their hottest points. When human beings choose between whom they can lend their empathy to, the world is already at its end.
I do not condone any form of violence taking place at home (in the US) or abroad. I also hate that our tax dollars are being used to fund what I believe is a nonsensical massacre at large, with no apparent end in sight, and authoritative figures bent on greed and boosted by their egos will be our downfall.
Numbers have never been my favorite thing to assess.
I am thumbing through and clicking on so many news sites and platforms of educated people honed in on what’s happening. However, I am also questioning many trusted sources, too.
When I read phrases like, “What we know,” I am moved to pause. Do we really know this? How do we know this? Who found out the information and when? Who have we paid for the facts and why? When will this senseless bloodshed end?
Israeli officials sent tanks and infantry into Gaza overnight, where they remained Saturday. Officials said that with the air and ground campaign, the “ground shook in Gaza.”
Most communication in Gaza has been knocked out, and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said it is “facing a total collapse with unimaginable consequences for more than 2 million civilians.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that a long and difficult war awaits.
More than 7,000 people, including women and children, have died in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials. In Israel, about 1,400 people have died.
At least 229 people were taken hostage during the Oct. 7 terrorist attack — including infants and young children.
NBC News’ Richard Engel, Raf Sanchez, Kelly Cobiella, Josh Lederman, Matt Bradley, Ellison Barber, Meagan Fitzgerald, Jay Gray, Hala Gorani, Chantal Da Silva and Alexander Smith are reporting from the region.
When we assess the numbers, what more does Israel want? How much more can the US benefit from the atrocities occurring? Because be very aware, the head officials are benefiting from this.
Hundreds of demonstrators from a Jewish activist group made their way into Grand Central Terminal’s main concourse and staged a sit-in during rush hour.
The group, Jewish Voice for Peace, demanded a ceasefire in Gaza on a day Israeli military forces increased incursions.
It also led me to the Instagram page of theJewish Voice for Peace to watch a clip of their demonstration while they were all either being handcuffed or handcuffed. The chant, “What do we want?” “Ceasefire!” “When do we want it?” “NOW!” will stay with me for many weeks to come, perhaps months — maybe years.
Police officers arrested 200 protestors for this cause. 200!!! For what? Freedom of Speech? This doesn’t exist anymore and really, maybe it never did.
As all numbers relating to this event continue to spike, I blink my eyes, and the Democratic Republic of Congo is dealing with its plight. Death seems to be what’s on the menu of late. And it’s only going to get worse before an inkling of betterment arrives.
Balance during these times is crucial to my health.
To tune out the world around me, I am reading. I am writing. I have begun a new shift at work, which allows me more time in the morning to meditate, cook a hearty breakfast, and go for longer walks by myself or with Jernee. I am finding things to keep my mind busy and preoccupied with peace.
Earlier today, I watched Sister Death on Netflix, and the similarities between this movie shook me versus the constant turmoil in the world today.
Sister Narcisa felt the torture and pain that layered the halls of the convent from buried secrets from the other sisters years before her arrival. Raping, pillaging, and the deaths of women and children occurred during a war that befell their country’s doorstep rise to the surface in her presence.
After a miraculous childhood, Narcisa becomes a novice and starts teaching girls in a former convent haunted by a disturbing presence. — Netflix
The ending left me with my mouth agape and my heart aching for what Sister Narcisa had to experience to uncover the truth. What will we have to do to uncover the truths of this shaken-up world?
There is a time for reflection and a time for truth-seeking. There is a time for peace and a time for meditation. There is a time for love and a time for allyship and solidarity. Could it be we’re all see-sawing through every event of such times cyclically without our knowledge?
feeding off one another’s shifty moods and competitive ways, these two parade around in silence in front of everyone outside of their bubble.
june & jenny jenny & june sisters of silence and mayhem and turmoil and eating disorders.
I teared up witnessing a harnessed neck collapsing at the sight of a broken hearted sibling wailing with no sound.
how’d they manage to live so long before one died on the shoulder of the other?
how’d they manage to pump enough blood to their hearts when they spent so much time bathed in depression?
such lovely parents. such lovely parents. understanding and willing to do what was best for the girls–an empath’s soul will not make it without crushing.
be careful of what you share with your mind when all you were searching for was a Sunday afternoon movie in which to escape.
A Cornered Gurl 
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