That Extra Encouragement from Mrs. Martin, Tho!

Happy Monday, Everyone!

I tell y’all—I feel so damn good right now because I just received a letter from one Mrs. Ingrid Martin!

I know that I’ve talked about her several times in a few of my blog posts—Mrs. Martin was my kindergarten teacher back home, and she was the absolute bestest! I think I told y’all that I wrote a letter to her a couple of weeks ago. Well, imagine my surprise when I read her reply this afternoon and I discovered that she is still teaching kindergarteners; as a matter of fact, this may be her last year teaching. But anyway, in her reply to me, she immediately and emphatically pointed out that she “could never forget little Natasha Renee.” She also said that she couldn’t take all the credit in being the absolute bestest on account of I and my fellow kindergarten classmates helped her to become the absolute bestest.

Mrs. Martin’s letter further stated that she had entered her 25^th year of teaching when I was in her class, and it was indeed a silver anniversary moment for her. I was also shocked to read that out of everyone in my kindergarten class, I was the only one who cared enough to write her and see how she was doing. The letter went on to say: “When I saw your name on the envelope, my heart leapt for joy—I was that excited! By the way, your other teachers are a little jealous because I’ve got a letter, but I told them to get over it… hahahahaha!”

Finally, Mrs. Martin closed her reply with these words:

“Natasha, I want you to know how proud I am—excuse me—how thrilled and overjoyed I am that you are following your dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher. I am especially proud to learn that you are academically climbing that ladder. Just remember this, Sweetheart: Dreams do come true, but in His Perfect Timing, and trust me when I tell you—His timing is always perfect. So, I close this letter by saying: Keep up the good work, and most of all, remember to trust in The Lord, because He’s got your back. Oh, and you can write and/call me anytime. Take care, and love you lots.”

Y’all, I am just teary-eyed right about now, and not just because I received a reply from Mrs. Martin, but mainly because she basically said that she’s one of my biggest supporters. Y’all already know what I’m gonna do—I’m gonna have to write her back… heck, I’ve got to write her back anyway on account of I want her to be there when I graduate from Rust.

Well, y’all—that’s it for today. I’ll holla at y’all tomorrow.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Continuing & Cementing A Sapp Legacy

My Gramma Jewel and Mrs. Winifred Wilson,
prinicpal of Sapp Elementary.

Good Friday Afternoon, Everybody!

This is the final Friday of the month of September, and I thought I would dedicate this particular blog post to no one else but my dear sweet Gramma Jewel.

I may have mentioned this once upon a time (I recognize that I am prone to déjà vu moments), but my Gramma Jewel has returned to the workforce. After spending at least twenty years in the nursing field and an additional twelve years as the church secretary, my Gramma Jewel has decided that she still has plenty left in the tank. Y’all, my Gramma Jewel is the announcing lady and the school nurse at W.L. Sapp Elementary School—yes, the same Sapp Elementary which my late Grampa Clark taught kindergarteners.

How did this come about, you may ask? Well, it actually began around this time last year, when my Gramma Jewel stepped foot on the grounds of Wiley L. Sapp Elementary School for the first time since the Eighth Grade Class of 2000 dedicated their graduation to my Grampa Clark’s memory. All that Gramma Jewel planned on doing was just stopping by to say hello to Principal Wilson and the faculty and staff. Gramma Jewel admitted that she had an added incentive as well: In knowing the legacy that my Grampa Clark left at Sapp Elementary, Gramma Jewel decided to check out the auditorium that was dedicated to my darling grandfather.

And here we are, thirteen years later!

The auditorium is still standing, and Grampa Clark’s cheesy photo is still hanging center stage. His legacy is still alive and well at Sapp Elementary. Morals and respect are still being taught alongside reading, writing, and arithmetic. And as a bonus, Gramma Jewel has taken it upon herself to not only continue Grampa Clark’s legacy, but also cement her own. Everytime I call her, I can hear the joy in her voice when she talks about those little kiddies and their fresh-faced smiles. Gramma Jewel told me this one story about a little boy who wanted to go home because he wasn’t feeling too well. Gramma Jewel said that she took his temperature and discovered that everything was normal, then she told the little boy to take his behind back to his classroom and quit playing like he was sick. Gramma Jewel then went on to say that the little boy dropped his head in shame and walked back to his classroom.

That sounds about right—Gramma Jewel has always been a detective of sorts.

Well, all I’ve got to say is this: I am glad that Gramma Jewel has rekindled her purpose in life. I don’t think she would have ever imagined working at Sapp Elementary, but as she always tells us: “Look at how God worked it out for her!”

Kudos to you, Gramma Jewel—and just know that Grampa Clark is happy for you, too. God Bless!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

The Saga Continues in My Evening Class

Hey, Y’all!

Remember last Thursday’s blog post, when I told y’all about my classmate Craig—the one who walks me to my dorm on the nights that we have Foundations of Education class, and the same fella who boldly gave me a kiss on the cheek last Wednesday evening?

Well, y’all—yesterday evening was no different!

So, check this out: Yesterday in class, my professor split us into groups of two, and in doing so, Craig and I were the last chosen. I could be wrong, but I think Craig may have cheered within himself; he tried his best to hide his enthusiasm, but his facial expressions kept telling on him… hahaha! It was so cute, don’tcha know. In any event, our group assignment (which was for the duration of the class) was to tell each other our weaknesses, then ask each other how we as a teacher would turn said weakness into a strength. Allow me to elaborate further: When I was in elementary school—which was not that long ago—I was incredibly shy, and I was scared to look foolish if I got an answer wrong. Well, Craig said that if he encountered a student with my weakness, he would call me to stay after school and counsel with me and my parents, as opposed to blatant out-and-out embarrassing me in front of the class. He also said that if he decided to call on me during class, then he would use an encouraging demeanor and help boost up my esteem.

It was my turn to talk about how I would handle Craig’s weakness. For one thing, I was surprised to learn that when he was in elementary school, he was more of a loner and didn’t want to make friends on account he was often teased and ridiculed. I announced that if I was Craig’s teacher and I knew of his weakness, I would talk to the class as a whole, then I would talk to the parents, and finally I would talk to Craig personally and let him know that he could always confide in me.

After class ended, Craig walked me back to my dorm like usual, and then he gave me a kiss on the cheek—but this time, he handed me an envelope with my name on it. “Hopefully everything will be explained in the letter,” he said to me.

Well, I read the letter, and it was quite cute. To sum it all up, Craig basically told me that he had a crush on me and he thought I was cute. My favorite line in the letter was: “I know I should have manned up and told you personally as opposed to a letter, but everytime I tried to tell you, I got all choked up.”

You know, that’s really sweet of Craig to think that highly of me. For all I know, Craig could just have  a crush on me—I say that because I do not plan on leading him on in any way shape form, or fashion; that has never been my style. And as long as I can help it, I’m keeping it that way!

I’ll let y’all know what develops next time, but until then, y’all take care.

Smooches,

Natasha

A Big Surprise in Biblical Studies Class

Hey, Y’all!

So, I just got out of my Biblical Studies class—and y’all ain’t gonna believe it, even if I tell you.

Check this out: My instructor had me teach the class—me, y’all! Now, ordinarily I would jump at the opportunity to teach, especially if it was Sunday School, but to teach a class of peeps at or around my age? That was quite a challenge, and I admit that I was thrown off by my instructor’s request, but I went ahead and taught the class… like I had a choice in the first place.

Well, I will say this: Before I got up to teach, I was doing some kinda praying—actually, all I said was: “Lord, it’s just You and me.” I honestly didn’t know what I would talk about, until I saw that I still had my Psalm 125 paper in my folder. I simply looked up to Heaven and smiled, and the next thing I knew, I was teaching the Biblical Studies class.

Now, I don’t know how long I taught, nor do I know everything that I talked about, but I do remember mentioning that Psalm 125 was my Grampa Clark’s favorite psalm. I also remember using both my Grampa Clark and my Gramma Jewel as prime examples of this particular psalm. And when it came down to the end of my lesson, I remember saying to the class: “Well, that’s all that I have to talk about today, but I would like to thank you all for your attention. Moreover, I wanna thank The Lord for allowing me this opportunity to stand before you and teach. God Bless.”

I heard a couple of my classmates applauding, but I think I was more concerned with sitting down and resting that I didn’t have time to care if they were applauding or not.

After the class ended, my instructor commended me for—and these were his words—“a good job well done.” He made mention that he felt like he was in a Sunday School class at church, then he went on to say that I was “an old soul in a young body.” I couldn’t help but laugh, but I assured my instructor that I had not been on this earth in a previous life. If anything, I have been taught by the best elders in my family and my church… and of course, I was quick to mention Gramma Jewel first on that list.

I have a question for you all: Is this any indication that I am truly born to teach?

Until tomorrow, y’all take care and be good.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Good News & Results From All Sides!

Good Tuesday Morning, Everyone!

Well, let’s just get to it: Congratulations to Auntie Cherri for her television debut yesterday evening on The Dennis Hughes Show. My mom and dad called me when I returned from my Foundations of Education class, and they told me that they were sitting right in the front row along with Uncle Ronnie & Auntie Brenda, and pretty much everybody in the family. The only obvious ones missing—for legitimate reasons, mind you—were Great Aunt Reesie, Cousin Jade, Cousin Keith, Cousin Erica, Great Aunt Donna, and yours truly.

Oh, by the way: Mom also told me that Auntie Cherri read my text to her on the air, and the audience members went “Awwwwwwwww!”

There it is, y’all—I was mentioned on television!

Anyway, I’m glad that Auntie Cherri had a successful TV debut, and I am very certain that Gramma Jewel had a blast as well. Knowing her, she took all kinds of pictures with Mr. Hughes and everything; she’ll be posting those pictures up on her Facebook page in due time. Oh, and I also stand in great faith in knowing that Gramma Jewel was dressed to the nines in that studio, as well as everyone else in the family. I told y’all—when it comes to dressin’ up, my family be stylin’ and profilin’ even more so than Ric Flair himself… WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Well, in other news, I got an A+ on my paper in my Foundations of Education class—like that’s supposed to be some kinda surprise! Forgive me for sounding conceited, as that is really not my nature, but I’m just sayin’, tho: I poured my heart and soul into that paper. I was asked why I desire to become a teacher, and I answered it openly, earnestly, and honestly. However, my professor pointed out that I did a tremendous job on providing examples and illustrations; it was also suggested by my professor that I continue to teach the Cradle Roll class at my church.

Y’all, it won’t be long until I become the best damn kindergarten teacher since Mr. D and my Grampa Clark—hahaha!

Oops, it’s after ten o’clock (CST)—I gotta get to my PRAX I Seminar class… and speaking of that class, I want to thank y’all for your prayers. Don’t stop praying for me, though, because this class is still a bit challenging—but that’s another blog post for another day. In the meantime, y’all take care, and I’ll holla at y’all tomorrow.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

New Fall Season

Happy Monday, Beautiful People!

So, according to my calendar (and the rest of the world), today is Monday, September 23, 2013. Y’all already know what that means—NEW FALL SEASON, BABY!!!

Yes, the fall/autumn season is upon us, and I am just tickled pink. Ever since my first encounter with Southern living, I have fallen in love with everything autumn. The leaves turn all kinds of beautiful colors—variations of red, orange, and a golden yellow. Of course, there’s a certain crispness in the air, and the way that the sun begins to set. And yes, that brings about the change in the weather. It looks like it’s time to retire my sexy summer sundresses and revert to my conservatively cute dresses, particularly the peach one and the lavender one.

And while we’re on the subject of the new fall season, I gotta once again recognize my Auntie Cherri—after all, today is her big day. I’ve been talking about it for about a week or so now, but just in case you need a refresher course, Auntie Cherri will be the very guest on a brand-new evening talk show called The Dennis Hughes Show. I got to check out the official website, and notwithstanding Auntie Cherri as the very first guest, this entire week looks like it’s gonna be good. According to the website, Mr. Hughes is celebrating Southern Cali Heroes. Lord in Heaven knows that I want to call in and talk to Auntie Cherri, but I’ve run across a dilemma: You see, the show comes on at 6pm PST, which means it’ll be 8pm CST out here—and I’ll still be in class around that time. As much as I want to call in on the show, I cannot let that come between me and my classes. Hey, I wanna prove that I am indeed a responsible college student. I’ll do the next best thing: I’ll call Auntie Cherri right now and tell her what I need to tell her—either that, or text her.

Well, y’all, I really hate to cut today’s blog post short, but I’ve got to do so. As I just previously mentioned, my Foundations of Education class starts in around 6pm CST, and I gotta get mentally prepared for it. Besides, I also get to find out how I did on my paper.

Until tomorrow, y’all take care!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Friday Freestyle: Auntie Cherri

Happy Friday, Everybody!

So, about a month ago, I broke the news to y’all about my Auntie Cherri making her television talk show debut. Well, I spoke to Auntie Cherri just yesterday evening, and she gave me all of the details: This Monday evening, live from my hometown of Los Angeles, California, the lovely and very vibrant Mrs. Cheryl Yvette Cunningham will be the very first guest of a new evening talk show that focuses on uplifting, positive, inspirational stories.

As Auntie Cherri’s niece, I feel so proud (for lack of a better word) to say that I know this fabulous woman. I wonder if people can call in and say a few words to the guest—I sure hope so, because I would love to call in and talk to Auntie Cherri live on the air! And I just realized that, since this show is localized in L.A., I would have to stream online. Thank God for the laptop that I got for Christmas last year; I can look up the show’s timeslot and watch right then and there, then hopefully I can call in—yes, I am very adamant on calling in on the show and speaking to my Auntie Cherri; it is, after all, the least that I can do, ya know.

As I may have mentioned when Auntie Cherri first broke the news to me a month ago, I already know that she’s gonna wear her fuchsia suit on account of it brings out her personality and shows her off as a youthful, vibrant, and sexy go-getter. Again, I still wish that I could be out there to celebrate this great milestone in my family, if only but for that day, but it’s all good. Besides, I already know that Gramma Jewel is gonna be there to represent, and heck—she may take Bro. Hawkins with her… hahaha!

Well, I hate to cute this blog post short, y’all, but a sista’s got stuff to do. Seeing as how it’s the weekend, I’m just gonna sit back and do a whole lotta nothin’! I do have a test in my Spanish class that I need to study for, and I may or may not have a pop quiz sometime in my Biblical Studies class, but other than that, I’m good for this weekend.

So, in sum, just in case you don’t hear from me on tomorrow, I shall holla at y’all on Monday—FA SHO!!!

Smooches,

Natasha

Is Craig Sweet On Me?

Hi, Everybody!

I’m still trying to figure what happened yesterday evening.

So, check this out, y’all: I may have mentioned a guy named Craig; he’s in my Foundations of Education, and he makes it his business to walk me to my dorm after class ends. Well, yesterday evening was no different—after class ended (and by the way, I’ll find out the results of my paper come this Monday), Craig walked me back to my dorm like usual, and we were actually talking about our respective familial ties to Rust College. And then all of a sudden, Craig catches my hand and kisses me on the cheek!

Now, I want to state for the record that I am not complaining one iota—as a matter of fact, I am very impressed that Craig showed initiative, but yet and still, I’m kinda shocked behind the whole thing; I mean, it just happened so fast. Well, I did ask Craig to explain his reasons for his actions, and he says to me: “Natasha, I’ve been watching you, and I can tell that you are different from these other chicks. You’re a different lady—you’re the kinda lady who carries herself as a woman should, and such a woman should be treated like she carries herself. And the other reason is that… well, I think you’re gorgeous.”

So, there I am, in the lobby of Emma Elzy Hall, just blushin’ like crazy, and I know I’ve got this big ass smile on my face because I can feel the muscles in my cheeks tightening up. Here’s the funny thing: I knew to thank him for the compliment, but the words just couldn’t come out. And I’ll be dipped—Craig looks at me and says: “You’re welcome.”

Am I to believe that Craig read my mind?

Well, the fact remains that Craig was bold enough to tell me that he likes me, but now I’m all confused—like that’s some big surprise! For one thing, I’m not used to receiving all of this attention from the fellas. Tell me: What is a sista to do?

One thing’s for certain: I am so totally lovin’ the attention that I’m gettin’!

Smooches,

Natasha

Happy #26, Cousin Candi!

Oh, Snap—guess what day it, y’all! Guess what day it is… WOOOOO-WOOOOOOO!!!
HUMP DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY—YEA-UH!!!

Hi, Everyone!

Y’all already know that I had to incorporate that commercial in at least one of my blog posts. I absolutely love that camel… hahaha! The very first time that commercial came on and I saw that camel walking around and asking what day it was—you can ask Ruby; I said to her: “Watch ‘em say, ‘happier than a camel on Wednesday!’”

And doggone it if they didn’t say it!

Well, now that we’ve got the silliness out of the way, it’s time to get on down to the real reason behind this blog post: Today is my Cousin Candace’s birthday—she is officially 26 years old, and “all grows up!” Just in case y’all can’t tell, I like making a big fuss about my family when their birthday comes around. The only problem is that I think I may have used up all my material for Cousin Candi, but nevertheless, I’m still gonna dedicate this blog post to her.

Oh, but here is something that I may not have mentioned: Did y’all know that Candace chose “Candy Girl” by New Edition as her personal theme song? Gee, I wonder why… Hahaha! But anyway, there’s an added incentive behind her choice: According to the inside source—Cousin Candace herself—Grampa Clark used to sing that song to her, every chance he got. Of course, being the charismatic individual that he was, Grampa Clark would sing the song in his own unique way:

“Candi-Girl, ya rocks my world—yes, indeed… something-something bee!”

Cousin Candace also said that whenever she hears “Candy Girl” by New Edition, she just perks up and starts grinnin’, and she even gets chills up her spine; she says she can audibly hear Grampa Clark singing his version of “Candy Girl.”

Well, with that said, there’s only one way to close this blog post: Cousin Candi, this song is for you—straight from the heart, by way of Grampa Clark.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Happy Anniversary to Duane & Sarah Anoai

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!

Today is a special day for two lovely people, and in knowing this, I would like to wish a Happy 2^nd Anniversary to Duane & Sarah Anoai.

Considering that their wedding was merely two years ago, I still remember it like it was yesterday: The ceremony took place at Gramma Jewel’s church at 2 p.m., and was performed by Pastor Richard. I remember hearing that Sarah Elizabeth was a bit frantic earlier in the day on account of an overcast sky, but just an hour and a half before the ceremony, the sun broke through.

Aside from the lighting of the unity candle and the exchanging wedding vows, the newlyweds were treated to a beautiful rendition of “At Last,” sung by fellow church member Mrs. Christina Wallace—and by the way, she’s got a great voice; I can tell that singing is her life and her passion.

After the ceremony, everyone was invited to congratulate the newlyweds at a wedding reception in Long Beach. Perhaps the most poignant moment at the reception—for me, anyway—was the Father & Daughter Dance. Mr. D chose the song “Butterfly Kisses” by Bob Carlisle, and it was unanimously agreed that the song was very apropos, especially considering how emotional Mr. D was towards the end of the dance. Let’s put it this way: When Mr. D hugged Sarah, it was several seconds before he ultimately let go of Sarah, who likewise did not want to stop hugging her daddy dearest.

As for the wedding party, I recall that Duane’s best man was his younger brother Owen, and Sarah’s maid of honor was childhood friend Melissa Roberts. Also, Duane and Sarah’s chose “This Is My Promise” by the Temptations as their wedding song, and what I thought was so cute about the whole ordeal was how Duane dipped Sarah in the middle of the song and just started lip syncing some of the lyrics.

Who caught the bouquet, you ask? Well, it was none other than Natalie Marcellia. It was so cute, too; she didn’t expect to catch it, so needless to say, she was legitimately surprised.

And of course, from Duane & Sarah’s wedding arose another romance, as Howie Douglas and Jessica Torres finally shared a sweet kiss. Perhaps as a sign of what was to be expected, Howie and Jessica were paired up during the wedding process.

Here it is, two years later, and a lot has happened since Duane & Sarah’s union. For one thing, they have been blessed by God to be the parents of the cutest set of twins: Christopher Douglas and Rachel Faith. Also, Sarah is in the process of writing her very first book; she has yet to find a title, though, but she’s very excited about writing her first book. I wonder if she’ll join with my Auntie Cherri in getting her book published the same time. Only time will tell.

Well, y’all—that’s gonna do it for today. I had better close this here blog post, but in closing, I would once again like to wish Duane & Sarah Anoai a lovely Happy 2^nd Wedding Anniversary, and God Bless.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

A Daddy & Daughter Convo That I'll Never Forget

Happy Monday, Everyone!

So, I had a great conversation with my dad last night, and I can’t lie—it brought tears to my eyes.

It started off like a regular conversation, with my dad asking me how college life was treating me and all, and of course I had to ask if he and Mom were being on their “best behavior.” I also made sure to tell my dad that about my exclusive Psalm paper, in which I received an A+. He was quick to congratulate me, then he insisted that I mail a copy to Pastor & Mrs. Clark sometime this week.

And then it happened.

Somewhere in the midst of the conversation, my dad began to tell me how he cradled me in his arms for the very first time. “You were barely four hours old,” he reminisced. “But you were just the cutest little lady this side of the Mississippi.” My dad then went on to tell me how he had always wanted a girl, just because he always wanted a princess of his own. He tried in vain to hide his glee when he said that God blessed he and my mom with a beautiful bubbly little baby girl on February 10, 1994. Naturally, upon hearing such a statement, I started to blush.

My dad then went on to tell how he noticed my maturation level in just a short period of time; according to my dad, I grew more spiritually and mentally mature than anything else. As I listened to his every word, I could literally hear the joy in his voice when he called me a very special young woman with a future as bright as my eyes, yet at the same time, he guaranteed that no matter how old I got, I would always be his little honeybee. As a matter of fact, if I could quote my dad, he said: “You could live to be a hundred and fifty-two—you’ll always be my precious little honeybee, and that ain’t gonna never change. I really don’t know what happened to the time, though—it seemed like yesterday you were three years old and I was lifting you high in the air like you were Simba from The Lion King. You even promised that you wouldn’t grow up so fast. Oh, well—I guess you couldn’t stay a toddler forever. Nevertheless, Honeybee, always remember that I love you and I’m proud of you, and I always will be.”

I couldn’t help but shed a couple of tears upon hearing how much joy I brought to my daddy’s life over the years, considering that I may have grown up quicker than he expected. It’s also nice to know that my dad considers me his hero… y’all gotta learn to read between the lines! But anyway, I’m feeling so great after that conversation with my dad yesterday evening. I only wish that I was there in L.A. with him when he was giving me this speech, just so I could give him a great big hug and one of my butterfly kisses on his cheek.

Oh, well—that’s gonna be the first thing I do when I return to Cali for the Christmas vacation!

Until next time, y’all take care, and I’ll holla at’cha tomorrow.

Smooches,

Natasha

The Family Reunion Countdown Begins... NOW!!!

Good Saturday Morning, Everyone!

So, check this out, y’all: I just had a pretty lengthy conversation with my Great Aunt Reesie… and I don’t want to hold y’all in suspense any longer, so I’ll just go ahead and say it: In about eleven months’ time, the Joneses will be having another family reunion—this time, in Ruleville, Mississippi!

Yeah, y’all read right—the Jones Family Reunion will be in the original stomping grounds—Gramma Jewel and Great Aunt Reesie’s humble little hometown of Ruleville, Mississippi. I am like, super excited already, and that’s mainly because I have not had a chance to visit Ruleville at all. I know that sounds strange, but it’s the truth. If you recall around this time last year, I was a brokenhearted freshman who was terribly homesick for Los Angeles. Not only that, but my mom and dad went out joyriding all over the Sip while I was getting adjusted to college life. Well, y’all—all that’s gonna change in about one year’s time, and here’s the real beauty of it: By the time my family reunion comes around, it’ll be time for me to enter my junior year at Rust.

Ha-Cha-Cha—it’s on and crack-a-lackin’, y’all!

I think I mentioned this once upon a time, but the last family reunion we had was two years ago, and it fell upon the weekend of Gramma Jewel’s 76^th Birthday and Great Aunt Reesie’s 74^th Birthday, respectively. Instead of renting out a hotel, we decided to go chill at Gramma Jewel’s house. There were two men who were missing that year—one had left for Glory in 1996, and the other was serving in Afghanistan. It was so amazing because we could feel Grampa Clark’s spirit all up and through our reunion, particularly when my Uncle Ronnie was chillin’ over at the grill. And even though it was just two years ago, I still vividly recall when Cousin Keith called from Afghanistan to wish his “darling jewel of an aunt and sweetheart of a mother-in-law” a “darlingly gorgeous birthday.” I also remember how Cousin Erica’s voice cracked when she told Cousin Keith to come home soon because she missed him… and I’m kinda feeling tears welling up in my eyes just from talking about it. You know, it kinda broke my heart to hear my cousin talking to her dad via telephone—I really couldn’t imagine what she was going through in her heart, mind, and soul, nor could I understand on account of my dad was literally right next to me as Cousin Erica was talking to her daddy. I felt so bad for her… I mean, my heart really ached upon hearing that bittersweet phone call.

Yes, I’m a big ol’ soft teddy bear (and I’ve made peace with it) but Cousin Erica is just as big a softie as I am, and in this case, you can’t really blame her; after all, the man whom y’all may know as Sgt. Keith M. Freeman is Erica’s daddy.

All in all, this is gonna be one helluva family reunion for so many reasons. Notwithstanding Cousin Keith’s permanent return home since May and my first visit to the birthplace of Gramma Jewel and Great Aunt Reesie, I cannot leave out our newest addition to the family—Rebecca Ann Morgan. Lemme tell y’all something: She may not be a blood relative, but she may as well be… it’s like that, and that’s the way it is! Oh, and speaking of Becky, I mailed off a card for her; I trust that she received it—I mailed it off the same day I mailed off Ray’s letter.

Well, y’all—seeing as how I’m already up and poppin’, I had best get on down with the getdown and enjoy the rest of this much deserved Saturday. I’ll have more news for y’all on Monday, but until then, y’all have a great rest-of-the-weekend.

Smooches,
Natasha

Freestyle/Flashback Friday: Remembering Eight Simple Rules

Happy Friday, Everybody!

Uh-oh… did I say Friday? Well, y’all know what that means—it’s time for Freestyle Friday. This time, however, I’m gonna change it to Flashback Friday.

This past Tuesday, I dedicated a blog post to the memory of one of the greatest actors of all time, John Ritter. I had already know about his work as Jack Tripper from Three’s Company, and his excellent voice work as Clifford, the Big Red Dog; however, it was his role as Paul Hennessy on the very first season of Eight Simple Rules that truly won me over.

I clearly remember one of the earlier episodes (obviously from Season One) in which the Paul Hennessy character had to drop some deep knowledge. Here was the scene: Mr. Hennessy’s eldest daughter Bridgette (played by Kaley Cuoco) was going out on a date, and the gentleman honked the horn to let her know that he had arrived. Well, Mr. Hennessy wouldn’t let Bridgette so much as go to the door, much less leave; instead he let the boy sweat it out. Eventually, the boy got out of his car and rang the doorbell, to which Mr. Hennessy opened the door and said to the boy: “The next time you drive up to my house and honk your horn, you had better be delivering a pizza or a package because you’re sure as hell not picking up anything here!”

I remember laughing so hard at that statement, but my own dad didn’t help matters when he added his two cents. My dad was all like: “Damn right! Who the hell he think he is, honkin’ horns? Go ‘head on, Paul—teach that boy!”

John Ritter made me believe that he was Paul Hennessy—the look, the style, and even the mannerisms. After the success of the first season, I was definitely looking forward to seeing the Paul Hennessy character drop some more knowledge in the second season, but alas, that was not to be. Granted, ABC Television played the first three episodes of Season Two in which Mr. Ritter was a part, but afterwards the show took a huge turn and focused on the family trying to cope with the loss of their lovable patriarch. The surviving cast members did a damn good job in having life imitate art, and try as they might, they just couldn’t do it without Mr. Ritter and his unique gift. I give them an A+ for continuing the show, but even I knew that it was suffering without the patriarch. Nevertheless, I want to give a shout-out to Katey Sagal, Kaley Cuoco, Amy Davidson, Martin Spanjers, David Spade, and James Garner for a job well done.

Okay, y’all—since the weekend is officially upon us, I had best get going. Besides, it’s been a while since I’ve kicked it with my homies Ruby Red and Neo Theo. We’ve been talking about wither a road trip to Memphis or another movie night in the Emma Elzy lobby. Incidentally, both Ruby and Theo have been talking about my summer home movie, and they want to see it one mo’ ginn. To be honest, I had forgotten all about that home movie up until Theo brought it up… okay, I guess we can watch it again!

Until next time, y’all take care—Smooches!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Results of My Paper About Psalm 125

Photo Credit: ChristArt.com

Hi, Everyone!

Okay, y’all—here’s the skinny: I just got the results back from my Biblical Studies instructor about my exclusive paper on Psalm 125. Now, I knew that I did a great job, but I never imagined that my instructor would… well, just check out this note that he wrote:

“Natasha, this is without a doubt an excellent paper. Not only did you keep it within the context of the scriptures, but you provided clear, indepth examples of each verse within this particular psalm. Incidentally, at the risk of sounding biased, I loved how you broke down the second verse. You also showed me that you read your Bible.

Excellent work—keep it up!”

In reading those remarks from my instructor, all I’ve got to say is: Wow.

I am truly humbled behind that review—I really am. Yes, I am perfectly aware that any other time I would be showing off like Dolph Ziggler and singing “Here to Show the World,” but in this particular instance, I can’t do that. I am just in awe that I received such a compliment of epic proportions.

And y’all already know that I gotta make a call to Southern Cali this evening and holla at a couple folks, in particular: Mom, Dad, and Gramma Jewel.

Incidentally, allow me to explain the illustration of Psalm 125:2 that my instructor loved so much. As you know, the second verse says: “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from henceforth even for ever.”To further explain what this verse was saying, I found a photo from a website called ChristArt.com, which shows mountains surrounding a castle. Right away, the word “protection” came to mind, and then my imagination took over three times as much when I started singing “Jesus Be A Fence.” My mind really took off to the races, y’all, and in the process, I was able to write a great paper. I still call it great, but if my instructor says that it’s excellent, then I’m not gonna argue with him.

Anyway, that’s the story for today—and again I say: Wow.

Until tomorrow, y’all take care.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

In Loving Memory of John Ritter

Hi, Everyone!

Notwithstanding the fact that I join our nation in a moment of commemoration on the horrible events of 9/11, today’s blog post is dedicated to the memory of one of the greatest actors of all time—Jonathan Southworth Ritter.

Thanks to nostalgic television shows, I know about the legendary role that Mr. Ritter played as Jack Tripper on Three’s Company. I also knew him as the voice of Clifford, the Big Red Dog. However, I grew to love him as Paul Hennessy from ABC’s Eight Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. I watched the latter show religiously, marveling over how Mr. Hennessy was so strict yet so loving to his two daughters and one son.

And then on September 11, 2003, I received the shocking news that John Ritter had passed away at the age of 54 years old.

Although I was nine years old at the time, I remember very vividly how my heart broke into pieces upon learning of Mr. Ritter’s sudden passing. I went to school the very next day, crying my little eyes out. I really didn’t know how to explain to my Fourth Grade teacher that I was saddened upon the loss of Mr. Ritter. Let’s face it: While I didn’t know him personally, I felt like I knew him. Truth be told, y’all, losing Mr. Ritter was like losing a family member or a very close friend. I tell you what, though: Only after talking to my Gramma Jewel later on that day did I feel a little better. Gramma Jewel explained to me that my feelings were normal, and that I just showed that I had a big heart. She also said: “Tasha, if it’s any consolation to ya, I’m sure that John Ritter is smilin’ down on you, so grateful to have such a loyal fan like you.”

Gramma Jewel was right—I did feel a little better, but I knew that it would not be the same when I watched Eight Simple Rules.

Here it is, ten years later, and I’m still missing the entertaining antics of John Ritter. Thankfully, we’ve got YouTube and the Three’s Company DVD sets, but yet and still, it’s not the same. I wish I had had a chance to meet him before he left us so soon, but as Gramma Jewel always says: “That’s just the way it goes, and so it goes.” Nevertheless, I am grateful that I took time out to dedicate a blog post to one of the greatest actors of all time… and while I’m thinking about it, Mr. D reminds me so much of John Ritter—the look, the style, the happy-go-lucky attitude, and the corny sense of humor. I guess in a way, I have my own version of Mr. Ritter, in the form of Mr. D!

As I close this blog, I just want to say: THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, MR. RITTER—I LOVE YOU!!!

Hugs & Kisses,
Natasha

My Desire to Teach

Hi, Everyone!

So, yesterday evening in my Foundations of Education class, I was given an assignment… and it should be no surprise that it was another paper to write. I wonder if Grampa Clark, Uncle Anthony, and Mr. D had to this much writing when they were in college… hahaha!

In any event, I am to write a five-page paper explaining why I desire to be a teacher, which grade I would like to teach, and what I plan to bring to the table—in other words, I am to describe a unique attribute that no other teacher has. Well, judging only by the successful results of this past summer when I taught the Cradle Roll class for a couple of Sundays, I would say that my most unique attribute is the fact that I am a big kid at heart, and it’s because of this attribute that allows me to connect with the little kiddies. I don’t think I mentioned this before, but you can ask my St. Matthew Baptist Church Family—every Sunday, both before and after church, those little Cradle Roll kiddies made it their business to flock to me, as though I was their version of Mother Goose. I swear, it is just the cutest thing! Some of the kiddies even call me “Miss Natasha,” which is so sweet. And as far as which grade I would like to teach… well, I’ve already made it perfectly clear that I would love to teach kindergarten. However, if I had a second preference, then I would choose to teach either First Grade or Second Grade.

And while it’s fresh on my mind, I’m gonna tell y’all why I chose to teach the little kiddies: Mrs. Ingrid Martin. I may have mentioned her once or twice, but Mrs. Martin was my kindergarten teacher some many moons ago. From what I understand, she is still teaching the little ones up at my old elementary school. I was hoping to catch an interview with her, seeing as how my paper is due next Monday—and now that she’s been crossing my mind as of late, I reckon I’ll go ahead and write her a letter at least. Truth be told: Mrs. Martin was the greatest kindergarten teacher that I ever had; she was sweet but strict, hard-hitting but soft spoken. And I may have mentioned once upon a time that her youngest daughter had graduated kindergarten with me. Speaking of which, Mrs. Martin was even more so strict on her daughter than she was everyone else—she didn’t believe in special treatment or nepotism! I know this all sounds strange, considering that we were kindergarteners, but yet and still, this was the makeup of Mrs. Martin’s character.

Well, y’all—I guess I had better get started on this here paper. Here’s what’s funny: I haven’t written anything down yet, but judging by the brainstorms and research, I have at least three and a half pages already! With that said, I’ll holla at y’all tomorrow, but in the meantime, y’all take care and be good.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

Hi, Everyone!

A couple of blog posts ago, I made mention that I haven’t been going to church every Sunday like I would if I was back home. Yes, I admit that my church attendance out here in the Bible Belt is spotty at best, and I am woman enough to admit that there is no valid excuse good enough, nor can I think of a real good reason for missing as much as I have. In light of this “atrociousness,” I do make up for it as best as possible by reading a couple of Bible verses and listening to the gospel station for an hour or so.

However, I had a breakthrough on yesterday—I actually went to church, and I enjoyed the sermon immensely!

The sermon came from Matthew 6:25-34, and the subject was: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” The pastor went on to give a disclaimer that if the title sounded familiar, then it’s only because he got the title from a singer named Bobby McFerrin—heck, the pastor even went on to recite the lyrics to the song, and once he did that, I thought about my Uncle Ronnie and how, even to this very day, he sings that song.

Well, in this scripture, Jesus Christ is telling the multitudes not to worry about anything. He gives two examples in the form of the lilies of the field and the fowls in the air; they don’t have to work for food or shelter, and The Lord provides for them. The scripture also teaches that The Lord cares more for His children than the birds and the lilies. It was then that I thought about that song that says: “His Eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

By the way, I hadn’t really paid any attention to it until I read for myself, but Jesus tells us three times in this particular scripture not to worry—He tells us in verses 25, 31, and 34. It was also in church yesterday that I learned that the phrase “take no thought” really means “do not worry.” For a long time, I took those words literally, and only after learning the true meaning did I feel a little embarrassed. However, my embarrassment quickly turned into relief, especially when I realized that I had truly learned something. I almost shouted: “Yay, Me!” Hahaha!

Well, y’all, that’s all the news I’ve got for you today, but you can rest assured that I’ll have some more for you on tomorrow. Until then, y’all take it easy, and remember: Don’t worry—be happy!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha