Blockbuster News Regarding Cousin Calvin and Miss Karen

Hi, Everybody!

Yes, I’m back again, and I’ve got a very special update. There was absolutely no way that I was gonna let this day slide by without sharing this great blockbuster news.

So, my Cousin Calvin called me about an hour ago, and he was so excited about something—in fact, he was so excited that he was a touch incoherent. When I asked him to repeat himself, he was still kinda garbled, but I managed to make out the words “Karen,” “date,” and “yes.”

And it took less than a microsecond for me to understand why Cousin Calvin was so excited—apparently he worked up the nerve to ask Miss Karen out on a date, and she said yes.

“You were right, Tasha—I had nothing to be worried about!” he exclaimed joyously. “I can’t lie, though—I really was expecting her to say no. She really threw me for a loop when she said yes. I can finally rest my mind at ease.”

I want to go on record and said that I am so happy for Cousin Calvin! Not only did he face his fears and push through, but he got the answer that I know he was praying for. As you may know, Cousin Calvin has had a crush on Miss Karen for a good minute or so… and quiet as it’s kept, I believe that Miss Karen has feelings for my cornball cousin. Now, I realize that I’m gonna be biased when I say this (after all, Calvin is my cousin), but it must be said: Calvin is one helluva guy, and any woman would be grateful to have him as a future husband. And yes, I realize that Calvin and Karen are going out on their first date, but knowing Calvin like I do, he’s gonna do everything he can to make Karen feel special.

And lest I forget, their first date is tomorrow evening. Even though I know in my heart that they’re gonna have a great time, my prayers go out to both of them.

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


Smooches,
Natasha

Cousin Calvin Asks for My Advice!

Happy Saturday, Everybody!

 

It was a little over two months ago when I told y’all about the dilemma in which my Cousin Calvin found himself. If you recall, he’s got a huge crush on one Karen Michelle Duncan, but at the same time, he likes this other girl named Jasmine.  He found himself able to talk to Jasmine with ease, but he was a stuttering mess around Kevin. Well, not much has changed since then, but would you believe that I actually got a phone call from Cousin Calvin about an hour ago?

 

“Tasha, I need some advice, and you’re the first person that I called,” he said with conviction.

Well, y’all already know me by now—I immediately let Cousin Calvin know how flattered I was that he chose me as his counselor of sorts. I mean, he could’ve gone to Gramma Jewel, Auntie Cherri, Uncle Alex… hell, he could’ve even gone to Cousin Vanessa, or even Cousin Becky, but he chose me from whom to get advice…

 

I’m serious, y’all—I am really touched!

 

Well, anyway, here’s the latest: Cousin Calvin met up with the Jasmine girl this afternoon for a little luncheon, and he told me that Jasmine was a wonderful soul, but in the midst of their conversation, he discovered that she meant absolutely nothing to him.

 

“Don’t get me wrong—Jasmine is a great gal,” Cousin Calvin stated. “She’s a fun person to be around and she’s everything that I’m looking for in a woman; it’s just that she’s not the one for me.”

 

Of course, I asked Cousin Calvin why Jasmine meant nothing to him, and here was his response:

 

“Well, Tasha, I remembered what you had told me when I first told you about my dilemma. You made mention that I was only physically attracted to Jasmine. I thought about that, and I discovered that you were absolutely right. Plus, Jasmine told me herself that she’s not the one for me, but she wanted me to invite her to my wedding, just so she can tell my future wife how great a guy I am.”

 

I let Cousin Calvin know that Jasmine was simply a guardian angel who was sent to protect Calvin’s heart until the right woman came along… and as far as I’m concerned, that right woman is Miss Karen! Oh, yes—I remain very adamant in my thinking, and it is because of my intuition that I strongly suggested to Cousin Calvin that he ask Karen out before it gets too late.

 

Well, I reckon I’d better end today’s blog post, but I’ll definitely keep y’all updated on Calvin and his romances… hahaha!

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Cousin Calvin's Dilemma

Happy Monday, Everybody!

Now, y’all should already know by now: Whenever I have an interesting subject title (such as the one you see right now), y’all automatically know it’s a gooden!

So, my cousin Calvin picked me up from work this afternoon, and treated me to lunch… good ol’ Calvin! Anyway, he had a great story to tell me.

“Tasha, I’ve been hit by love,” he says with a cheesy grin.

Apparently, he has become totally smitten over one Karen Michelle Duncan, a girl who lives two houses down from my Gramma Jewel.

Now, I’m gonna be flat-out honest with y’all: I can really see Miss Karen in a long-term relationship with my cousin Calvin. I’ve held conversations with Miss Karen over the years, and she is definitely a rare breed. Much like me, Miss Karen is in college, and she is ten months away from graduating. She’s career-oriented, ambitious, and she’s willing to work toward her dreams.

Here’s the other jewel in the story: Miss Karen knows that she has piqued the interest of my lovestricken cousin; this was actually evident in last year’s Sapphire Street Block Party. If I remember correctly, Calvin took one look at Miss Karen, and that was all she wrote.

Now, here’s the dramatic part of this story: Calvin is having a hard time trying to figure out why he’s a stuttering mess whenever he’s around Karen, yet he can recite the Declaration of Independence when he’s around this other girl named Jasmine. Of course, I teased Calvin a little bit, but I had a very logical answer for him. I let Calvin know that he was maturing into an intelligent young man. You see, while I have never met this Jasmine chick, I can tell that she sounds like Ginger Grant, whereas Miss Karen is the epitome of Mary Ann Summers… and yes, I made references to Gilligan’s Island. Call it insight, call it a woman’s intuition, call it a hunch—the bottom line is this: I truly believe that Karen is the one for Calvin.

Now, in terms of Calvin’s difference of demeanor around both women, it’s a very simple explanation: You see, Calvin’s feelings for this Jasmine chick are nothing more than a physical attraction, hence the reason why he’s so comfortable around her. However, Karen is clearly a woman after Calvin’s own heart. Again, I have never met Jasmine—and for all I know, she’s probably a cool chick—but from what I gather, Karen is Calvin’s ideal. In the same light, the reason why Calvin is a stuttering mess around Karen is because he doesn’t want to come off as foolish or nonsensical. I assured Calvin that if Karen is anything like the women in our family (true-to-life, down-to-earth, and real from the heart), then she would appreciate Calvin a great deal if he just stays true to who he is.

By the way: Isn’t that a cute picture of Calvin and Karen?

I’ll let y’all know how this romance story pans out, but until then, y’all take care, and say a prayer for my cousin Calvin.

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

The Return of Friday Freestyle

Hi, Everyone!

Back by popular demand—and mainly because I don’t really have a real topic in mind—here comes Natasha’s Friday Freestyle… or Natasha’s Freestyle Friday, whichever one y’all prefer!

So, seeing as how today is Friday, I officially have eight days left until I make my grand return to Los Angeles, California, a town that has truly been good to me. I talked to my dad this morning, and he says that the party that he has planned for me next Saturday is still on and crack-a-lackin’; the only caveat is that Gramma Jewel has not made her mind up as to whether or not she will be assisting with Sapp Elementary’s Eight Grade Class of 2013 on the day of my return. As y’all know, Gramma Jewel has been volunteering a lot of her time at Sapp Elementary, and I know that she enjoys every minute of it on account of because I can hear it in her voice when she talks about “those sweet little kiddies” and her “fantastic, frantic faculty members.” Yes, indeed—Gramma Jewel is enjoying Sapp Elementary, maybe even more so than Grampa Clark… and that’s what makes this so ironically delicious!

You know, I asked Gramma Jewel if she ever thought she’d see the day where she would cement her own personal legacy only after Grampa Clark cemented his. Well, Gramma Jewel—in her true form—simply said: “Tasha-Baby, ain’t no tellin’ what woulda happened. Ain’t no right or wrong answers in this life; alls we gotta do is play the cards that were dealt to us. Personally, I woulda never guessed, even if I was as old as Methuselah, that I would be workin’ up at Sapp Elementary, but it’s perfectly obvious that all-a-this was in The Lord’s Perfect Plan—and I’m enjoyin’ every moment of it!”

And it’s because of Gramma Jewel’s responses that I still wish to be like her when I grow up!

What else is going on in the news? Oh, yeah—I talked to my Cousin Calvin yesterday evening. He thanked me for dedicating this past Wednesday’s blog to his commencement celebration. I asked him how it felt to have finally earned the title of alumnus, and he was quick to say that it sunk in, but it hadn’t sunk in. He also mentioned that he ran into Ray Hernandez… and my heart liked to have jumped out of my chest. He said that Ray simply congratulated him for achieving his Bachelor’s Degree, and that’s when he noticed my mom and dad. And of course, Gramma Jewel acknowledged my sweetie pie as only she could: “Hey there, Ray-Baby!” and then Mother Davis and Cousin Nessa put in their two cents, but check this out: Cousin Calvin then goes on to tell me that in the ten minutes that he talked to Ray, he could tell that he was “all the way live.” For those of you who don’t know, that’s Calvin’s way of saying that he thinks Ray is cool. However, Calvin is still a little protective of me, which is really sweet.

Well, I guess I had better close this blog and get back to studying for my finals… actually, check this out: The final exams consist of writing papers—talk about a blessing and a half! So, since I’ve already started on my Physical Education for Children paper, the plan is to finish that up no later than tomorrow, and then use the final week to work on my Principles of Early Childhood Education final. Like I’ve been preachin’ for the last five months: If I wish to shape the lives of these children, then with The Good Lord to help me, I’m gonna be the best damn kindergarten teacher in the world… pardon my language!

Y’all have a good rest-of-the-day, and I’ll be sure to holla back tomorrow.

Hugs & Kisses,
Natasha