I Done Did It!

Well, Y’all—I DONE DID IT!!!

As of yesterday afternoon, I am an official graduate of Rust College, Class of2016… and dammit—it feels fan-freakin-tastic!

Now, y’all already know that my family cut a shine during my commencement ceremony. When I stepped up on that platform and received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education, the first voice I heard was that of my mom’s. Yes, y’all—Mama beat Gramma Jewel to the punch! My mom was all like, “You just go ‘head on, Tasha-Girl, wit’cho bad self!” And to tell y’all the truth, I was not at all embarrassed; in fact, I pointed directly at her and blew her a kiss, and as I headed back to my seat, my entire support group was literally chanting “Natasha! Natasha!” And right then and there, I imitated Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and soaked in the cheers.

What can I say? My family knows me all too well, and vice-versa.

After the ceremony ended, I caught up with the rest of my peeps, and we just got together in one big group circle and cheered. Of course, we took a couple of selfies, and then we met up with our families. Y’all should’ve seen the look on my Gramma Jewel’s face—I could tell that my commencement meant so much to her, especially considering that she is a Class of 1957 Bearcat. Technically speaking, the Bearcat legacy ended with my Great Aunt Reesie in 1959—well since I rekindled that fire, that leaves room for future generations in my family to keep the legacy alive.

And I want to say right now: My entire family notwithstanding, I was not at all surprised to see my former kindergarten teacher Mrs. Martin, nor was I surprised to see Pastor and Mrs. Clark, Mother Davis, and Brother Hawkins. However, I was really taken by surprise when I saw Mr. & Mrs. D and Pastor & Mrs. Rich in attendance. And what a thrill it was for me to introduce Mrs. Martin to Mr. D… and y’all already know that Gramma Jewel took a picture of me, Mr. D, Mrs. Martin, and my fellow alumnus Craig.

You know, I would love to talk about every little detail that took place yesterday afternoon, but we would be all day. With that said, I’m gonna have to cut today’s blog post short, but I promise that I’ll have more to talk about in the days (and probably weeks) to come. Until then, y’all take care and be good.


Smooches,
Natasha

The Clock is Really Ticking Away, Y'all!

Hi, Everybody!

Well, as y’all can see, today is Saturday, April 23, 2016, and y’all already know what that means—I am getting closer and closer to tomorrow. When I woke up this morning, I had a touch of a panic attack. Fortunately, I recognized it and immediately started practicing my breathing exercises, then Ruby gave me a glass of water and Azalea started fanning me like I had a hot flash or something… hahaha!

So, earlier this afternoon, I and my fellow Class of 2016 had our graduation rehearsal, and I gotta say that my peeps and I got some of our silliness out! The Dean of Students called our names by major, so I was somewhere towards the end. Would y’all believe that when Neo Theo’s name was called, he actually moonwalked halfway down the aisle and did the Michael Jackson yell and everything… hahaha! Then, when Ruby’s name was called, she sashayed down the aisle like a supermodel, blowing kisses and doing the queen’s wave. Azalea’s name was called next, but instead of reciting her poem (as per her plan from a few days ago), she started singing “This Is It” by Kenny Loggins.

And of course, when they got to the Elementary Education majors, Craig’s name was called first, and he ran down the aisle yelling “Yes! Yes! Yes!” like Daniel Bryan. And to save the best for last—little ol’ me! When I heard my name, I kept true to my word and imitated Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson—I thrusted a fist in the air while Theo, Ruby, Craig, and Azalea chanted “Vipress.” Most surprisingly, the Dean of Students was rather tolerant, but he did caution us to be serious come the actual graduation.

Suffice it to say, we had a successful graduation rehearsal… and for the record, I did ask if I could wear some plum shoes; I drove home the fact that my shoes would be dark. Well, the Dean said that he appreciated my efforts, but the shoe colors were etched in stone.

Well, at least I tried.

So, now I’m back in my room with Ruby and Azalea, but we’ve got the senior service of blessing and consecration at 6pm CST. Now, I have it on great authority that Brother Hawkins will be accompanying Mom, Dad, and Gramma Jewel this evening when we have the reception at Dr. Beckley’s house. Oh, snap—my peeps will get to meet the man that my uncles have affectionately nicknamed “Brother Hawk!” I keep tryin’ to tell Rust that they ain’t ready for my family—when we throws a party, we throws a party!

Okay, y’all—I gotta get ready for the consecration ceremony. I’ll try to holla at’cha if I can, but until then, y’all take care and be good.

 

 

Smooches,

Natasha

The Last Friday Freestyle... Before Graduation!

Hey, Y’all!

Before I get into today’s blog post, I do want to announce that I am two days away from my graduation from Rust College. The excitement is definitely in the air, and it seems that every second that passes by, I am that much closer to receiving my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. And I have it on great authority that my entire family has safely arrived from L.A. and are chillin’ in Memphis right now. I also have been informed that Pastor and Mrs. Clark’s flight should be landing sometime this afternoon or this evening. I gotta give my pastor and first lady credit—they said that they would be in attendance at my graduation, and doggone it if they didn’t keep their word. I gotta admit, though, that there’s one person who is missing in the equation, and that’s Mother Harriette Fields… but then again, she’s got the best seat in the house up there in Glory!

Oh, and I’ve already picked up my cap and gown this morning, which garnered yet another signature on my card. Now, check this out: Tomorrow is the actual graduation rehearsal, and y’all already know that my peeps and I are gonna practice strutting up the stage—heck, we may even cut a jig or two… hahahaha! All kidding aside, though, I do have a touch of a problem with the dress apparel: According to protocol, the ladies are to wear black or navy shoes, no jewelry, and little makeup. Now, I don’t wear a lot of makeup anyway, nor do I wear any jewelry other than my earrings. However, I was planning on wearing my lavender shoes to match the dress that I’m gonna wear on Sunday. Now, I don’t mind following protocol, but I hope that Rust is ready to hear me grumble about how my shoes don’t match my dress—I’m just sayin’!

In other news, this has been a rather trying week for the entertainment world. It is often said that certain terms of events happen in threes—well, we lost three entertainers within the course of five days. It began this past Sunday when Doris Roberts (who played Marie Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond) passed away at age 90, then Joanie Laurer (best known by wrestling fans as Chyna) passed away two days ago at age 46, and then Prince (the legend who sang Purple Rain) passed away just yesterday morning at age 57. On behalf of my family, we send our condolences to the family, friends, and fans of these three greats.

Well, I guess that’s gonna do for today. If anything else comes up, I’ll be sure to let y’all know; otherwise, I’ll holla at y’all tomorrow. Either way, y’all will be hearing from me soon, but until then, y’all take care and be good.


Smooches,
Natasha

Seventy Years of Sisterhood

Hi, Y’all!

Yes, I am back with another gooden for y’all—and I promise that it is a real gooden!

There is a very special milestone that my Gramma Jewel is celebrating today. You see, it was on this day in 1946 that my Gramma Jewel became best friends with one Ms. Millie Vanderkellen. As the story goes, these two ladies grew up in the Mississippi Delta, and though they grew up in different backgrounds, their friendship has always remained strong and steadfast through these seventy years. As a matter of fact, Gramma Jewel has made it clear on several occasions—and I can quote her on this—that long before Auntie Gladys and Auntie Thel, there was Ms. Millie Ann Vanderkellen.

The sisterhood that Gramma Jewel and Auntie Millie share was inspired by the foundation of friendship and trust laid down by my great grandparents and Auntie Millie’s mom and dad. Both ladies shared how they were somewhat sheltered by the evils and hatred of the world, yet they noticed how their respective parents boldly stood out against bigotry and prejudice. Of course, their actions led them to be relatively exiled, but it was Auntie Millie’s dad who stated that he would rather lose a lot of phonies than lose “one damn good friend in Gregory Otis Coleman.”

And as you can see in the picture, Gramma Jewel and Auntie Millie have continued to keep that legacy alive to this very day.

In closing this blog post, I would like to say that I am grateful to have Auntie Millie as part of my family. She is such a fun lady, and she’s got some spunk in her, too… but then again, that’s from years of hanging around Gramma Jewel!

Congratulations, Ladies—and may God bless y’all with many more years.


Smooches,
Natasha

A Surprise Appearance from the Fam

Hi, Y’all!

So, guess who showed up in Bearcat Country this morning and surprised me!

That’s right, y’all—with my graduation just three days away, I am happy to report that my mom and dad, Cousin Becky, and Gramma Jewel have finally arrived, and they brought along Mother Davis and Brother Hawkins! Oh, I sure hope that Rust is ready for the rowdy rambunctiousness that my peeps are gonna deliver come Sunday, because it is officially on and crack-a-lackin’!

Mom told me that their flight landed in Memphis about 7:30am CST, and they got their rental car and made a beeline to see little old me. At the risk of sounding all mushy, they really know how to make a gal feel special! And yes, my peeps got to converse with my family once again… and Neo Theo was doing some hellified flirting with Becky!

I really can’t tell who’s more excited out of the five of us. I mean, I’ve got a reason to be excited on account of I’m the one that’s walking that aisle to get my Bachelor’s Degree in three days. Then again, my mom and dad have a reason to be excited because I’m their onliest child and they’ve invested so much in me. And then again, Gramma Jewel’s got more than enough reason to be excited; after all, I’m the last grandchild in the family to graduate from college. Even more so than that, though, I will officially be Gramma Jewel’s fellow alumna in a mere three days, and I already know that this means so much to Gramma Jewel. And then too, Becky’s got a reason to be excited because she’ll be graduating from Chamberlain University around this time next year—and y’all already know that we’re gonna show up and show out when she receives her Bachelor’s Degree.

So, in essence, we all have legitimate individual and collective reasons to be excited for my graduation… and now that I think about it, Gramma Jewel once said that when one person graduates from college, the whole family graduates. Well, I can only imagine what’s gonna happen in three days’ time when Mrs. Martin and Pastor & Mrs. Clark join in with my family. Like I said: I sure hope that Rust College is ready for the Joneses, because when we celebrates, we celebrates!

Well, that’s gonna do it for now. Until tomorrow, y’all take care and be good.


Hugs & Kisses,
Natasha

More Than Friends—They're My Brothers and Sisters!

Hi, Everybody!

No surprises here—we are officially four days away from my big day! And just for the record, y’all can expect more of the same until the big day finally arrives.

So, this afternoon, I was chillin’ with my peeps in the cafeteria, and the roundtable discussion involved exchanging phone numbers and email addresses immediately, because we needed to keep in touch. Well, it was then that Neo Theo—who will be receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Print Journalism—took down everybody’s name, number, and email address, and made it his mission to email us with the pertinent information.

And then, Ruby took it upon herself to ask us a very important question: “Graduation notwithstanding, what is your most memorable moment here at Rust?”

Well, I had to think long and hard about my answer, mainly because I had stored up so many memories within these past four years in Bearcat Country. With that said, I opted to go last while I listened to everyone else. Imagine my surprise when all four of my friends said that their most memorable moment was meeting “some sassy chick named Natasha Renee Stewart.” I was flattered, to say the least, as Ruby chimed in and said, “Tasha-Girl, you just don’t know how blessed we are to know you. I mean, to think—you could’ve chosen to attend any college in all of California, but you chose Rust College. Tasha, on behalf of the ‘Peep Patrol,’ I just want you to know that we love you so very much. Southern Cali’s loss was Rust College’s gain, and we are so glad to call you sister and friend.”

If Ruby ‘nim was trying to mess with my heartstrings, then they were doing a damn good job.

“Now, Tasha, we know that you’re mushy,” Ruby continued. “But we feel that we should give you your flowers now—you are truly one of a kind.”

So, there I was, smiling modestly and trying my damnedest not to so much as sniffle, but that didn’t work out too well. I promised Ruby that I would beat the hell out of her for making me show my mushy side, and of course she laughed at my comment.

But then it was my turn, and I basically said that I couldn’t really narrow it down to one memory because the Rust College experience was all that and then some. And of course, one of the experiences involved bonding with four individuals named Ruby Jean Hudspeth, Theodore James Campbell, Craig Michael Dixon, and Azalea Cherie Thomas… and right then and there, I presented them with their very own report cards, where I gave them each an A-plus for their time, talent, and friendship. And because I’m gonna be a kindergarten teacher, I gave them all stars and happy faces. It should come as no surprise that they enjoyed their gifts and were very appreciated, then Azalea said, “See, Tasha—this is why we are blessed to know you.”

My Gramma Jewel always said, “Let the life I live, speak for me.” Well, it goes without saying, but according to my peeps, the life that I’m living thus far is speaking in great volumes.

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


Hugs & Kisses,
Natasha

Still Ain't No Place Like Home, Y'all!

Hi, Everybody!

Well, Thanksgiving 2015 is in the record books, but when you’re a Christian, the season of giving thanks is year round!

It should come as no surprise to y’all that I had a great time with my peeps yesterday afternoon… shoot, I had a blast! And why not—I mean, after all, it was my first Thanksgiving back home in Southern Cali, so it was a great big deal for me to be with my mom and dad, my aunts and uncles, and my Gramma Jewel.

And speaking of my Gramma Jewel, I want to state for the record that I have a newfound respect for her Thanksgiving tradition, which takes place after the big family dinner. You see, everything Thanksgiving, my Gramma Jewel asks for everyone to name at least one thing for which they are thankful. Well, it shouldn’t surprise any of you that Gramma Jewel goes first every year; she is the family matriarch after all. Gramma Jewel also makes it known that she is grateful for another year where she can spend time with her family. Everyone had some good reasons as to why they were thankful. Case in point: My mom professed how grateful she was for having me back home for another thanksgiving, and my dad expressed his gratitude for his queen and his princess.

And then it was my turn—and coincidentally, I was last.

I simply let my family know that I was extremely grateful to spend Thanksgiving 2015 with my Southern Cali family. I further expressed my appreciation for my Great Aunt Donna, Great Aunt Reesie, Auntie Gladys, and the Hudspeths for welcoming me into their homes during my time at Rust. It was then that my Auntie Brenda explained to me that home is always where the heart is, to which I replied that I must have plenty of homes across the country.

Afterwards, we played the Taboo game—it was me, Cousin Candace, Cousin Trisha, Cousin Vanessa, and Cousin Becky against Mom, Auntie Cherri, Auntie Brenda, Auntie Stephanie, and Auntie Glo. According to Uncle Alex, this was the battle of youth against experience, and I’m not afraid to admit that in the end, the experience prevailed over us youth. Granted, they cheated a little bit… hahahaha! I’m kidding, but Auntie Stephanie did admit that my team was in the lead by five, and then Cousin Trisha accidentally said one of the taboo words. I guess our youthful pride occurred before our fall… hahahaha!

Well, y’all, that’s gonna do it for me today. I’ll be sure to holla at y’all on Tuesday… and lest I forget, this Tuesday is the end of my internship. I cannot believe that fourteen weeks have already flown by. And speaking of my internship, I have to call my academic counselor on Wednesday and let her know that I will prepare my documentation and send it off in the mail by the end of this week.

And after looking at my catalog, I see that I have only one class left, and I will officially be done… WOO-HOO!!!

Until next time, y’all take care!

Smooches,

Natasha

My First Thanksgiving Back Home

Hi, Everybody!

First and foremost, I would like to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. I hope that you enjoy spending time with your family, friends, and loved ones.

You know, my mom brought it to my attention—this is my official first Thanksgiving back with my Southern Cali peeps! I’ve gotten so readjusted to the Southern Cali life that I didn’t really think about it. If I was back in Memphis, I would be worrying about whose house I should go over for Thanksgiving... and by the way, deciding to stay with Great Aunt Reesie, Great Aunt Donna, or Auntie Gladys is a blessing in and of itself. However, I don’t have to worry about that this year—I’m at home with my mom and dad, and I couldn’t be any happier. At the same time, though, I did call my Tennessee aunties and let them know that I really missed them, but it won’t be long until I return to complete the final year of my tenure as a Rust College Bearcat!

This year, the guest hosts are Uncle Gregory and Auntie Glo, and from what I understand, they have gone all out with the turkey and the trimmings. Seeing as how this is such a great occasion, I figure that I would bring along my camcorder and film some footage for a brand-new home movie. Heck, I even have the perfect title for it—Natasha’s Back, Baby!

Okay, so that’s a horrible title, but it’s the best that I’ve got.

Well, I reckon I’d better close up today’s blog post and get ready for Thanksgiving service at my church, which starts at 10am PST. As a heads-up, y’all ain’t gonna hear any more from me today (for obvious reasons), but I promise that you’ll hear from me on either tomorrow or Saturday. Until then, y’all take care and be good.


Smooches,
Natasha

Happy #77, Auntie Millie!

Happy Friday, Everybody!

 

Join me in wishing a very special Happy Birthday to Ms. Mildred Ann Vanderkellen—or as I’ve come to know her, “Aunt Millie.” She is 77 years old today.

I got the opportunity to meet Aunt Millie at our family reunion last year, and I found out for myself that she is definitely one in a million… and that probably explains why my Uncle Ronnie refers to her as “One in a Millie Ann” (a little play on words). Truth be told, though—Aunt Millie is a real live genuine sweetheart; she’s like a combination of Mary Ann from Gilligan’s Island and Blanche Devereaux from The Golden Girls.

Aunt Millie is a Mississippi Delta gal, just like my Gramma Jewel… matter of fact, Aunt Millie was born and raised in Indianola, which is right down the road from Ruleville. Aunt Millie told me the story of how she didn’t know the definition of a friend until she met my Gramma Jewel and Great Aunt Reesie. Though it may be hard to tell in her picture, Aunt Millie was an incredibly shy gal—that is, until she befriended my grandmother and my great aunt. And to this very day, that friendship is as strong as ever.

 

And of course, I’ve got to celebrate Aunt Millie the best way I know how—in the form of her favorite song… BOOM SHAKA-LAKA-LAKA!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Aunt Millie! Celebrate it well, and live it up!

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

The Joneses: 2-0 for Family & Friends Day!

Happy Sunday Evening, Everybody!

Y’all already know that I’ve got some good news when I post a blog on a Sunday… and here it is:

If you recall, I made mention in a recent blog post that it was Family & Friends Day at Gramma Jewel’s church, and considering that we had just celebrated our family reunion, Gramma Jewel had plans to win the grand prize. Well, I am proud to announce that my family showed up and showed out at First Baptist Church of Culver City today!

That’s right y’all—the Joneses had the most family and friends in our group, with a total of twenty-three!

What was the grand prize, y’all ask? Well, believe it or not, it was a fifty dollar gift card to California Pizza Kitchen. Now, considering that Candace, Vanessa, Becky, Trisha, and I had just eaten there yesterday afternoon, we sho’ coulda used that gift card… I’m just sayin’!

Nevertheless, this means that the Joneses are two-for two.

Now, I honestly cannot tell y’all if three times will be a charm, but I can guaran-damn-tee y’all that we’re gonna do our absolute damnedest to three-peat next year. After all, we are the Joneses, and it’s up to everybody else to try and keep up with us… hahahahaha!

I’m only kidding—it’s not necessary for y’all to keep up with us… hell, the Joneses have problems trying to keep up with our own damn selves—hahahahahaha!

(Side Note: My Grampa Clark used to say that all the time.)

Well, I reckon I’ll holla at y’all later, but I had to let y’all know that the Joneses won the grand prize two years in a row—and at two different churches, no less. Like I said: We shall see what happens next year.

 

 

Smooches,

Natasha

Griffith Park Has Officially Become My Favorite Place!

Hi, Everybody!

Well, I don’t know about y’all, but I had me a grantastical time this afternoon!

As I mentioned in yesterday evening’s blog post, I spent all day today with Cousin Keith, Cousin Jade, Cousin Erica, and Cousin Becky (that’s right—Becky’s my cousin now). We headed up to the Griffith Park Observatory, and as usual, when I saw that Hollywood sign, I was like a kid in a candy store! Cousin Jade was curious as to how I could be in such awe of the Hollywood sign, considering that I am a native Los Angeleno and I see it practically everyday. Well, I told Cousin Jade that it’s the simple things in life that bring so much joy, and in my case, the Hollywood sign brings me an indescribable joy. Besides, I can count on one hand exactly how many times I’ve seen the legendary sign up close, and today marks the fourth time. Becky then let the group know that she too is infatuated with the Hollywood sign; she also pointed out that most native Californians don’t really have a true appreciation for landmarks as such, but we do.

After all that fun in Griffith Park, we then headed to see the Staples Center and L.A. Live, which is almost always busy, and then we went over to Gramma Jewel’s for some fried chicken, fried fish, spaghetti, coleslaw, green salad, and garlic cheesy bread. There was an added incentive behind Gramma Jewel’s big dinner: You see, today is Cousin Erica’s last official full day here in Southern Cali, as she is set to return to Fisk University and begin her junior year. I believe she said that classes start on Wednesday, but she has to be registered and checked into a dorm by this Monday.

Oh, and for the record, Gramma Jewel made Cousin Erica a big ass care package to take with her… and no, I didn’t stutter—I did in fact say “big ass care package!”

Now, I’m sure y’all noticed that I never mentioned Great Aunt Reesie returning to Nashville with my cousins… well, that’s because she’s still out here for the remainder of this month. She’s not the only one—Great Aunt Donna, Auntie Gladys, and Auntie Millie are still out here as well, and I can assure you that there is a very strong modus operandi behind their stay: You see, on Sunday, August 30, 2015, Gramma Jewel’s church will be celebrating their Family & Friends Day. Granted, we will be short three family members, albeit for legitimate reasons, but… well, let’s just say that Gramma Jewel is looking to take home the grand prize for having brought the most family members. Just for the record, when we had our family reunion last year, we won then, and I do want us to win again this year. However, I’ve just noticed the conflict of interest: I gotta wonder where does Mother Davis stand. Seeing as how there is a prize involved, does this mean that Mother Davis will not be counted amongst our group? I mean, after all, she and Gramma Jewel have been best friends since 1977. And what about Brother Hawkins? Will he continue to keep up with the Joneses (pun definitely intended), or will he break from the vine, per se, and try to win the grand prize with his own family?

No matter what happens, I already know that this is gonna be good… this is kinda like that Royal Rumble, where it’s every wrestler for themselves!

Well, that’s it for now. I may holla at y’all tomorrow, but in case I don’t, I will definitely holla at y’all sometime this week.

 

Smooches,
Natasha

Chillin' in the Cut at Mr. Chuck's!

Happy Friday, Everybody!

 

First of all, I want to state for the record—I truly earned this weekend!

Don’t get me wrong—I had a great week, but it kinda dragged a little bit around Tuesday and Wednesday, but then it picked back up around yesterday afternoon.

And now, here we are on this beautiful Friday evening, further proving that good thing still come to those who wait.

And with that said, I also want to state for the record that I truly enjoyed my family this evening at Mr. Chuck’s restaurant… and vice-versa! Suffice it to say, we still know how to close down the place… hahahaha! Forget a great time—the Joneses had ourselves a grand ol’ time!

Now, check this out: Gramma Jewel is a regular at Mr. Chuck’s place… seriously, y’all! As soon as she walked in, everybody in the restaurant was all like: “Hey, Ms. V—long time no see!”

That’s right, y’all—Gramma Jewel is known as “Ms. V” to the other regular patrons.

Anyway, we all met up around six this evening, and Gramma Jewel had already ordered appetizers and everything. Come to find out, though, Mr. Chuck has a Happy Hour special—free appetizers between 5pm and 8pm on Fridays.

By the way, I made mention earlier on that Mr. Chuck enjoyed our company—that wasn’t an exaggeration. You see, Mr. Chuck was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, and he enjoyed our patronage so much that he wanted to pay for our bill. Well, Gramma Jewel insisted that she pay, and Mr. Chuck decided to take off twenty percent of the bill.

Overall, it was a great night with great food, great family, great friends, and great fun… and y’all already know that we took a couple pictures to commemorate this magical moment! Incidentally, Mr. Chuck asked if he could have a couple of pictures to put on his Delta Dinin’ Wall of Fame… and of course, we obliged him.

Okay, y’all—it’s getting late, and I’m feeling a little drowsy. I reckon I’ll close up tonight’s blog post and turn in for the night. Besides, my cousin Erica has one more full day out here before she returns to Fisk University this Monday, and she wants to see the Hollywood sign up close at the Griffith Park Observatory… YAY!!!

Until tomorrow, y’all—I’ll holla!

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

And The Fun Continues!

Happy Monday, Everybody!

Well, the weekend has come and gone, and I’m on my lunch break at the moment. I managed to sneak in a little time to holla at y’all, if only for a moment or two.

Even though the family reunion festivities of this past weekend are completed, the fun is still running rampant… matter of fact, the fun ain’t never gonna stop. I have come to the conclusion that when the Joneses celebrate a family reunion, we celebrate it to the max! Ever since last year’s festivities, Gramma Jewel has made it a point to celebrate our family gatherings as if it was a combination of the World Series, the SuperBowl, the NBA Championship, The Stanley Cup, and WrestleMania all rolled up into one. You see, the Jones Family Reunion is more than just a family gathering—it is an annual summertime event!

And suffice it to say, we are still creating magical moments that will be talked about for years to come. Future generations of my family will look back on these moments with fondness and say: “Wow, our ancestors really knew how to party!”

Well, seeing as how I’ve got about twenty minutes or so left in my lunch break, I had better close this blog post, but I’ll will definitely holla at y’all sometime this week… I tell y’all what: I will see y’all right here on Friday, August 14, 2015!

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

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Rebecca's Baptism

Happy Sunday, Everybody!

Well, let’s not waste any more time—let’s follow Gladys Knight’s advice and get on down to the real nitty-gritty, shalt we?

So, this morning at First Baptist Church of Culver City, where the Reverend Stanley D. Richardson is pastor, my family showed up and showed out! In addition to filling up the church to near capacity, we all witnessed our very own Rebecca Ann Morgan get baptized. I gotta tell y’all—it was truly a sight to behold. I’ve never been one to deny that I’m a big ol’ softie, and this morning in church was no different. When I saw Rebecca get submerged in the water and come out praising The Lord, I had tears in my eyes. It was as if I was right there with her… and in a way, I was with her.

I really wish that y’all were in church with us to witness Rebecca’s baptism. For one thing, she looked so cute up there in the baptismal pool with her bright but shy grin on her face… and incidentally, Pastor Rich mentioned that Rebecca was easy to baptize, which was very true; she didn’t put up a struggle or a fight—she just fell back naturally and re-emerged naturally.

And of course, Uncle Ronnie jokingly told Rebecca that, now that she’s been baptized, she is not allowed to cuss anymore—she can’t even think those bad words, much less say them. Naturally, Rebecca knew that Uncle Ronnie was teasing her, so she played along.

Afterwards, we all celebrated at California Pizza Kitchen in Manhattan Beach, and Rebecca gave a speech of gratitude. Still sporting a big beaming smile, she declared that she is the happiest that she has ever been, and she is still humbled, honored, and grateful that we took her up under our wings and taught her how to fly again. Rebecca went on to say: “Trust me when I tell y’all—this has been the best three years of my life thus far, and I have all-a-y’all to thank. Oh, and by the way, I still thinking about changing my last name to Jones—that way, I’ll finally be able to keep up with y’all!”

We all applauded and congratulated Rebecca again, then Gramma Jewel got up and spoke on behalf of all of us.

“Becky-Baby, I am flattered that you want to be a Jones, but you know that you ain’t gotta change your name for that—hell, you already are a Jones. And by the way, we are grateful that you look up to us, but we were nothing more than vessels used by God to guide you in the right direction. It wasn’t us that you saw—it was The Lord.”

And then Rebecca bounced back with quite a profound statement:

“Well, Aunt Tea—believe me when I tell you: I thank The Lord that He allow all-a-y’all to be my guardian angels.”

In the famous words of Mother Thelma Jean Davis: It’s all in a day’s work for The Lord’s children!

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Jones Family Reunion 2015—Rockin' It Ol' Skool!

Hi, Everybody!

Well, as you can probably guess, it’s on and crack-a-lackin’ over here at my Auntie Cherri and Uncle Alex’s house! Our family reunion kicked off yesterday afternoon when Gramma Jewel had a chili cheese party—burgers, hot dogs, fries, and nachos. But that was yesterday—today, we Joneses kicked off this beautiful Saturday afternoon in full gear and in full force, right here in Long Beach, California! And as the title of today’s blog post suggests, we are rockin’ the party that’s rockin’ the body!

I guess you can say that the Joneses are here in Long Beach to kick ass and chew bubblegum. There’s just one problem , though: My cousin Vanessa only has one piece of bubblegum left… hahahaha!

And of course, we’ve got some very special guests with us—friends who may as well be family, if you weeeeeeeeeee… and yes, I gave a tribute to Big Dust and Hot Rod, all in one setting.

But back to the lecture at hand: My Gramma Jewel invited her friend Mr. Hawkins, who in turn brought along his family—daughter Ms. Janet, son-in-law Mr. Adam, and grandson Michael. I think I mentioned it last week, but it’s worth repeating again: If Gramma Jewel loves you, then you are automatically set for life. And that’s exactly the case with Mr. Hawkins and his peeps.

You know, I can’t seem to put it in words, but it seems as though everytime my family gets together, we seem to outdo ourselves. Y’all may recall our great big family photo that we took last year… well, per Gramma Jewel’s request, we took a family photo this year. Gramma Jewel explained that she wanted us to take a family photo every year for every family reunion, as our own special family tradition.

Uncle Ronnie’s response: “Whatever the Queen wants, is what the Queen will receive.”

Well, I reckon I’d better get back to the fun. Besides, I don’t want to miss the talent show. The Brown Sugar Trio is back by popular demand, and they’re gonna perform “Rappers Delight” again, much like they did last year. I can’t wait to hear Great Aunt Reesie perform Master Gee’s part again.

Okay, y’all—I holla at’cha tomorrow after church!

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Next Stop—Southern Cali!

Hi, Y’all!

Before I begin today’s blog post, I have a very special announcement:

Happy 45^th Birthday to my Uncle Gregory! You already know that when I arrive in L.A., I’m gonna help you celebrate ‘til the cows come home! Don’t start the party without me! Love ya lots!

Well, y’all—do I even need to mention that the inevitable has finally come upon us? However, it wouldn’t be me if I didn’t use my over-the-top announcer voice and give a very corny speech:

“In mere moments, the California Vipress will make her triumphant return to where it all began—Los Angeles, California. In addition to a much deserved summer vacation, Miss Natasha will be preparing for her internship with one Mrs. Ingrid Martin, where she will learn firsthand what being a kindergarten teacher is all about.”

Believe me when I tell y’all—I had a helluva lot more, but I decided to just leave that speech right where it was! Yes, I actually cut a speech short. Unbelievable, ain’t it? Hahahaha!

So, I’m all packed up and ready to go, and I’ve also said my temporary farewells to Azalea, Theo, and Craig—it’s just me and Ruby at the moment; we’re waiting on Mr. and Mrs. Hudspeth… actually, I’m waiting on Auntie Gladys to come pick me up and take me to the airport, but as usual, Mr. and Mrs. Hudspeth will be watching over my stuff until I return in January. For the record, I gotta say that the Hudspeths are truly a blessing to me. They’ve treated me like a long lost daughter since my freshman year, but that’s Southern hospitality for ya!

And I know that I’ve already said this enough, but I still need to say it: I’m really gonna miss being away from Bearcat Country for an extra four months. If I had thought about it, I would’ve chosen an internship at one of the elementary schools out here… then again, I would really miss L.A. tremendously. I tell y’all about these Catch-22’s. A sacrifice had to be made somewhere, and such as that old expression: I can’t eat my cake and have it, too.

Welcome to adulthood, Natasha—indeed!

Well, y’all—it’s almost time to head out. I’ll holla at y’all when I return to Cali, but in the meantime, y’all say a prayer for me, that I and the rest of my planemates arrive at LAX safely. Until then, take care and be good.

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

It's About That Time For Another Celebration, Y'all!

Happy Friday, Everybody!

Before I begin today’s blog post, I have a special message for one Mr. Bret Douglas:

Happy #58, Mr. D! I already know that you are celebrating every moment of it. Be sure that Mrs. D and the rest of the fam treat you to all of your favorite places. Love ya lots!

So, as y’all can see from the photo in today’s blog post, I am just about ready for the summertime. Notwithstanding my return to Southern Cali and my upcoming internship, it’s about that time for my family reunion. With the success of last year’s festivities, the family decided to have our reunion every second Saturday in August. And lemme tell y’all—last year was so much fun! I’ve said it over and over again, but it’s worth repeating: The Joneses know how to party, Baby! I love how everything worked out for us to celebrate family togetherness in Nashville, and I know that Gramma Jewel’s best friend (and my honorary second grandmother) Mother Davis had a blast; she told me herself. Well, per Gramma Jewel’s mandate, we gotta make this a yearly thing. That being said, our family reunion this year will take place at Uncle Alex and Auntie Cherri’s house in Long Beach.

Yes, I know that I haven’t really talked about it much, but I can assure y’all that my family has been in deep discussion about Jones Family Reunion 2015. Matter of fact, it was just last year that Uncle Alex and Auntie Cherri volunteered to host this year’s reunion. Cousin Keith promised to bring back all of those fantastic ol’ skool hits, and of course, Gramma Jewel is gonna make her award-winning strawberry seven-up cake. The only thing we’re missing is a catchy theme; once we get that, Mom will go ahead and order the t-shirts.

I’m wondering now… yeah, I’ll go ahead and do it—I’m gonna invite Ruby, Theo, Azalea, and Craig. After all, like Gramma Jewel says: “Family don’t just mean blood, Baby!”

Okay, ‘all—that’s gonna do it for me today, and seeing as how Sunday is Mother’s Day, I’m gonna post a very special Mother’s Day blog post for a very special woman sometime tomorrow. Until then, y’all be good!

Smooches,

Natasha

Recognizing the Foundation of My Family

“It’s amazing how I—a smart, educated woman—was born on a day that was designated for fools.”

—Lynn Agnes Coleman, 1906-1984

 

 

Hi, Everyone!

 

If the aforementioned quote sounds familiar, then you’ve probably read my blog posts about my great grandmother, Lynn Agnes Coleman. Today, I take time out from my busy academic schedule and recognize what would have been her 109^th Birthday. Having said that, in honor of Great Gramma Lynn, I’m actually wearing my favorite long-sleeved lavender dress on today, and I’m also writing with a purple pen.

 

In case you missed that, Great Gramma Lynn loved purple!

 

And I just thought about a story that Gramma Jewel told with such fondness. She said that she and Great Aunt Reesie loved to stake out in the hallway and watch Great Gramma Lynn cook Sunday dinner. Great Gramma Lynn didn’t mind them watching, so long as they didn’t get in the way. Well, one particular Sunday, Gramma Jewel wanted to sneak a little batter from a mixing bowl… and this is where it gets funny: Gramma Jewel said she had carefully and remarkably snuck past Great Gramma Lynn and was about to sneak some batter, but Great Gramma Lynn grabbed her wooden spoon and almost popped Gramma Jewel with it. Gramma Jewel also pointed out that she was afraid of wooden spoons, even to this day… hahahaha!

 

Well, y’all, that’s today’s blog post, but in closing, I would like to say to wish a Happy #109 to Great Gramma Lynn. I know that she’s celebrating it real good up in Glory, but her legacy continues to live on through all of us.

 

 

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha