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The Queen’s
Collection
Table of Contents
General Introduction Advanced Composition Introduction Why I Love Music Made of Music
Creative Writing Introduction The Ultimate Battle PawPaw Ungrateful Dear Former Flame Best Friends Forever The Guide The Unexpected The Sister I Always Wanted
Summer Internship Introduction Flying isn’t Frightening Be Optimistic Education is Timeless Healthy Hair Defined Eating Healthy Makes for Healthy Hair Unbelievable Beauty Rituals
Advanced Composition
2
This section displays
my writing of the
Advanced
Composition course.
One piece is creative
nonfiction and the
other piece is
creative fiction. Made
of Music is a piece
that was chosen to
be published on
thisibelieve.org. Both
of these pieces that
cover a topic that I
have always been
passionate about:
music.
3
Why I Love Music
At the age of five, I saw this tall, wooden figure taking
up space in the living room. Two linear rows of family photos
sat on the two shelves connected to what looked like a giant wooden box with white
and black tabs on it. I slowly tip-toed to it as if I were sneaking up behind a cat that was
fast asleep. Gradually easing my hand to the white and black tabs, I finally pressed one
tab down and it made a sound I have never heard before “ting, ting, ting.” Once my
parents heard those sounds, they rushed downstairs into the living room and asked me
if I wanted to take lessons. Unfortunately I never got a chance to answer the question
because my Mom answered it for me, and that answer was “Yes.” That was the
beginning of my musical journey.
Every time I learned a new key or chord, it was as if the notes floated off the
page and into my heart. I practiced persistently until I felt I could play each piece
completely through with no mistakes. At times I would feel like one of the great
pianists of the earlier centuries-Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach
applauded me from their graves. I imagined performing in the
Metropolitan Opera Hall, people
4
giving me a standing ovation after every piece I played. I became so
engulfed in the music I played that I would imagine myself playing in my
class at school. I loved playing for people to see their reaction. Even though there are an
ample amount of people who play the piano, people were fascinated that an African
American child could play so well at the age of eight.
Although, when it came to playing at the recitals my teacher had for all her
students, I felt extremely uncomfortable because I was the only African American child
there. I felt so much pressure to prove I could really play the pieces given to me by my
teacher that it would stress me out. Once it became my time to play, I
stood from my seat and all eyes were on me. It felt like I was on
stage with that bright hot spotlight on me. There was nothing but
silence filling the church. It was so silent that I thought I heard a dog
bark down the road from the church. My parents brought the video camera to tape my
performance. As I nervously walked over to the bench, my parents were waving at me
like they were in the stands at a football game. My Dad gave me a thumbs up and
motioned with his mouth “You got this maestro.” As I prepared to play in front of
parents and students, I sat at the bench and placed my fingers on the proper keys for
the piece I practiced for months. My heart was beating as if it were
going to pound out of my chest; I felt all the eyes in the church
peering at me. If I made one mistake when I played for all the
5
parents and students, it would be like the whole world crashed down on me. In all
actuality, I played the piece perfectly and exactly the way I practiced. Once I finished, I
took a bow as I was instructed to do by my teacher, and took a seat in my assigned
chair. As I sat there listening to the other students, it was amazing that I had finally
accomplished my first recital.
As the years rushed by, people at church were told that I could play the piano.
When people first heard about it, I was ten years old attending what was called
children’s church. The pastor over it wanted me to play for the praise and worship
portion of the service. I felt an extreme amount of pressure to play, but I tried practicing
after church to see if it was really what I wanted to do. However, I was classically
trained and I didn’t know how to play any of those songs that were being sung during
service. I didn’t know how to tell the pastor I couldn’t play because I have never played
any of those songs before. My heart sunk down into the pit of stomach. I wanted to help
but there was nothing I could do. The pianist that played for the adult services couldn’t
teach me because he played my ear. Then it became worse when the word got to the
youth pastor and as soon as I turned twelve, he wanted
me to play for the youth service. The pressure for me to
play for church was completely overwhelming. I began to
feel uncomfortable to even talk about playing the piano to
anyone. It got to the point when I heard the word piano,
6
my skin would crawl and chills glided through my body. By
the age of eleven, my parents decided to change churches for
personal reasons. Although I had made many friends at that
church, it was as if a hundred pound weight had been lifted off
me because there was no pressure to play for church. This
meant I could go back to playing for my love of the music and the enjoyment I get from
making the music.
When I entered middle school, I had a chance to expand my horizons to other
instruments. I signed up to practice the clarinet in band. Because I played the piano
years in advance, the reading the music came very easy to me. Learning to play this
new instrument was exciting and it became to open my mind to other things besides the
piano. I became more involved in the band and this quickly put piano on the back
burner. It was still a part of my life, but this is when it began feeling like a job. My
parents forced me to practice after school to prepare for my lessons every Friday
evening. The situation didn’t get any better when I started high school. I joined color
guard in the marching band and I continued to play the clarinet for
concert. My focus became more about band and color guard. Piano
became an afterthought. I wanted to quit my sophomore year of
high school, but my dad forced me to continue. He got me a
different teacher who he thought would teach me more upbeat
7
songs that played on the radio. It was exciting to learn music that was more of my style
of music. However, it quickly got old and it was hard for me to continue playing when
my heart was no longer in it. My parents constantly forced me to practice, and by the
next lesson I did not know the piece well enough to play for my teacher.
At that point, my parents felt it was best for me to quit and save their money
paying for lessons I no longer wanted. Once I officially quit playing the piano, it felt like
a major weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I went for years not even taking a
glance at that figure I once wondered about. Now that I am nineteen years old, I find
myself getting back engulfed in the music that filled my heart with joy. Although I do
not make the music anymore, I listen to music on my IPod. I have
multiple playlists that I constantly listen to on a daily bases. Even
though I do not play the piano on a continuous base, I do find
time to play the songs I can remember. I go back to the way I used
to practice when I first started. I do not take lessons now, but
whenever I have free time I always go back to where my love of music first started my
piano.
8
Made of Music
As people, we tend to look at one another as the offspring of each other’s
parents. However for me, it is beyond being the offspring of my parents. Yes, of course I
have the features of my parents, such as my father’s eyes, his nearsightedness too, and
my mother’s nose--but there is more than just their DNA that flows through my veins.
See, I am also made of music. It is part of my creation. The notes of every song I have
ever played and listened to pulses through my bloodstream and they have collected in
my heart. The beat of the music becomes the beat of
my heart. As the songs play, notes become the blood
pumping through my veins throughout my body
vibrating my spirit, soul, and mind. As I put the
earphones to my ears, the music takes over my body
and flows through me like a peaceful stream.
The saying that music is the window to the soul was referring to me. Music
awakens my soul and opens my heart to take it on a journey of epic proportions. From
the sexy soulful voices of rhythm and blues to the southern melodies of country, it’s as
if I’m riding a musical rollercoaster surrounded by A flats and harmonic minors. Some
people might say that the love of music is universal, but I am not most people. See, my
love of music stemmed from the love of making music when I was a child. At the age of
five, music entered my life and transformed me into a musical being. Then I soon
9
discovered that I couldn’t just play the piano, but I could sing with the
pieces I played. It made me open to new things and various
possibilities.
Music got me through difficult situations. It soothed my soul and eased my
mind. The time my boyfriend and I broke up my senior year of high school, the songs
“Just Be A Man About It” by Toni Braxton and “Not Ready to Make Nice” by the Dixie
Chicks got me pass the heartache I felt. And when my all my friends betrayed me, I
turned to gospel music to get me through that situation. I constantly played “Trust” by
Donnie McClurkin and “No Weapon” by Fred Hammond. I
knew then that God would make a way. Music helped me get through
major problems throughout my life. When I am extremely upset, I
play the piano to calm my nerves, and that’s when my parents come
to the living room and ask “what’s wrong now?”
For most, music is a form of entertainment that serves the purpose of enjoyment,
but for me music helped me get through hard times. It breathes life back into me when
I’m hurt, torn, or depressed. It softens my hard heart and opens my mind to
opportunities. Music is my mother and father who comforts me when I’m down, makes
me smile, and lifts me up. See, I am made of music. It was born within me.
My life started with music from the first touch of a white piano key and my
life will end with music. I believe in music because it’s apart me.
11
This section represents
the creative side of my
writings. These works
cover a wide range of
genres such as poetry,
short fiction, and
nonfiction. The works
showcased in this section
are some of my best
pieces that were written
while in the Creative
Writing course.
12
The Ultimate Battle
The fearless fighter, silent but
confident, ready for battle at any
moment knew what she had to do
even though she didn’t want to.
Nevertheless she stood strong.
The words of her mother ringing
in her ears, You can do whatever you set in your mind to.
With those words swimming in her mind,
she suited up: her helmet, boots, sword,
and breast plate. She walked towards her
enemy.
They began the battle with one sword
swing to another−−a fight to the death.
At last, she conquered her opponent. Falling
to the ground, she had defeated her arch
enemy: herself.
13
PawPaw
It has been fourteen years since
I have smelled your infamous scent.
Fourteen years since I have been
hugged the way you used to hug me.
Remember when you walked
from work and my parents and I
would drive by you and ask would
you like a ride home? You always
said I’d rather walk. I will meet
ya’ll at home in a minute. You always
had your special dish wrapped up in
aluminum foil. Your special pork
chops and gravy. Since you worked
at the local college down the road
from your house as a cook, you always
made sure you brought something back
from the kitchen for us at dinnertime.
Remember when you walked
through the front door; I leaped
into your arms and said, Hi, PawPaw.
Do you remember?
You always smelled
of whiskey and cigarettes. Although
the smell disgusted me, I loved your warm,
tender hugs you gave every time I came to
town. You sat in your favorite chair
and drank your whiskey and smoked a cigarette
after a long day of work. I would come in the
living room and sit in your lap after you finished
smoking and watched those old black and white
western movies on that giant size floor T.V.
Do you remember PawPaw?
All I have now are the sweet memories
of you and the man my mom and dad
tell me of. Heaven is truly blessed to have
you just as I was blessed to have you
as my PawPaw.
14
Dear Former Flame,
Taking one’s love for granted is what you did best. Looking for love
is what you tried to avoid at all costs but somehow you failed. You found
love by way of me but you didn’t know how to receive it. To approach
me with caring arms, and to try to be there when I needed a shoulder to
cry on caused you to push me away due to your selfishness and fear of
love. You tried to fight that yearning in your heart for me. All along you
knew you wanted to hold me tenderly and kiss my lips that are as soft as
silk. Those feelings you were to fight, the war going on between your
heart and mind held you back for what you truly wanted. Your heart
cried out for your true love, but your mind said you didn’t want to get
hurt. The fear of love entering your heart overwhelmed you and caused
you to shut down, but love conquers all. The burning desire in your heart
for me kept you going. The longing for that gentle, velvety touch of a
hug, hearing my voice that makes your entire body quiver instantly
making you weak while simultaneously making you stronger every time
we meet; you knew then that you wanted this feeling to last. The feelings
you so desperately tried to fight were finally expressed the best way you
knew how. You tried your best to show me love, be there for me when I
15
needed you, and shower me with gifts. Unfortunately, you waited too
late to do those things. You expressed your love to a person who had
moved on to another. You tried your best to fight for me, asking
questions like when can I take you out on a date? The effort you put
forward went to waste because you hurt not only yourself by fighting
those feelings but you hurt me. You caused me to move to another. You
constantly pushed me away when you needed I the most. You did this to
yourself, but somehow the love is still there. The question of what if
lingers in both of our hearts, souls, and minds. Though now we have both
our separate ways and our hearts belong to another; we can’t help but to
dream what could have been.
16
The Love Square
I have always heard of the infamous “love triangle” even when I
was younger. I saw it multiple times on my favorite television shows and
movies. I never understood how anyone could get themselves into a
situation like that. It sounded like nothing but trouble. I laughed it those
stupid people stuck between two guys or girls, but soon enough I became
one of those stupid people stuck between two guys and couldn’t decide
who I really wanted. Unfortunately, my love triangle became a square.
So now I have upped the ante from being wedged between two guys but
three. “How is that possible?” one might ask. It all began a month before I
graduated from high school.
As a senior in high school, you would expect my last year of public
school to be great, exciting, and fantastic; quite the contrary. My senior
year sucked. Everything bad that could possibly happen really did
happened. However, a month before graduation things started to look
up. I met this tall, gorgeous basketball player. I had always heard of him
but never had a chance to talk to him. I decided since it was my last
year and it would probably be the last time I ever see him, I should talk
to him and see what he is like.
17
“What’s your name?” I said. I already knew his name but I wanted
to take a new approach. “Play like the dumb blonde in those teen
movies,” I thought to myself. “He will never figure it out.”
He replied, “Jay. You don’t know my name. I’m the star basketball
player here. I can’t believe you don’t know my name. Haven’t you been
to a basketball game before?”
“Yea, but I never paid much attention to the actual game,” I
laughed.
“You should have been paying attention then,” he said.
I could tell he was trying to feel a vibe from me to see if I was a
cool girl or was I like the girls he had gotten used to. We meet that day
after school, from that moment on our friendship began to flourish into
something neither one of us expected.
We would meet every day after school at the same spot. We talked
until his ride came. Every time we spoke, our conversations got more in-
depth.
“What made you date that track dude? He didn’t seem like your
type of dude,” he asked.
“He approached me and asked for my number, so I gave it to him.
He seemed like a cool dude. Asked people about him before it got serious
18
and everything else just went from there,” I replied. I could tell from that
question that he was trying to tell what type of guy I liked. He had a
funny way of exploring a person’s personality.
“Oh ok then. Can I use your phone to call my ride?” he replied.
“Yea that’s fine, here.” I said.
He used my cell phone to call his cell phone, instead of asking me
for my phone number. Not only was he a player of basketball but he was
player in the game of love. He knew exactly what to do to intrigue a
girls and pull them into liking him. Unfortunately for him, I knew all
about the game. He thought he might have had me in the palm of his
hand and wrapped around his finger, but he didn’t come close. Whether
he believed it or not, I had him intrigued.
That summer we continued to talk via text messaging and every
now and then he would call me, but we didn’t see one other again until
the beginning of July. He came over to my house to swim and meet my
parents. My parents liked him; my Dad was excited that I found a guy
that played sports so he could have an excuse to go to the games.
While we were swimming in the pool, I asked him questions
concerning rather or not we should get together.
“What do you think about us getting to together?” I asked him.
19
He smiled and said, “I don’t know if I’m ready to be in a
relationship yet, but I really do like you. I thought we should go out on a
date first before we take it to that level.”
“When would that be?” I replied.
“Whenever you tell me we can do it,” he said.
Although he wanted us to try to start going out on dates, he always
had the thought of us not working out because I was soon going to be in
college the next month. We continued to talk throughout the summer
even once I began attending college, but soon things started to take a
turn for the worst. Not to mention, I met another guy in college.
When I started my freshman year of college, I didn’t expect to meet
another guy especially since I still had Jay back at home. On the other
hand, there were some extremely good looking guys in college and I
became hard for me to stay focused on working things out with Jay. The
first guy I became interested in was Marcus. He was tall with braids
and braces. At first look, he seemed very goofy but once we exchanged
cell numbers and began to talk; he was very intelligent as well as goofy.
“So what is your major?” I asked him.
“Chemical engineering, what is yours?” he asked.
20
“Professional writing. What can you do with that type of degree?” I
asked.
“I would like to work in a lab mixing up concoctions and making
things explode,” he replied with an explosion like hand gestures.
We both began to laugh and continued to talk about general things
trying to get to know each other better.
Then a few weeks later another guy caught my eye, but I waited
for him to approach me. His name was Carl. He was also tall, light-
skinned with curl Latino jet black hair. He was so sweet. He approached
me while I was talking to a few people I just met.
21
The Guide
Relationships. We all want to be in one; however, everyone is not
ready to be in a relationship. But what preparations are there to be in a
relationship? Well, I was always told by my Mom that in order to be
with someone, you have to learn how to be by yourself. Know who you
are and what you want out of life. The best way to start is to write down
your life goals and the things you want to achieve. Mostly importantly,
know who you are in God. Make sure you always follow the right path
that God has created for you. It is written in the Bible, that before we
were conceived in our mother’s womb, God had already predestined our
lives’. However, in order for us to know that path God created for us, we
have to first have a relationship with him. Once you have that with God,
then you have to know who you are in God. Once you know all that then
you can actually be in a relationship with a person.
This is a lesson that Laura had to learn the hard way to learn.
Their relationship started with one thing in common: the tragic death of
their mothers. They met in the fall of 2009, Terrell, the funny, outgoing
man and Laura, the friendly light-skinned girl with the huge butt that
caught the attention of elderly men.
22
Laura came to UNA from her home of Texas. She has family a few
blocks away from the university and she could call on them if she ever
needed help with anything. Because her mother passed away when she
was sixteen, she left grandfather and his second wife in Texas. She never
expected to begin a relationship her freshman year of college especially
since she was already in one back at home, but somehow she ended the
one in Texas and began another. But she didn’t know that the
relationship would crumble the way it did.
Terrell and Laura met by way of a friend of her’s. The friend
pushed Laura to talk to Terrell even though she showed resistance to a
conversation with him, but she trusted her friend and talked to him
anyway. The resistance was soon forgotten when she finally did talk to
him. Because he didn’t give her the attention she was used to; she quickly
sparked an interest for him.
“Hi, my name is Laura,” she said approaching him at the social
meeting place known as The Wall which is just outside of the cafeteria.
“What’s up, Terrell,” He replied sitting on the stone built structure,
half drunk from a club filled night. “What you want?”
“Nothing, I just wanted to talk to you for a minute,” she replied a
little disappointed from his reaction to her.
23
“Oh ok,” He said.
Once he said that, he processed to get up from his stance on the wall and
walk away. Not knowing what to think of what just happened, Laura
consulted her friend on what to do next. Her friend encouraged her to
keep trying to talk to him preferably when he is sober.
Laura continued to follow the advice of her friend and kept trying
to talk to Terrell. They eventually got to know to another on a deep level.
What started out as a friendship soon became an exclusive relationship
in December of that fall semester.
I met Laura personal in the spring of 2010. March was the month
of spring and spring break was the trip of a lifetime. It was the first trip
without my parents or any supervision and I would be spending it with
people I have only known for a semester and others for only a few weeks.
This week was the time I would get to know Laura a little more. I was
always on edge about meeting new people but it’s a part of life. I might
as well get used to it.
Unfortunately, Laura and I were not able to spend a lot of time
together mainly because we were both in relationships that took up most
of our time, but after we returned back to our normal routine of classes
and class work, we were able to spend more time together and get to
24
know each other. However, that was also the time when her relationship
with Terrell was on the rocks.
“What’s wrong?” I asked her on the way to the mall to chill and
shop.
“It’s just Terrell again. He gets on my nerves sometimes. He got so
mad at because I was talking to one of my exes on facebook the other
day.” As she told me about the argument they had had, the look on her
face was frustration and very annoyed.
“What did you say to him about it?” I asked.
“I said that it’s not a big deal and he should calm down because
there is nothing to be worried about.” She said with frustration.
That was just the beginning of a series of never ending arguments
that became stupider by the minute. She would constantly come to me
seeking for advice about what to do about all the arguments and fighting
that was going on. I tried to give her the best advice I could. Contrary to
my advice, she did the exact opposite of what a advised her to do. I told
her they should have a serious talk about the arguing and bickering, but
when they get into an argument they start slamming doors and yelling
at one another. It seemed useless to give advice to a person who does
want to use it.
25
After a year and a half in to their relationship, things
continuously got worse. She sends me a text message one day saying: I
need someone to talk to about thing that happened. My initial thought
was: what happened this time? She comes to my dorm room and she
started to tell me what happened with her and Terrell.
Laura said, “I was lying in bed while Terrell was in the shower and
his phone starts to ring. I picked it up to see who was calling. There was
no name, just the number showed across the screen. I wanted to answer
it but I didn’t want him to be mad at me for answering his phone again.
So anyway I decided to go through his phone to try to figure out who
called. I looked through his text messages and there was a girl by the
name of Torie who was texting him calling him ‘baby’ and he called her
baby back. I don’t know what to do about this? I don’t want to confront
him because he will be mad that I went through his phone.”
“The best thing to do is confront him about that,” I told her. “Ya’ll
have been dating for over a year now, he shouldn’t have a problem with
you going through his phone. If there is a problem then he is hiding
something from you. Do you trust him?”
“I did until now,” she said with sadness in her voice.
26
“Well, it’s time for you to talk to him about this female he has been
texting. The only way the know what‘s going on is to ask him. Maybe
you could ask her as well,” I said.
“I don’t want him to be mad at me for going through his phone,”
she said.
“If he gets mad then there is something going on between those two.
Has done anything like this before?” I asked.
She said, “No, but for some reason he doesn’t save numbers to his
phone. He says that for some reason his phone don’t always serve his
numbers, but it has saved mine and his families’ numbers. I think that is
a little strange but I trust not to bother him about it.”
“See that’s a problem you have been ignoring. Don’t let him get
away with things like that. He sees you as a weak girl that he can
control and take advantage of and you let him walk all over you,” I
began to tell her. “Start voicing your concerns and telling him the things
you don’t like. Be upfront with him and get in his face if you need to.
Don’t be afraid of what you think he might do ‘cause if he harm you in
any way, you call me and I will call my boyfriend to handle that. Or if it
comes down to it, call the police. But don’t be so afraid of him that you
feel like you can’t even voice your opinion about something. Plus if
27
Terrell was the man that God created for you, you wouldn’t be going
through all these things.”
Out of all the advice I have given to her, she actually followed that
one. She stood up to him and told him how she felt about what was going
on between them and the things she was not comfortable with. By the
end of the confrontation, she had decided to break up with him. Once she
did that, she has been happier now that ever.
“Thank you, Tobs for guiding me through that horrible
relationship,” she said with a hug grin on her face.
It was no problem. I’m glad I helped you find your inner strength
you needed to end that relationship,” I said. “Now you have to wait for
the man that God made specifically for you.”
28
The Unexpected
Shawna is to typical black woman. She’s not one of those statistical
women though; the woman with the four children by the age of twenty-
five. No, that’s not her. Typical means she has a normal family
background with the loving parents, annoying but caring siblings, and a
college education. She grew up with a strict value on education. Because
her parents did not do their best in school and did not get in an
opportunity to go to college, they made sure their children didn’t follow
in the same footsteps. Being the youngest and the only girl out of three
kids, she had to follow behind the achievement of her brothers. Terrance,
the middle child, has a Bachelors of Science in psychology and Vic, short
for Victor and the oldest, is finishing up graduate school with a master
in biology. She graduated with a legal studies degree. Shawna is a
paralegal at a law firm after interning there for awhile; the firm
wanted to hire her full time after she graduated. They have all made
their parents proud as far as education; however, their dating lives are
not as bright as their career lives.
Although none of them are married, Vic and Terrance are in
relationships sort of. Terrance has been dating Crystal, a waitress in a
coffee shop, for two years, but he is not quite ready for a life-long
29
commitment. Vic, on the other hand, refuses to commit to any one
woman. He is the player in the family, but most of the focus is on
Shawna. She has not had the best luck with men and relationships. She
has tried to date the college guys, the career men, and the youngsters,
but none of them worked for her. They all had something wrong with
them. The college guys were unfocused, the career men were egotistic,
and the young ones were just plain immature. She is not the type of
woman that goes looking for a man; she likes for the man to make the
first move, but now it seems like the only men that approach her are just
not her type.
“Hey there pretty lady. How are you doing?” says a six foot two
inch tall dark skinned clean cut man. He is wearing a navy blue pen
stripped suit. He has light brown eyes, a pure white smile, and a gotee
that is neatly groomed. He looks to be around the age of twenty-five.
“Hi yourself,” Shawna replied sitting at the bar enjoying her after
work apple martini at her favorite bar, Cavaliers. “What brings you
over here to me, sir?”
Smiling he said, “I can’t help but to approach a beautiful woman
sitting at the bar especially if she’s by herself. Does that mean you’re
available?”
30
“I am weighting my options. Who’s asking?” she replied.
“Antowne Gholston, and what is your name madam?” he said.
“Shawna Cole,” she replied.
Sitting in Cavaliers, Shawna and Antowne talked for hours on end.
They talked about college, work, and even their past relationships. She
felt comfortable around him. She could talk to him about anything and it
didn’t make her feel uncomfortable, until the subject of marriage came
up.
“Married! I can’t get married now. I’m still in my prime.” He
protested.
“And how old are you for you to still be in are prime?” Shawna
said with attitude.
“I’m thirty years young woman. I have my whole life ahead of me.”
he replied.
“You have got to be kidding me. I’m leaving. This conservation is
over.” Shawna grabbed her purse and coat, and stormed out of the bar.
Murmuring under her breath, what is wrong with these men these days?
Why do all of them try their best to avoid marriage? Or maybe it’s just
the guys I talk to.
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She arrived home to her apartment around seven o’ clock. Just in
time enough to watch my favorite show on Fridays, Say Yes to the Dress.
Shawna watched that show dreaming of the day she would meet Mr.
Right and picking out her wedding gown with her Mom and a few of her
closest friends. She desires so much to get married one day but because
she is just twenty-two years old and the fact that she hasn’t met the right
man yet is putting a damper on her wedding dreams. However, she
remains optimistic in one day finding that man.
The weekend is here and Shawna usually stops by her parent’s
house to catch up on the family news with her mom. When she arrives at
her parent’s house, as usual she sees her Dad trying to fix something.
“Dad, what are you up to now?” She laughed giving her dad a hug.
“Babygirl! You know ya old man gonna do something to stay alive
these days. How you been doing?” He gleamed at the sight of his little
girl coming to see him.
“I’m fine dad. I’m worried about you though. You know you can’t
fix everything around this house,” She smiled as he attempts to fix the
broken doorbell. “Dad, I beg of you please call the repair man before you
electrocute yourself again. I refuse to go to the hospital this time.”
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“Oh, hush child. Ya daddy knows what he’s doing,” Giving her a
look to go in the house and sit down.
“Okay, Daddy. I just want you to know I love you,” she said.
“And I love you too, babygirl,” he replied.
Walking into the house she notices her Mom in the kitchen fighting
to take down the wall paper that has been up ever since Shawna was a
little girl. Unfortunately, it looks as if the wall paper is winning. Shawna
walks in the kitchen and all she sees are multiple color palettes spread
across the kitchen table as if they were poker chips at a casino.
“Mom, what in the world are you doing? It seems like your
fighting a battle you can’t win at this point,” Shawna said laughing as
her mom is trying to rip the paper off the wall with her bare hands.
“Don’t just stand there, help me girl,” she said shouting in
frustration. “Grab that scraper off the counter.”
“Yes ma’am. Mom, I’m starting to give up on my future husband,”
she said trying to find comfort from her mom. “Maybe I’m meant to be
alone for the rest of my life.”
“Child, hush yo’ mouth. You are just twenty-two years old; you
have so many years ahead of you. Don’t worry yourself about marriage
now. You have plenty of time,” her mom said with the biggest smile on
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her face. “Now help me take this wall paper down before your father
come in here messing everything up.”
Her mom always has the right thing to say to make her feel better.
There is nothing like the comfort from her mother that could make a bad
day turn around for the better.
The next day after church service, Shawna went home to change
into some workout clothes to head over to the gym. Shawna’s motto was:
you can’t get a sexy husband if you don’t have a sexy body. Once she
made it to the gym, she noticed that a white man was on her favorite
treadmill. It was her favorite treadmill because it was in the perfection
place between the air conditioner and the view of the television was
excellent. She decided to walk over to him and see if he would be much
longer.
“Excuse me sir. You are on my favorite treadmill. How much
longer will you be on it?” Shawna said with a slight attitude.
“Well madam. I didn’t know anyone owed this treadmill. I always
thought that it was the property of the gym, but if you must know I will
be done with it in about twenty minutes,” said the man. “By the way
what is your name?”
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“What does that have to do with me getting on this treadmill after
you?” Shawna said.
“Nothing, but I thought I should at least ask for the name of the
most attractive woman in this gym,” said the man.
“Well first I have to say thank you for the comment, and second I
would prefer to get your name first,” she said flirtingly.
“Eric Steele, now your name please,” he said.
“Shawna Cole. I have to admit this is very unexpected. I never
would have thought a white man would be interested in me,” she said
with pure surprise.
“It’s a first time for everything.” He said.
Right then Shawna knew he was the one God made just for her.
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The Sister I Always Wanted
I have always wanted a sister. A little sister I could pick on or a big sister I could talk
to and get advice from. I even thought about having a twin sister, but I quickly changed my
mind about that idea because I would rather be the only person who looks like me. But
either way it goes, I wished for a sister. I tried to get my parents to have another baby or
possibly adopt a child, but nothing worked. But at the age of five, I soon found out that I did
have a sister. A half-sister that is, but nonetheless a sister.
Her name is Shannan. She is from Kansas City, Missouri; she is ten years older
than I am and she is married with three children. Because of our age difference and the fact
she lives in Missouri, we have never had a chance to become close sisters. She rarely calls
and all she does is send us pictures every five years. This is not the sister I wanted, but I
always wished we would eventually become closer.
Soon my wish came true. We finally met after I turned the age of twenty. She
decided it was time for us to meet her family after years of knowing one another but not
seeing one another. We met the summer before my senior year of college. We had so much
to catch up on; we didn’t know where to start. She asked, “When is your birthday?” I said
“June 26th. When is yours?” She replied, “January 22nd.” We talked for hours about the
general things, trying to get to know each other. I got a chance to talk to my two nieces and
nephew and her husband.
We spent the majority of her time during her visit together. We went out to eat,
shopping, and to the movies. Every minute we had together made up for the years we
missed in one another’s lives. She and her family stayed for two weeks at my parents’ house
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and the plan after their visit was for me to travel back home with her for two weeks. There,
we could continue our sisterly reunion.
The last few days, before I left to go home with her, we all decided to have family
days. We went to Birmingham to the Civil Rights Museum and to the Botanical Gardens.
We walked through downtown and stopped at different clothing shops. In one store, we
played dress up. We acted as if we were in a movie where the teenage stars tried on outfits.
We acted like complete goofballs. I tried on one party dress that was red and black.
Shannan’s first reaction was “Wow! That dress is entirely too tight. Try on something
else. I can see your heart beating through it.”
Laughing at her response, I said “I knew you would say that; that’s why I tried it on.”
We both laughed and continued to try on clothes.
We finally decided to buy a few items out that store, which made the sales associates
happy that we were getting out of their hair. We then caught up with rest of the family in an
Italian restaurant. We enjoyed our family days before I left to go to Kansas City with my
sister and her family.
The very last day, we had a family cookout where Dad grilled ribs, chicken, hot dogs,
and hamburgers. While Dad grilled, the rest of us swam in the backyard pool and played
volleyball with the net I set up earlier that day. Because I am competitive person, I
processed to talk trash throughout the whole game.
“You couldn’t beat me if you tried” I challenged Shannan.
“Watch me slaughter you with my eyes closed” Shannan threatened.
We played three games in a row and she beat me two out of three games.
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“That was nothing but pure luck madam, plus I let you win those last two games. I
felt bad when I beat you on the first games” I said.
She burst into laughter, “What? You only beat me by one point the first game. You
talk a lot of trash for someone who lost two games of pool volleyball.”
Smiling, I said, “That’s what I do best.”
That night after eating the incredibly delicious feast of various grilled foods, we all
felt we should finish the night with a series of movies. From Transformers to The Princess
and the Frog, we didn’t head to bed until three in the morning. We all went to bed
preparing for the byes that were awaited for us at the airport. Later than morning, we arose
at ten o’ clock to head towards the airport at one o’ clock. Kansas City, Missouri awaited my
arrival to take that town by storm. After saying our goodbyes and see you later, Shannan,
her family, and I went to the terminals after getting through the long tedious line of security.
As we waited for the plane to arrive, I took the kids around airport to see other planes take
off and land.
When the plane arrived, everyone one began to board. The time was finally here for
me to go to my sister’s hometown. When we arrived in Kansas City, we took our luggage to
her house then Shannan and I went walking around the city. She showed me all the places
she went as a child and the neighborhood she grew up in. Soon after, we went to eat at her
favorite restaurant. We had our first imitate conversation talking about love, relationships,
and other things. We laughed and even did a little crying, but the whole time I was sitting
there talking to her, I was constantly thinking she is the sister I always wanted.
The next couple of days she introduced me to her mother and a few of her cousins
and aunts. They all treated me like I was already part of the family. They fixed dinner for me
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that night. All of my favorite foods and then some, and afterwards we sat around and
socialized. Her family was very warm and opened to me and when we were getting ready to
leave her mother’s house to go back to her’s, her mother told me “You are always welcome
here anytime.” That truly made me feel as if I had two moms: one in Alabama and the other
in Missouri. Kansas City quickly became my home away from home, but soon things would
turn for the worst.
After being there for a week, Shannan began to act a little weird about me being
there. She started to ignore me when I would ask her to do something with me. She started
making excuses to why she didn’t want to go somewhere with me. She wasn’t the same
person I met three weeks earlier. She changed so suddenly and unexpectedly that it began to
strain our relationship. I wanted to confront her about the way she had been treating me the
past few days, but I didn’t know how. I talked to her husband to see what was going on, but
he didn’t know either.
He said, “She has been stressed about work and other things, but she won’t tell me
what’s going on either. I believe she is having a PMS moment; she will be fine soon.”
Right after he finished what he said that is when Shannan walked into the living room. She
looked frustrated and tired. She stared at me like I did something wrong.
I asked, “Is everything ok? You have been acting strange the past few days. Do you
want to talk about it?”
She replied shouting, “You wouldn’t understand anything I’m going through. You
just wouldn’t understand.”
“I might if you would let me hear what you’re going through. You haven’t even
given me a chance,” I yelled.
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At that point, the argument began. She continued to say that I wouldn’t understand. I
didn’t know what to do. I was completely bewildered to what was happening. The time we
have spent together seemed as if it were all thrown in the trash. The argument continued for
two hours and it led to me wanting to leave and go back home. Her husband tried to get us
to reconcile, but she refused. Then she walked out of the living, went upstairs, and slammed
to door to her bedroom.
Her husband stayed in the living with me as I cried; still in shock about what just
happened, I told him I wanted to go home first thing in the morning.
He asked, “Are you sure you want to leave?”
Sobbing I said, “I think it would be best for the both of us. She seems like she needs
time to heal and get through all the stress she is having.”
“Okay. I will call the airport in the morning.” He replied.
I began packing my things for the trip back home.
The next morning, I tried to say goodbye to Shannan, but she never came out of her
room nor did she respond to my goodbyes. Sadly, her husband and kids drove me to the
airport. We said our goodbyes and I headed back home. My parents met me at the airport at
home and asked me what happened, but all I could say was I don’t know.
I continued living my life as if I never knew I had a sister. We never called, text
messaged, or emailed one another to solve the problem of what happened during my time
there. It frustrated me to point I cried whenever I thought about it. I tried my best to forget
about her but it seemed impossible especially since at one point I felt she was the best sister
ever. However, I soon find someone who would make me forget about it all.
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Marcus is his name. He came into my life at the exact moment I needed someone to
comfort me. We met at the mall. He said he saw me shopping in DSW racking up on some
platform pumps. From that moment on he knew I was the one he had been waiting for his
whole life.
Our first date was at the Waffle House. Not to get confused, I am not a cheat date, I
just love waffles. That night, we sat and talked for hours even after we got through eating.
“So what do you like to do in your free time?” he asked.
“I love to sing, dance, and hang out with my friends as much as possible, but we have
been talking about me the entire night. What about you? What do you like to do?” I replied.
He said the corniest but sweetest line I have ever heard from a guy, “I love to sit and
talk to a beautiful woman like you.”
From then on he had me hooked on him. He was everything I wanted in a man and then
some.
I has been a almost two years since I met Marcus, and he decided for our second year
anniversary he would take me back to the place where we had our first date: the Waffle
House.
We ordered exactly the same thing we ordered on our first date. He got the Grand Slam
breakfast meal and I ordered my waffles and a side of turkey sausage. As I drank my glass of
milk with my meal, I heard a clinking sound at the bottom of my glass. My initial thought
was that something was terribly wrong with this milk.
“Excuse me ma’am,” I said to the waitress, “Something is wrong with this glass of
milk.”
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“No ma’am nothing is wrong. Just continue to drink it. There is something in there
just for you,” the waitress said walking away.
Right then I knew what it was. I gulped the milk down as fast as I could to get to the one
thing I have dreamed of since I was twelve: an engagement ring. I was so happy I didn’t
know what to say. Tears began to roll down my eyes as Marcus wiped off the ring and slid it
on my finger. The people in Waffle House cheered and clapped for the newly engaged
couple.
Six months had passed since the engagement and I was preparing for my wedding
day. The arrangements were set and the people had arrived for the ceremony. As I finished
my last touches on my makeup, my parents walked into the room. With tears running down
their cheeks, they were smiling ear to ear.
My Dad said, “I have never seen you look so beautiful.”
“Thank you, Daddy” I smiled.
“I have one last surprise for you” he said.
“What is it? You already gave me my dream wedding; what more can you give?” I
replied.
Then in walks my sister, Shannan. Crying she said, “I hope you can forgive me for
my foolishness. I have missed you so much.”
As tears formed in my eyes, I said, “All is forgotten.”
She embraced me with a hug and said, “Let’s get you married.”
At that moment, I knew that not only was I starting a new life as a married woman, but I
was starting a new life with the sister I always wanted.
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The summer of 2012 the opportunity came to me to
receive the experience of writing outside of the
classroom. I was fortunate to find an internship
working for an up and coming magazine in Atlanta,
Georgia. The magazine is an online publication
named Atlanta Tastemaker Magazine. It is a
bimonthly publication that focuses on the lives of
local celebrities, entertainment, music, and food all
in Atlanta. I was grateful for the opportunity and I
enjoyed learning a different way of writing.
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Flying isn’t Frightening
A huge majority of the population has
aerophobia, better known as the fear of
flying. Just the thought of flying will make
them faint, vomit or have a panic attack.
Yes, there have been reports of planes
crashing, but flying is still the safest way of
travel. Why, you ask?
Over the years, plane safety has increased
tremendously. Because of the constant quality control checks and
advanced technology, planes are always under strict inspection to
ensure the safety of all who ride them. Also, flying has the lowest
rate of fatalities compared to other means of travel, including
driving. According to MSNBC, the odds of dying in a plane crash
are 1 in 11 million compared to the odds of dying in a car crash,
which is 1 in 5000.
Despite the rare occurrence of crashes, flying is the safest way to
travel. So don’t be afraid to fly- it's completely safe. Guaranteed!
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Be Optimistic, You’ll
Live Longer
Did you realize that just thinking the glass
is half full can lead to healthy living?
Having a healthy outlook on life causes
you to de-stress and reduces your risk of
heart attack and stroke. People who think
optimistically are less likely to experience
cardiovascular problems than those who
are pessimistic.
Also, positive people tend to create good habits and are willing to
exercise more often. Good habits can lead to better eating and
sleeping habits and an overall better life. So, start to surround
yourself with happy thoughts and positive people—you will live
longer.
Credit: youbeauty.com
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Education is Timeless
Being a college student, I see people from
all backgrounds, ethnicities, and of all ages
in my classes. Although I started college
fresh out of high school, not all people are
able to do so. No matter what age you are,
it’s never too late to go back to school and
get the degree you have always wanted. As
an adult going back to the classroom, there
are some things you need to look for and think about before
jumping head first into a university.
Evaluate your interests and make sure the program you are enrolling
in will grant you the job to which you been aspiring. Next, look for
the right college for you. Be sure the program you want is accredited
and also check to see if you’re eligible for federal aid or loans. Learn
about the costs and aid available for incoming students. You may be
able to apply for scholarships and grants, which don’t require you to
do repayments. Apply for loans using FAFSA (Free Application for
Federal Student Aid). This will determine what loans, grants and
scholarships you’re eligible for.
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It’s important to never give up on your dreams and to always reach
for the stars. You deserve the job you want and a better life for you
and your family.
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Healthy Hair Defined
What is healthy hair? Or what makes
for healthy hair? Is it the length or the
shine? May be it’s the texture? Either
way it goes, we all want healthy hair; so
how can you achieve the healthiest hair
possible? This is how:
Handle with care-
combing your while wet
can cause breakage. Saturate your hair with
conditioner and then start de-tangling. It will help slide
out the knots more easily.
Cool it- heating tools can make for gorgeous hair
styles, but they can also burn and sear hair. If using
heating tools, be sure to use heat protectants. Once a
week, clean tools with alcohol to remove residue.
Hit the salon- get a trim about every 10 weeks. Do the
same for color treatments including highlights and for
those root touch-ups. Use dye that contains less
ammonia to avoid that wiry look.
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Seal the deal- shampoos strip your hair from its
essential oils, so always use conditioner after
shampooing your hair to seal in the moisture.
Comb it through- before hopping into the shower,
gently comb through your hair to dissolve the product
buildup and dirt. The gunk will rinse away more easily
and will leave room for the conditioner to penetrate
the hair. Remember to always ring out the excess water
before using your conditioner. It will allow it to
moisturize your hair.
Go deeper- at least twice a week, give your hair a great
oil or amino acid treatment. Massage it into the scalp,
comb it through, and microwave a damp towel for a
few seconds, wrap it around your hair then let it sit for
20 minutes. The towel will increase the absorption of
the treatment which will result in moisturized hair.
These tips will give you some gorgeous and silky hair. Now that’s
healthy.
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Eating Healthy makes
for Healthy Hair
Oil, shampoo, conditioner, and gel
aren’t the only things that can help give
you healthy hair. Have you heard of
biotin pills or fish oil tablets? Those
supplements have also been said to
make hair grow healthier. But don't
forget about the main thing we consume
every day: food. Eating healthy foods will make for healthy hair, but
not just any food. Here are the super foods you'll need to grow the
healthiest and most beautiful hair of your life.
1. Salmon- Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that are
needed for a healthy scalp, this food is a must for
those with dry scalp and dull hair.
2. Dark Green Vegetables- Made of vitamins A and C,
dark green veggies can help your hair follicles secrete
the essential oils they need to act as the hair's natural
conditioner.
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3. Beans- Yes, beans are actually good for your hair.
How? Beans are packed with protein. Hair is made of
protein. Makes sense now, right?
4. Nuts- Want thick, shiny hair? Eat a hand full of nuts.
They contain vitamins and minerals essential for the
health of the scalp.
5. Poultry- Lean proteins such as chicken and turkey
have Vitamin B6 that will maintain the health of your
hair.
6. Eggs- Full of protein, eggs are the best food for healthy
hair. Also with biotin and Vitamin B-12, it doesn’t
matter if you cook them over easy, scrambled, or
fried; just eat them. It’s for your hair.
7. Whole Grains- Grab a bowl of whole grain cereal, or
have a couple of slices of whole wheat toast for
breakfast. It’s full of zinc, iron, and B vitamins for
beautiful hair.
8. Oysters- They are not just an aphrodisiac, they can
give your hair some love too. Because zinc is a
powerful antioxidant, it will give your hair the TLC it
needs.
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9. Low-Fat Dairy Products- skim milk, yogurt, and
cottage cheese are great sources of calcium, which is
an important mineral when it comes to hair growth. So
grab some cottage cheese or a bottle of milk for a
snack later in the day. Your hair will thank you.
10. Carrots- Not only are they good for your eyes, but
they will help with the health of your scalp. Go ahead
and get that bag of baby carrots in the produce section.
For extra flavor, get a bottle of ranch dressing. Yum!
With these foods at your dinner table, you are soon to have the hair
of your dreams. Long, silky, shiny hair is in your future.
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They Put that on
Their FACE?!
Unbelievable Beauty
Rituals
If you thought putting cucumbers or tea
bags over your eyes was weird; you
don’t know the half of it. We all have
creative ways to clean our skin or do our hair, but some of what
people do in other places around the globe is unheard of and a tad
bit crazy. These rituals are out of this world.
1. Bird Poop Facials (Japan)- they aren't scraping poop
off car window shields, it is a fine powder that is used
by geishas and kubaki to remove heavy makeup.
Although it is rich with amino acid, this facial will cost
you. $180 to be exact for only 50 minutes. Pricey.
2. Ant Body Wash (Japan)- ants are have high levels of
formic acid, which gives you energy. That's why some
cultures consider ants a delicacy, but the body wash is
used to remove dead skin and oil residue. 75 grams
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goes for $15. So not only can you get a rid of that oily
skin but it will boost your energy.
3. Bull Sperm Conditioner (London)- rich in protein and
and adds moisture to your hair, this taboo hair care
product runs $85. I guess it really does work for that
price.
4. Pig Placenta Beauty Drink (Japan)- remember
watching that movie on childbirth back in 7th grade
and learning about the placenta that passes nutrients
from mother to baby? Well, they decided to kick it up
a notch and drink it. People are willing to do anything
to turn back the hands of time.
5. Buttery V-Jay (Ethiopia)- we all love the idea of getting
a full body massage with oils and lotions, but butter
might make you feel like your getting ready to be
cooked. These women don't mind it though; they even
stick the butter in their v-jay and sit on a streaming
toilet seat in the hopes of tightening their birth canal. I
wonder if it really works.
6. Portuguese Urine Gargle (Rome)- Forget the
whitening strips and toothpaste, do what the Romans
do and use urine to brighten your pearly whites. And it
kills the germs that cause bad breath. Toss the Scope
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and Listerine and get some Portuguese urine. That's
all they had in Julius Caesar's days.
7. Snail Cream (Chile)- most of us know snails as the
French dish, but it also is used as a serum that
improves cell function, counteracts sun damage,
prevent premature aging and wrinkles, and accelerates
the renewal of damaged tissues. The mucus they
produce is full of an antioxidant that protects them
from the elements, so it could work for humans.
8. Whale Excretions (New Zealand)- ambergris,
originated in the intestines of the sperm whale, it is
used in medicines, spices, and even as a stabilizer in
some fine perfumes.
9. Placenta Face Cream (Malaysia)- the placenta is also in
used in multiple products such as facial masks, eye
gels, and hair serums. So now you don't have worrying
drinking anymore. The face cream starts at $90 and
goes up. Well, it might cheaper to bite the bullet and
drink it instead.
10. Skin Pokers (California)- the spiky roller
penetrates deep enough to break down and diminish
scars and blemishes as well as encourage the natural
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healing process. The kit is $180 but you also call the
local spas to see if they practice this method.
Although these are outrageous beauty rituals, apparently it works for
them. Even so, I don’t think I would try any of it.
Source: sheknows.com