Monthly Archives: December 2007

Tis the Season 2007

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“Tis the Season”

This year I learned that Christmas is much more than just December 25.  It’s a season.  My Christmas started on Friday, December 14 with our annual office party.  Each year, my 12 co-workers and myself make homemade presents for each person.  Although we cringe at the thought of making something, we are always touched by the creativity and thought put into each present.

On Friday, December 21 I went to the Home of the Innocents.  The Pediatric Convalescent Center children had a Christmas pageant.  This wasn’t your ordinary performance.  These kids are all medically fragile.  The majority were in wheelchairs and depend on skilled nurses for eating, movement and all daily activities.  Although these kids will never be fully independent, it was wonderful to see the smiles on their faces as they heard the bells jingle or became excited at the music playing in the background.  I looked around at the Home’s cafeteria workers, employee and parents and saw that they were touched.

Sunday, December 23 I went to the Christ Mass at St. Stephen Church across the bridge.  All of the choirs performed along with the liturgical dancers.  One of my joys of the holiday season has always been Christmas hymns.  I was blessed for two hours to hear the sounds of hundreds of voices singing songs of both old and new.  As I walked out the church door, I knew Christmas was right around the corner.

Monday, December 24 I went to the pageant at the church where I grew up.  At the very end of the service as we sang the closing hymn, the people in the pew in front of my scurried around.  The majority of the church members are over the age of 60 so I thought something happened to one of them.  Instead, it was a young adult, Katie, that I grew up with, that had fainted.  Our rector stopped the service as she asked if there was a doctor in the house.  The person that rushed across the sanctuary was Doug, another person I grew up with in this church.  Although it was an unfortunate incident, it was amazing to watch the former youth of the church now serving as young adults.  You never know when you’ll be called to give back.

Then Christmas Day arrived.  My morning began with volunteering at Wayside Christian  Mission to serve lunch at the men’s center.  As the men strolled in to be fed, the choir in the background started singing the following words, “Thank you Lord. I just want to thank you Lord.”  These words resonated as I went through the line to get a plate to serve for someone.  I stopped and paused as tears filled my eyes and became so thankful for all the things in my life.  As I placed the plate in front of someone while saying “Merry Christmas”, he turned to me with a smile and said “God Bless You”.

The rest of my holiday was spent with friends, food and fun.  It ended at five the next morning.  It truly was a wonderful holiday season and I don’t believe it is over. Blessings exist is all shapes and sizes.  If you think yours are low, just look around and see the small fortunes that we often take for granted.

M.Y.  December 2007

It’s About People

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“It’s About People”

Part of my job requires me to visit schools to represent teachers.  I had just finished a meeting at Shawnee High School and was in the hallway talking with one of my teachers.  As I walked off, headed toward my car, I heard a small voice say, “Ms. Yeager?”  Ms. Yeager.  I know that name.  I don’t hear that name often.  There are only certain people that call me that name and they usually aren’t more than three apples high.  See, Ms. Yeager was my teaching name.  It’s the name precious little six-year-olds anxiously yelled out when they knew the answer to a question, needed to use the bathroom or excitedly yelled out when they discovered a new word they could read.  Whose voice could this be?

I turned around to see a tall, thin, beautiful teenager.  Right away I knew who it was.  It was Devron Williams, and she was one of my favorite students from my first two years of teaching from 1998-2000.  It’s so hard to imagine that my cute little first graders are now ‘want-to-be grown’ sophomores in high school.  Although she now towered over me, she still glared at me with the same sense of admiration that existed nine years ago.  Devron was always soft spoken and very, very shy.  I remember when we did a holiday play and each child had a talking part.  Although Devron wanted to be in the play, she was too shy to say anything.  So, she became the stuffed teddy bear that just sat there on the stage.  Hey, if it worked for her, it worked for me.

We talked in the hall for several minutes and it was hard to determine who was more excited.  I was impressed that she still remembered a lot of facts about me.  I reflected on all the wonderful stories/letters she wrote for me throughout elementary school.  As I walked away, I realized truly what this holiday season is about. It’s not about snow, or presents, or additional vacation days. It’s not about sales, or college bowl games or a warm bowl of chili (although all of those things are nice).  It’s about people.  I call this my transitional Christmas.  I’ll try to continue some old traditions, while at the same time I’ll slowly develop some new.  So this holiday season, try not to get too caught up the hype and hooplah.  Just when you start feelings stressed or depressed, realize the true meaning of the holidays and surround yourself with positive people or be the positive person for someone else!

*Also, thank you for your input on last’s week fictional scenario.  Both at the LULYP social and online there was very good dialogue between the sexes!*

 

M.Y.  December 2007

Nobody Nose

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“Nobody ‘Nose’ the…..”

If you’ve ever met me in person, by now you’ve noticed that I have a pretty distinct feature on my face.  It’s my nose. It’s not your typical ‘black nose’.  The first time I met a former boyfriend’s mother, she walked off the airplane and the first thing she said was “you have one of those white people’s noses”.  Gee thanks, nice meeting you too!

Growing up, my nose was an easy target for various names.  Pinocchio was an easy one for the less creative.  Back in the old school days I was told I have a smurf nose.  Hmm, maybe I can see it.  Just like grandmother’s love to squeeze cute cheeks, people love to flick my nose (and I hate it!)  It feels like a personal violation of my space and prized possession.

While many in Hollywood and other parts of the nation feel a need to get a nose job, I wouldn’t change my nose for the world.  It’s me and makes me the person I am today.  A friend came to an event recently.  He said he was looking at this girl from across the room admiring her style.  He started walking toward her and then saw her profile and realized (by the nose) that it was me.  My nose is my nose and its uniqueness remains a constant.

Over the years I have been compared to several famous people.  Most recently (when my hair was curled) I was compared to one of the ATL housewives.  Who’s your guess?  They say Sheree.  I think if you squint one eye and quickly blink the other, then you could possibly see that resemblance, but not really.  More than once, but not really often, when my hair was wavy, I had comparisons to Stacy Dash.  To me that’s the utmost compliment because Ms. Dash is beautiful.  However, we really don’t look alike. Her nose is sloped and mine as well – that’s where the similarities stop.

There is one celebrity, though, that I hear often that I resemble.  It’s interesting because right before I started writing this column, one of her movies came one.  I first heard the comment in high school while someone was watching House Party.  Then, my freshman year in college they showed the premiere of the movie The Inkwell.  As we walked out of the theatre everyone told me I was the married lady.  Even at the gym this week, someone mentioned the movie Baby Boy and asked me if he could be my Ving Rhames (yeah, no!).  The actress’ name is Adrienne Joi (AJ) Johnson.  She’s a dark skinned sista with a pronounced nose.  I personally think she’s fabulous. After researching her, I found out she’s now a personal trainer.  Good stuff. If you’re not familiar with her, click photo for a Youtube clip.
Regardless of whom we may (or may not) favor, we need to learn to appreciate our differences.  We need to quit trying to be like someone else, and instead embrace the uniqueness we each have in ourselves.  If you think about it, the people that have made the largest differences in our world are those that sought to do something a little different.

M.Y.  December 2008

True Love vs Time

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“True love vs time- your input needed”

Girl meets boy.  Boy meets girl.  Girl likes boy.  Boy likes girl.  Boy tells girl, “Although I care a lot about you, I am not in a place where I can be in a relationship with you. I’m 34, lost my job and I’ve had to move back home with my parents. Please be patient with me.”  Girl runs and tells her best female friends what he says.  Girl’s friends say, “If he really likes you, he’d want to be with you regardless of his situation.”  Girl disagrees and feels they don’t understand.  What do you think?

Your input is needed.  Do you think someone (in this instance a man) can really meet his possible future mate, but not dedicate himself fully because he is not in a place where he is stable and/or feels he can provide all the things he’d like to in a relationship? Or, do you believe that love is love and regardless of what is going on in your life, that when you meet someone that may have potential – you give it a shot?  Or maybe you have a completely different opinion.  Let me know your thoughts.

And let me define a relationship before you email your opinion.  I’m not talking about a booty call on the first of every month or a random trip to the movies when you get bored.  I’m talking about a genuine, committed relationship.  Can you truly date someone whom you have strong feelings, yet be hesitant to fully commit in a relationship until you feel more secure about yourself?  Are relationships about timing or just about true love?  Bonus question: If a man does say he’s not ready to commit, should the female stay around?  Enlighten me people!!

M.Y.  December 2007

A Drop in Self Esteem

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“A Drop In Self Esteem”

Tis the season to be jolly.  Tis the season to be fully of joy.  Tis should be the season to be merry, gay and full of cheer.  BUT NO!!!  Not in Yeager’s neighborhood.  I made a huge mistake.  One that I’ve made before, yet I said I would never do again. I’ve written about this subject before and thought I could avoid it.  But, I did it anyway! I went shopping for a new pair of jeans!

If anyone ever, ever, ever needs something to lower their spirits – just travel to any store and look at the rack of jeans.  Uggg!  I decide to start with House of Denim.  It’s in the name, that’s all they sell.  Surely something has to fit.  I walk in and say “I hate jeans.  I love dresses.  I need a pair of jeans.  HELP”!  The lady laughs and says most people say similar things.  She asks my size.   I have no clue.  Jeans don’t come in simple sizes like a 2,4,6.  Instead they are 25, 27, 32.  Then there’s the cut of jeans.  Huh?  I want the style that fits my body perfectly!  Is that too much to ask?

She magically decides that I am a size 27 and picks out various styles of jeans.  I am sent into the dressing room with 10 different pair.  I become excited because I just know that the ‘right size jeans fairy’ has blessed me with the perfect pair.  So, we start with pair one.  The cut is cute, the color is nice.  My five toes slip through the leg hole, I slide the jeans up my thigh and – stop.  They don’t go any higher.  (straight leg jeans don’t like muscular thighs).  I try on three more pair to only have the same problem.  Why! Why! Why!

With each pair that you try on, you get more and more frustrated.  How does Beyonce rock the cute tight jeans and work it out on the stage and in her videos?  What about all the nice jeans I see out at the parties?  Why not me?  I sigh internally and hope the lady behind the counter doesn’t come and ask how I’m doing.  (the response at this time wouldn’t be pleasant).

On to the next round.  Now, these jeans fit over my thighs and on top of my butt.  However, we now have a major problem.  The back of the jeans stick WAY OUT.  It actually looks like a pitcher.  In my mind I sang, “I’m a little tea pot short and stout.  Here is my handle, here is my spout.  When I get all steamed up hear me shout.  Tip me over and pour me out”.  I didn’t know how to solve this problem so I walked out into the store and pleaded for guidance.  “Ah, yes” she said, “That’s what happens when you have such a small waist.”   She continues to tell me that she doesn’t want to go up a size since the waist would just get larger.  In other words, ‘best of luck to ya sista!’

I visited several more store only to have about the same about of luck.  I have yet to see the fun in searching for the perfect pair of jeans.  I’m not sure if they exist.  I did eventually end up getting a pair of jeans.  The thing that made them even more sexy was that they rang up cheaper than the label read (yeah baby!).  However, I’m not completely sold on them and think my heart is genuinely dedicated to dresses.

I think jeans may be like men.  There are a lot of them around.  Some look good, but aren’t good for you.  Some may be good for you, but are just too smothering.  Some may seem like a great bargain, but quickly fall apart.  Others are just plain ridiculous.  And just like men, every once in awhile you’ll find that perfect one – that you cherish and don’t want to let go!

M.Y.  December 2008

Love Me Some Luther

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“Love Me Some Luther”

My all-time favorite musical artist is Mr. Luther Vandross.  His tunes will sooth your mind and can easily get you in the mood.  My favorite song is “So Amazing”, followed by “Take You Out” and “Dance With My Father”.  I could take an 8 hour road trip and survive on just Luther songs.  Fat Luther, skinny Luther – it didn’t matter.  I love me some Lutha!

I was saddened by his death in 2005.  It made me come to the realization that I would never get to see him live in concert.  Recently there was notice of the Luther Vandross Estate sale.  Over 1000 items from his life were for sale including clothes, vases, art, furniture and his awards.  I instantly researched the information.  I love to collect things and wanted to be a groupie and the ultimate fan.  I needed a little Luther in my life.

Although the auction was in person, I could also bid through the live auction on ebay.  It was an interesting experience.  There is no time to blink when doing a live auction.  I missed out on the first item because I was too s-l-o-w.  You don’t have time to think if you want to bid, you have to know your price and go for it.  I was blessed to be able to win Luther’s 1987 NAACP Image Award for the Album “Give Me A Reason”.   A paid a nice penny for it, but it is Mr. Vandross.   He’s been there for me through crushes, new loves, struggles and breakups.  “Ooh, so amazing, and I’ve been waiting for a love like you-”

M.Y.  December 2007