Monthly Archives: April 2009

Derby 2009

Posted on by
Reply

Derby 2009

May09-1I was born in Louisville.  I grew up in Louisville.  I graduated high school in Louisville.  I just assumed that what I experienced here was experienced all around the world.  That is, until I went to college in North Carolina.  See, I had assumed that Derby Friday was a national holiday.  I never, never, never went to school on Derby Friday (Oaks Day) and just assumed that day had the same value nationwide as Labor Day or MLK Day.
I remember being at UNC my freshman year and learning that I’d be having a final on the 1st Friday of May.  It was shocking to me that people did any type of work on that day, and more harmful that I wouldn’t be making it home in time to start celebrating Derby.  I remember asking my other friends on campus if they were excited about the Derby.  Most looked at me as if I were speaking in another language.  They either didn’t know what the Derby was or said they could have cared less about a stupid 2 minute horse race.
But I know better!  The Derby in Louisville is much more than the best two minutes in sports history.  It’s a fabulous two week celebration bringing people from all over the world to celebrate friendships, fireworks, great entertainment and tremendous food.  You never know what famous person you may meet or which long lost friend will cross your path.  There are events catered for every demographic.  You can start your day with a fundraising brunch, spend an afternoon at Churchill Downs, swing by someone’s BBQ, head early evening to the Chow Wagon or a concert at Waterfront Park and then dance the night away at a party.
This is Derby, y’all!

M.Y. May 2009

Back Then

Posted on by
Reply

“Back Then”

Apr09-4I was a teacher for over seven years and mostly taught first grade.  My first year of teaching was in 1998.  That group of first graders is now juniors in high school.  It’s amazing to see their changes over the past 11 years.  Braea Tilford was, and still is, one of my most favorite students.  She was smart, friendly and was eager to learn during my first years of teaching.

I recently ran in Braea at the HBCU Conference.  No longer little, we looked at each other eye to eye.  Most people looking at the two of us together would have never believed that I taught her so long ago.  Seeing her made me think about high school then and now – and my how things have changed.

I graduated high school in 1994. Back then, when you wanted to give somebody some information, you wrote on a piece of paper and tried to sneak the other person a note either in class or the hallway.  Sometimes it said something as simple as “do you like me? __yes  __no”  You’d try to fold the piece of paper as small as possible and would sometimes decorate the outside.  Now, these kids send text messages and use instant messenger.  You can send a note to one person, or 100 people with just the click of a button.

Back in the day, you found out all the juicy information about a person by receiving your yearbook at the end of the year.  You laughed at the pictures you’d forgotten had been taken and loved reading the messages your friends would leave you.  (if creative enough, you’d put hearts around your crushes and blacken the eyes of your enemies) Now, everybody has a Myspace, Facebook and a Twitter page.  You can know what somebody is doing every five minutes if they decided to tell you.  There’s no long anticipation, all you have to do is click the refresh button on your computer.

Back then, when you knew you weren’t supposed to be talking to a boy, you would drag the phone (attached to the phone cord) to the nearest closet and whisper as quietly as possible.  You’d sometimes have a code word for the person so nobody else around would be in your business.  You thought you were big time when you called someone on three-way without the other person knowing.  Now, everybody has a cell phone so you canhave a phone conversation any and everywhere your heart desires.  Instead of whispering, most people talk as loud as possible and everyone around can tell you what is being said.

Back in the day, you’d pull out that camera to take pics of all your friends.  Once you had transportation, you’d go to a Walgreens to drop off the photos and come back a week later to see them.  Half of them may have not even turned out, but you took the time to place the photos in the pages of the plastic photos albums they would give you.  Now, as soon as you click a picture in your digital camera or with you camera phone, you can see it, emailed it, print it or post it on the web – instantly!

Back in the day, when you had a favorite tune, you’d sit by the radio all day waiting for it to come on.  As soon as you heard it you’d press “record” so that you could have it on your mix cassette tape.

Back then, you could go to school without worrying about being shot. Back then, Grippos and a Big Red were the ultimate snack. Back in the day, the dollar movie really only cost a dollar.

Back them we thought the smallest things meant the end of the world.  Who would have known that those were the easy days?!

M.Y. April 2009

Easter 2009

Posted on by
Reply

 Easter 2009 Apr09-2I went to visit to Houston this past weekend to visit the guy that I am dating.  When I made my reservations several weeks ago, I found out that it was Easter weekend.  My original plan to fly back Sunday morning didn’t seem as preferred because I didn’t want to miss attending church on Easter Sunday.  All of the afternoon flights were more expensive, but I felt God was worth it, and decided to stay later and attend church in TX. My mother loved Easter Sunday.  There were many years that I would be greeted on Easter morning with an Easter basket full of goodies.  It was sometimes far too much chocolate that I would ever think about eating, but I always appreciated her thought and care.  Even in 2006 at the age of 29, my mother had a beautiful smile on her face as she presented me with an Easter basket.  I never shared my mother’s Easter habits with anyone and just assumed I would pick up on the Easter basket tradition once I started poppin out some kids of my own. Well, I walk into this guy’s house on Thursday evening, and the first thing I see is his kitchen counter.  Sitting on the counter is this amazing Easter basket along with a card imprinted with my name.   I beamed at just the thought that he would take the time to make one for me.  But as I grew closer, my smile grew wider and my cheeks more red from blushing.  He had taken the time stuff my basket with the protein bars that I love to eat while training.  He even found packets of some of the supplements, Cell Mass, I drink right after working out.  And the best thing ever – was that there was a stuffed animal.  This was no ordinary stuffed bunny.  He was Carolina blue (Go Tar Heels).  But, it didn’t stop there.  This bunny was actually a stuffed monkey that had on bunny ears.  (If you know me, you know I have a fascination with monkeys – nothing kinky, though!)  I was speechless, thankful and appreciative that not only did he take the time to make the basket, but also took the time to learn about me. Sunday rolls around and I have a choice of churches to attend.  I grew up attending Episcopal churches.  Over the past couple of years I have attended Black Baptist churches.  However, I have NEVER attended a Black Episcopal church.  I located a flourishing one, St. James, in Houston.  I was speechless at the service.  You know how people are memorized at seeing a black president?  Those were my feelings while listening to the black priest, Rev. Thomas.  Then, to look around and seeing other Black Episcopalians reciting the same things I said for three decades made my Easter all the more special. When you walk into any situation, you never know what the outcome will be, or who will make a difference in your life.  I went to Houston just to kick it and hang out, but left with physical and spiritual memories that I will never forget. M.Y. April 2009

Bad Attitude or Something More

Posted on by
Reply

‘Bad Attitude or Something More?’

Apr09-3My washer recently started leaking so my friend took a photo of where the water was dripping and suggested I go to a home improvement store to try to fix it.

I then threw on some sweats, pulled my hair back in a ponytail and headed out the door.   I entered the store and was immediately greeted by two people.  One walked me back to the appliance section where I was introduced to Mike H.  When I told him the issue, he said that I would need to go to an appliance parts store.

I asked which ones he would suggest.  Mike said to look it up in the phonebook and find one close to where I lived.  Excuse me!  I stated that I live just around the corner and asked if he would write some down.  He then placed a piece of paper and pen in front of me.  Wow! I wrote one down and he said it was two city blocks south of I-264 on Newburg Rd.  I asked if that was near the School Board.  He rudely said, ‘I said two city blocks’.  I once again kindly reminded him that I live in the suburbs of Louisville and have no clue how far two city blocks are.

At this point I felt belittled and asked Mike H. if I were taking up his time and should instead find someone else that would better serve me.  An older female customer standing close asked me what my problem was and started talking to me.  She told me about her recent washer problems, made suggestions if I had to get a new one and helped me more than Mike H even attempted.

I pulled out my camera to show the other customer where the water was leaking at Mike looked at it.  He then said, ‘So, what part is that?’  Really!  My response was, ‘I am in education, if I knew what the part was then I wouldn’t have come to this section for assistance.’  I told him that my friend suggested possibly putting putty in to stop the leak.   He told me I would need to go to an automotive store to get that.

I walked out of the store hurt at my experience.  I felt some very disparaging remarks were made toward me and felt that nobody should be treated that way.  When I arrived home, I called to speak to a supervisor.  The next day, I also went into the store and talked with the store manager.  He was very disturbed with how I was treated and apologized.  We first walked all through the store to try to find Mike. After we couldn’t, I was introduced to Gary who gave me the type of service that one would expect.

You know, people talk about being discriminated against and I am not sure if this was one of those situations.  Yes, the employee (Mike H) did have a very nasty attitude – but was it racially motivated?  That I will never know.  I do know that he was just one employee and not a reflection of the entire store.  I actually went back to the same store several times that week because I did end up needing a new dryer.  Each of the other times I was treated wonderfully from the time I entered to the time I left.  Lesson learned: Don’t let people treat you less than you are worth and don’t assume that one person’s attitude is a reflection of those around them.

M.Y.  April 2009

Main Event

Posted on by
Reply

The Main Event
I so wanted it to happen!  I purchased my plane ticket.  I called my uncle in Michigan and had a place to stay.  I didn’t plan any meetings for two days.  I was ready.  Louisville and UNC were supposed to play each other in the Championship game for NCAA men’s basketball.  I won’t say who, but one of the teams let me down a little earlier than expected.

It was interesting to read people’s Facebook updates throughout the entire game.  Even people who were at the game were taking out their frustrations online.  Some of comments posted included:
“had fun in Indi until Sun…now depressed :( “, “is not really feeling this thing called “work” today…I am still a little down from the Elite 8 loss…”, “is wondering if the Cardinals left all the enthusiasm on The court Friday night” and “woke up this morning feeling like I’ve been cheated on!! Why couldn’t yesterday have been a dream? Can we have a do over? UUUUUGGGGHHH!! What a way to start spring break!!”

So while I didn’t get to experience that championship game main event, there was another one here in Louisville.  For an hour last Sunday I kicked it with three cool men.  Yes, me and three men (could be a fantasy to some ladies!) Haven Harington, Rob Bell and Carlo Kellam have their own sports radio show on 1350 WLOU AM radio entitled “The Main Event Sports Show”.  They talk about any and every sport event imaginable.  Of course we talked about UL sports and the demise of Billy G at UK.  Karlo, also known as “Mr. Marvelous” is a trash talking UK fan and he had his share of callers that called in to give him an earful.  He took it all in great stride, though, and although he was respectful, he stood a proud Cats fan (I can now say, though, that he was incorrect on Izzo being the new coach).

Then there was Haven who seemed like the ring leader of the group.  He kept the pace of the program going.  He was fortunate enough to go to Indy on Friday night and shared his behind the scene footage.  He played a clip from Rick Pitino and also led a discussion about the NFL football player in TX who was pulled over at an emergency room as his mother -in-law died in the hospital.

Rounding out the crew was Rob Bell.  He disagrees with me, but I told him he seemed like the laid back one in the crew.  He’s the stats guy that stayed on the internet to keep folks updated on games scores and recent headlines.  He also seemed like the most unbiased (as far as favorite teams go) and offered a great perspective on everything.  So, if you haven’t checked these guys out – they are on the radio (and online) every Saturday from 6-7pm.  I appreciate them letting a Tar Heel like me in the studio!

M.Y.  April 2009