Ordered Affairs

Lately I have been giving a lot of thought to having ones affairs in order. I in no way have really done what I feel is necessary in that regard and it is weighing heavily on my heart. It got me to wondering about my family and closest friends. Have you got your affairs in order if something were to happen to you? I feel guilty because I have children and I think it is a disservice not to have my wishes in writing. I know what I want to happen if something happens to me and my hubby but I haven't really shared that info with anyone. You know when you are young, you tend to think that you will live forever. As you mature, you realize that life is short and time is precious.

My brother, like my dad, is clear about his desire to be cremated. My husband has always said that he wants to be cremated and have his ashes thrown into the ocean. Honestly, those discussions used to freak me out. Now, I am okay with it. I understand more fully the desire to be cremated, especially as we move further and further away from our families. I think a lot about being buried in a city and my kids moving away but possibly worrying about visiting our gravesites. Not a great thought and not a stress that I wanna put on them.

My mom lives six hours away. She is even farther from my brother. I worry about her. We haven't really discussed her desires if something should happen. I know where her important papers and stuff are. All her friends are there but her children aren't. So you can see why there is some level of anxiety. These are difficult discussions to have yet they are very necessary. So I am challenging you, if you haven't already done it, to share your desires with your loved ones or put it in writing. Yes, I am going to follow my own advice. Don't forget that you should include things like whether you are an organ donor or what to do if you are in a vegetative state and things of that nature. Yea, I know it is quite a bit to think about. So I am done. Gotta get busy with my paln so no one is burdened trying to figure out my wishes. I know it is kind of depressing but do it! Ciao!!!

Copyright September 22, 2011 by Pamela Cole Thorpe

Guest Blog:Gerald Cole

These are Gerald's words from a FB post. Gerald is my younger brother who is never short of opinion. Yea, I guess that runs in the family. These are his words which I did not get permission to use but I am sure he won't mind. He wrote this in response to the state of Georgia's controversial decision to execute Troy Davis despite mounting evidence that could possibly have proven him innocent. Please comment. I'd love to hear your views on the subject.

AmeriKKKa has a deep-rooted history of racism and oppression of people of color in not only this nation but all over the world. It should come as no surprise that the state of Georgia would deny Troy Davis a stay of execution at this late hour. To do so would lift the veil of deceit, corruption, racism and racial prejudice that continues to exist not only in Georgia but all across this great nation we live in. I'm not appalled or shocked. AmeriKKKa has a history of killing our people unjustly through mob violence, lynchings and outright murder and now with the death penalty they do it outwardly and openly with no fear of repercussion. We've marched, wrote letters, emails, sent texts, protested and raised our voices in protests only to fall on the deaf ears of our so-called leaders and representatives in the justice system. Despite the mounting evidence that the police lied, tampered with evidence and used threats and coercison against witnesses in order to wrongly convict Troy Davis, the Supreme Court denied his just due and right to a fair trial in this country.

When I think of all the brave men and women that serve to protect the sovereignty and freedoms we have in America that are really limited at best to some of us due to the color of our skin, yet we sacrifice our lives for the freedom of those abroad to have access to a freedom and democracy we have yet to fully realize for ourselves right here at home, it sickens me. This country is the greatest country on Earth, yet it has so-many "in-house" problems it can't seem to resolve. The race issue is not dead, yet many would like to dismiss blatantly racial issues and say, "Oh, stop playing the race card." Yet, you have psychologist, and criminal profilers claiming that blacks are more likely to commit certain crimes after rehabilitation than other groups, blacks are more prone to commit violent acts than others and then use these prejudiced statements as basis for not only convictions but denials of parole, clemency and other processes that may exonerate not only the wrongly accused but those that have served their time for the crimes that they committed years ago.

Tonight we should all pray and come together for not just understanding but come together as a voice to these so-called politicians that are supposed to represent our interests. We need legislation proposed to end the Death Penalty, impose a real checks and balance of these police stations that doctor up evidence and make unlawful arrests, clean up the corruption within the highest ranks of police departments, eliminate the collusion between defense attornies and district attornies that plea bargain away the lives, hopes and dreams of innocent men and women of ALL RACES across this great nation. Somebody has to be accountable for this injustice, somebody has to be willing to stand up against it...I am. Are you? (Truly Saddened, Gerald Cole)

Copyright September 22, 2011 by Pamela Cole Thorpe

Be True To Yourself Tag

How big is your bed? King sized
What are you listening to right now? Nothing
What was the last thing you ate? Lasagna, salad, applesauce
Last person you hugged?  My son
How is the weather right now? Cool night
Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? Tracie
What is the first thing you notice in the opposite sex? Eyes and smile
Favourite type of food? Seafood and soul food
Do you want children? I have 2 and I will NOT be having anymore. 
Do you drink? Occasionally
Ever get so drunk you don’t remember the entire night? No
Hair colour? Sandy brown with many grey strands
Eye colour? Hazel
Do you wear contacts/glasses?  Both
Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving
Favorite season? Autumn
Have you ever cried over a girl/boy? Yes
Last movie you watched? The Adjustment Bureau
What books are you reading? The Sweetest Thing and Home-Court Advantage
Piercings? Ears
Favorite movie? Love and Basketball, Shawshank Redemption, Brown Sugar
Favorite college football team? Gonna go with the Pittsburgh Panthers
What were you doing before filling this out? Writing a blog
Any pets? Not any more!
Dogs or cats? Dogs
Favorite flower? Calla lillies
Have you ever loved someone? Yes
Who would you like to see right now? Mother and Grandmother
Have you ever fired a gun? Yes
Do you like to travel by plane? Yes
Right-handed or Left-handed? Right-handed.
If you could go to any place right now where would you go? Rio or Aruba
Are you missing someone? Yes
Do you have a tattoo? Nope
Do you still watch cartoons on Saturday mornings? Only if my son forces me to
Are you hiding something from someone? Always got at least one secret
What do you do before you go to bed? Reflect and pray.

Well now, you just learned a little more about wonderful me! Yea you! Good night!

God has My Back

Earlier today someone asked me what songs could summarize my life right now. One of my choices was a song by Kurt Carr called "For Every Mountain." The lyrics are as follows, "I've got so much to thank God for. So many blessings and so many open doors. A brand new mercy. Along with each new day. That's why I praise You. For this I give you praise. Chorus: For waking me up this morning.That's why I praise You. For starting me on my way. That's why I praise You. For letting me see the sunlight of a brand new day. A brand new mercy along with each new day. That's why I praise You. For this I give You praise. For every mountain You brought me over. For every trial you've seen me through For every blessing. Hallelujah for this I give you praise."  Whenever I hear it, it touches my soul.

I love music, especially gospel music. It is an integral part of my worship and praise experience. That song is always a gentle reminder that God can carry me through any and every problem. It also reminds me that just waking up and beginning a new day is in fact a blessing. The main fact though is that God has brought me through each and every trial. Some trials are mountains and others are molehills. In many of those trials, I felt alone and quite a bit of despair. Sometimes I could pray my way through but I am not afraid to have others intercede for me.

Life ain't easy and no two days are the same. No matter what, God never changes. His Word doesn't change. Nothing I experience as an individual is new to Christ. It is important that I focus my eyes on Him. People can and will fail you but He doesn't. On my worse day, it still isn't a horrible day. I never know how most of my issues/problems will work themselves out but God knows and He cares. He doesn't always work them the way I think He will but in every situation/circumstance, He reveals something about me and I learn something about Him and His character. In every case, I end up being just fine. I don't know who reads my blogs, nor do I know who has a relationship with Christ. What I do know is this, for me, a day without Christ would be extremely messed up. I have read the Bible from cover to cover on several occasions and every time, God shows me something new and different. Every experience grows me up and matures me. I have by no means arrived. I just trust that the Master's plan is the best plan for me. So please be encouraged. You too can make it through. Hopefully you have God on your side and in your life. Then you can join me in singing......till next time, Be blessed and of course be a blessing! Peace!

Copyright September 19, 2011 by Pamela Cole Thorpe

Diva Dialogue-September, 2011

So I have a few minutes so I thought I'd whip out a blog. Hey, y'all! School started yesterday. I now have a high schooler and a 5th grader. Time flies when you have children. My grandmother told me that long ago and of course she is correct.

So there are quite a few things going on. First and foremost, the GOP presidential candidates are trying to gear up for what is going to be a long dreaded race. I am so not feeling that. Obama has a fight on his hands with one of those fools folks. Here's my opinion, Obama has been soft and the public is pissed. They hate the health care plan, there are still few new jobs, and most are hoping for a different type of change.  Congress has been hard and unyielding. Frankly, I am sure they can care less what their constituents desire as long as they have yet another chance to disagree with the POTUS. I think it is time for Obama to take a hard stance on something and follow it through. I really want him to have a Southside Chicago moment but America would then label him an angry Black man and we definitely don't need that.

Normally, I don't watch the Oscars but this year, I just might. Eddie Murphy has been selected to host the event. I am kinda intrigued by that. He is an impressive comedian who I think can be edgy but not rub folks the wrong way like Piers Morgan did. We'll see! Only time can tell. I will tune it and see what I think for myself. Hopefully, this year will include some movies that people actually go to see and enjoy.

So Beyonce is preggers. Do we care? I think not. I am happy for her and Jay-Z. Let's hope the baby gets the best of both of them. When I think about it, that baby could turn out to be not very cute. Let's hope it gets the best of the talent pool too.

I am cynical about Hollywood marriages. I hope Jada and Will don't come out in a couple of weeks talking about their marriage is over ala Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. Rumor has it that Jada and Marc had an affair. My question is this, if you have an open marriage, can you really have an affair? IMHO, Marc Anthony is not attractive. He looks kinda dirty to me. Oh and for those of you who don't know, Hawthorne was cancelled.

Kate Gosselin is job hunting. Any takers? TLC finally cancelled her lame show and no she has to find a legit gig to take care of her eight children. Ex-spouse, Jon, is probably very happy since being on television was detrimental to his kid's normalcy. As if they could be normal with such crazy parents.

Shaunie O'Neal should be ashamed of herself. I don't watch either of her shows but let's face it, they are crap. None of the so called Basketball Wives are in fact, wives. Oh I forgot, you can be a former wife, a groupie, or a baby mama and qualify. Makes me wanna holler! I know I expected Shaunie to produce a more classy show and held her to a standard that she obviously didn't deserve. Shaunie is prostituting those women and they are desperate enough to let her. She sits back and chills while they make complete fools of themselves. Why? because she is getting paid, that's why. Diva lesson for the day: Never sell your soul for the Almighty Dollar!

Okay that is it for now. Real random, right? I know I am sorry, it just had to come out. On a more serious note, in a few days, it will be the tenth anniversary of 9/11. There are quite a few television remembrances being shown. If you weren't affected, be thankful. If you were, my heart and prayers go out to you. Let's all reflect and remember the lessons that we have learned as a result of that day. America is a strong country and we move on, but we are ultimately shaped by everything that takes place in our conveluted history. Till next time, peace and blessings!

Copyright September 7, 2011 by Pamela Cole Thorpe