Random Stuff about Miss Read

If you are reading this blog, I am so happy you blessed me with your time and presence. I am not sure what drew you here, but I do feel that you should know a little about me. So here is some random info to give you a better sense of who I am, or not. So what should I share....hmmmm. Here is what I'd like you to know at this point. I mean, really, it is a little early in this relationship to be telling you all of my business. :)

I am a work in progress in almost every area of my life. I struggle most trying to be a child of God, a good wife, and a good mother.

I am the ultimate procrastinator. My best work comes under pressure. This blog, for example, has been in my head for almost a year.

I have a 95 year old grandmother who is in pretty good shape. My prayer is to age as gracefully, with my faculties in tact, as she has.

I married a man with whom I'd been platonic friends with for over 10 years. Despite the friendship, our marriage is still work and sometimes communication is difficult.

Where good food and good friends are gathered and conversation is flowing, I am extremely happy.

Love: seafood, ice cream, beaches, good books, random acts of kindness, appropriate greeting cards.

Hate: selfishness, lying, whining, violence, thoughtless/rude people, ungratefulness.

Born in Detroit, raised in Cleveland, OH; resided in Pittsburgh, PA; Baltimore, MD; Jacobus, PA; Albany GA, and Bristow, VA.

Raised by a single mom who made parenting seem effortless, with the help of very loving grandparents who kept me grounded and taught me to always try to do the right thing and be the best at whatever I was doing.

I want to own a Hallmark and Baskin-Robbins franchise. I love my ice cream and greeting card stores make me feel good.

I think that Supreme Court Justices should serve no more than 12 years and should not be over age 55 when they take office.

I know that Barack needs a Sista-girl panel to advise him on how to resolve some issues. Actually, all the Presidents of the US need a street level advisory board to keep them grounded and in touch with reality. I know just the people who could take America to a whole nother level.

I am keenly aware that being an adult is over-rated. I wish this new generation would quit rushing life and enjoy being young. Bills, stress, sex, and everything else will still be there.  Yep, your parents may seem old and their ideas antiquated but they have been there, done that, and have life experiences that would blow your mind. Teens/Kids, you are definetely NOT SMARTER than your parents.

I thinks that life without God, love, books, music, and beaches would be incomplete.

I am an eternal optimist(alway hoping and praying), who always sees the glass half full. Trials are there to mature and strengthen us.

I love life and I enjoy people.

I have a plethora of very diverse friends who inspire and challenge me to be better, do better, and want better for myself and others.

I can read a situation and I know that trying to please other people will cause you to compromise yourself. Being true to yourself doesn't mean you don't love, care, or empathize with someone else. If you are not whole, you can't help someone else.

I would love to start a foundation that addresses illiteracy, mentoring African-American teens, and poverty. Community service is important. Our children need to be taught to give back.

My life verses: Galatians 2:20; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Psalm 27; Psalm 46:10; I Timothy 1:7; Philippians 4:6-8; Proverbs 19:21; James 1:12; I Corinthians 13. I meditate on them daily. If you need a life-line, check out any of these verses and I am sure they will bless your heart.

Well, I think, that is enough for now. After all, I want you to keep reading. While I have put myself out there, a girl must have some secrets. You can't bare it all on your first few dates, You might scare some folks away. LOL! I am who I am as Popeye would say. Love me or hate me, you probably won't forget me. Till next time....Ciao!

Copyright: August 29, 2009 by Pamela Cole Thorpe

A Lion's Final Roar

We've seen a lot of loss this year. They say the great ones die too soon. On Tuesday night, Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy lost a 15 month battle to brain cancer. He was 77 years old. He was a devout Catholic who supported abortion. He championed Civil Rights and was an advocate for eradicating poverty.  Younger brother of John F. Kennedy, he held his Senate seat in Massachusetts since 1962.

His legacy leaves mixed emotions among Americans. He had personal controversies, yet he and his staff enacted over 300 bills into law.  At the end of all our lives, it can probably be said of most of us,  that we achieved much but we had flawed character as well as trials and triumphs. Despite his immense success, Kennedy's life was full of contradictions and personal tragedies. Kennedy's "Celebratin of Life" service will be held in Boston, tomorrow, with a eulogy from our illustrious Pres. Barack Obama. He will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery in close proximity to both Robert and John who preceeded him in death. Always a twinkle in his eye, the "Lion of the Senate" will roar no more, but his legacy will be remembered for years to come.

Copyright: August 28, 2009 by Pamela Cole Thorpe

Is your Passion Alive and Well or is it a Dream Deferred?

Let's face it, we all had lofty dreams and desires when we were younger. We thought the things we could do and imagine were limitless. As we get older, we realize that circumstances, both in and out of our control, place limits on the achievement of those dreams and desires. Fear, parenthood, economics all play a role. No matter what holds you back, there is still a fire burning somewhere in your soul. What do you do with that energy? How do satisfy the passion that you once had? Honestly, I don't have a real recipe to offer but what I know is this...When you have a dream, a gift, or a talent that you are stifling, at some point it will rear its little head. God has given each of us a purpose (ref: Jer. 29:11) and no matter how hard we might resist, we cannot avoid it. Opportunities will come knocking and we eventually will have to pay the piper and answer. It is NEVER too late.

Most people are not thriving at work because they are not doing what they love. Are you really fulfilled at the end of the day? Have you made an impact on someone or something? Are you chomping at the bit to fulfill your duties? If the answer is a resounding "NO!" then your passion is not being fueled. Today, I challenge you to take the first tiny step toward whatever, yes, whatever, it is you have put on hold. Do not allow yourself to think that you are too old, young, weak, scared, or poor to step out there. It is never too late and there is no time like the present. If you simply take one tiny step each day or week, eventually you will get to where you are supposed to be. Guess what? It will feel so natural, you will kick yourself for waiting so long to do it.

I know this because I am guilty.  I have stifled my own gifts and talents to appease other people, because I felt ill-equipped, and because I was afraid of what other people might think. This blog has been in my mind for a really long time. My need to express myself in a public forum has long been there. I know I was destined to do many things. Writing is one of them. Wait til I finally write the book that God is still birthing in me(that is another blog for another day). This is just one of my many tiny steps. I am empowering you to take yours. So what is it going to be? How are you going to proceed? What is your passion? What are you letting stand in the way? Move yourself or whatever it is out of the equation and get busy living it! Don't let your passion die. Share it! You will bless yourself and so many others. Life is short, it is meant to be lived to the fullest, with no regrets.

"Copyright Aug. 27, 2009  by Pamela Cole Thorpe"

Watch Out World, I am Blogging Now!!!

Welcome to my first blogging post. I am blogging because I always have an opinion as well as quite a bit to say. I love interacting with other people and enjoy a healthy debate. I am putting out the disclaimer that these are my opinions and sometimes they will not be politically correct because I am who I am. I am the sum total of MY OWN life experiences and those things shape my opinions and outlook on life. Love me or hate me, I will always try to stay true to who I am and what I believe. I will try to keep it clean but will always be real. I will play devil's advocate too. I am a work in progress. Being an African American, Christian, mother and wife has its challenges and I struggle with every one of my roles on a daily basis. For the record, these aren't even all the roles I play on a daily basis. I write to encourage, challenge, and explore. My hope is that I will bless someone along the way and in turn be blessed in the process. Welcome to my blog, I look forward to having a great blogging experience with everyone of you!

Copyright: August 26, 2009 by Pamela Cole Thorpe