It's not a game anymore, it's real life! The world has changed and it’s been a long time coming. An awakening has occurred; an amazing, loud, and unsettling awakening in the United States and in other parts of the world. The death of an unarmed Black man at the hands of a White police officer … Continue reading The Black Experience
Life as a African-American/Black man. Life as a African-American/Black woman. A life that can quickly and violently be taken away. Last night I finally broke down. My emotional shell just cracked and I started crying, something I don’t often do. I just reached a saturation point in my soul and couldn’t hold back the emotion … Continue reading See No Evil
This piece is dedicated to members of the board (past and present) for your tireless efforts, and to the volunteers , sponsors, photographers, DJs, and thousands of attendees for supporting the wonderful beneficiaries along the way. All nonprofits are not created equal. In 2000, shortly after I moved to Portland, Oregon from the Netherlands (Amsterdam), … Continue reading Seeing Red
Well, it’s been over a month since Oregon’s Governor Kate Brown enacted the “Stay at Home” aka Shelter in Place rule. Like other states, Oregon and its residents have been enduring the rapid and viciously unpredictable nature of the Coronavirus. Our Portland economy, with its trendy food carts and amazing restaurants are also casualties of … Continue reading COVID Confidential: Vol #2
All I can say is wow. This epidemic is our generation’s global Black Plague. The difference this time is that it's a global pandemic and not just a disease isolated only in Europe. The US is sadly late in the game with a plan to combat this intrusive and deadly invader. Some people are treating … Continue reading COVID Confidential: Vol#1
Politics are not a favorite part of my regular diet. I don't crave the civic satisfaction some of my more enlightened friends and colleagues do. I actually never really have. When I do try and digest the platter of ballot measures, bond amendments, and candidate profiles, I feel nauseous and unsatisfied. Photo credit: Sommer Martin … Continue reading The Bitter Taste of Politics
This weekend, whilst going about my normal non-work rituals, I realized that I have accumulated a lot of stuff. Over an unknown period of time, I have amassed clothing that I haven't worn in years, copies of copies, birthday cards from various milestones in my life ending with a zero, and employee handbooks from jobs … Continue reading No – thing Needed
It’s official! The holidays are here! When Eric and I do our grocery shopping, we go to a market we affectionately call “Freddy’s”; a Kroger brand store. This store is huge. It not only sells produce, but has home furnishings, electronics, and apparel. For major feed holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, we plan as … Continue reading Good Tidings of Comfort and Joy?
The constructs of time have been debated by scholars for centuries. For me, these "constructs" are too cerebral for my little brain to comprehend. Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity stated, “time and space are not as constant as everyday life would suggest.'' I only know enough about time to prompt me to get me where … Continue reading Time Escapes Me (US)
Kids will say and do the darnedest things. I think the earliest memory of my first word was no. Not Mama or Dada. I was told that I was a cute child, and I was a tad mischievous too. When my Aunt Sally would visit, she would often catch me in an act of trickery … Continue reading Liar, Liar, Couch on Fire!
