How I learned How to Speak Good English

People always ask me the following question: Where did you learn to speak English? The following scenario will answer this question. Once upon a time in my early childhood life, I could not speak very well.
Therefore there was a decision made for me to be placed into a speech pathology class. It was at the point where I learned to pronounce my words correctly. The woman that I give credit for my success today is none other than Clara Rose Simon. I can only imagine what her struggle was like to teach me at that age, because I know for a fact that I was quite an unruly child. I am here today to tell you that her hard work and dedication to instructing me has truly paid off ! I haven't seen this woman in years but if you just so happen to run into her, just let her know that I truly commend her for a job well done. The moral of this story is this: When you have finally made it to a successful point in your life, it is always a good thing to pay homage to the "bridges" that have allowed you to cross over.

Showing off my 1st Car to my Grandpa Rogers

One of my worst critics in my life was my Grandpa Rogers. When I was younger, i told him that one day I would pull up to his house in a car. He doubted me. In exactly ten years after I made that statement I bought my first car. It was a 1981 Buick Century. It was a complete POS, but I loved it ! The first place that I drove after getting my license
plate tags was to see my grandpa. I jumped out of my car all excitedly and I ran inside to get him to show him my new accomplishment. 
 When he came out to the car, he made me open up all of the doors so that he could get a good look inside. The one thing that he did continuously was stare at the ceiling. I asked him, " Grandpa, what are you looking for?" He turned and smiled and said, " I am looking for FOOTPRINTS." It took about several minutes for it to dawn on me what he had stated. After I had figured it out, it was at that moment that I realized just how cool he was! 
On March 16, 2016, he passed away due to natural causes. Prior to his death, I used to visit him while he was bed ridden and confined to a nursing home. Our conversations are just as they were when I used to visit him at home. If your grandparents are still alive, please go and visit with them. You just may learn information about them that they may never share again.

Adapting to a new enviroment

Once upon a time, I was a social member of a local country club. I took a young woman that I admired out there on a date. Instead of just enjoying the environment, she complained the whole evening about there not being people there that looked like us. It made me realize that sometimes you just can't take everyone with you when you move up in the world. When you move up in the world, you are going to have to learn to adapt to your surroundings. Point Blank! If not, you will remain in an uncomfortable state for a very long time. Although you may have to adapt, always remember to stay true to your character.

Celebrating a Birthday With My Mentor

On September 26, 2014, I helped to celebrate the 83rd Birthday of my mentor Mrs. Annie Mable McDaniel Abrams. When I arrived there, she gave me a great big hug and kiss on my cheek. Next we walked hand in hand around the room as she told me a brief story about the different pictures and awards that she had on display.
She did so because it's her way of passing along the torch of knowledge. Even though it was her birthday celebration, I ended up being the one that felt special. Go figure ! The moral of this story is this: Your presence at an event always matters to someone. So always make the effort to share precious moments with those of whom you care about the most !

Campaigning For a Good Friend

During the campaign season of 2014,  I helped a dear friend of mine by holding up their sign to get voters to vote for them. I noticed quite a few things while being posted up on that sidewalk. I noticed drivers that were talking and even texting on their cell phones. I even had a few ladies smile and yell out of their windows that they would in fact vote for my candidate. The most interesting thing that happened to me was a conversation that I had with a gentleman that took a break from work to come and witness his 18 year old son vote for the first time. He told me that he explained to his son that from now on, when they are having a discussion around the dinner table about politics and how it is structured, his son can now have a say so because he exercised his right to vote. I don't know about you all but, I was proud to see that there are parents are still encouraging their children to be more productive citizens. My only regret is that I didn't ask this guy for his name. He deserves the spotlight for a job well done. Stay tuned for more wild tales from yours truly !

A Special Bond

Back when I was 21, I bought my first car. It was a 1981 Buick Century. It was a complete "Bucket", but it was really great on gas. Oh how I loved it. However, every thing that could go wrong with a car did! Prior to me having car trouble, me and my step- father never really shared any father son time. This car gave us a reason to finally form a bond. By the time we got finished with this car, it had so many new parts on it that that it should have been considered a new car! The moral of this story is this: Fathers, always find way to pass down knowledge to your son. When he is older, he will reflect on this intimate moments that you have shared with him.

Learning What It Means to Grind Hard

 When I was about 15 years old, I received my first summer job working for JTPA (Job Training Partnership Act). In order for me to get to work, I had to pay my step-father $100 every two weeks for gas money, because he had to leave his job to come and get me. Keep in mind that we lived at least 5 miles outside of the city limits. What an unfair situation ! I got smart one day and I went a bought a bike from a cousin. It was a heck of ride into town, but at least I saved some money a long the way. The moral of the story is this: In life you are always going to come across some sort of obstacle when you are on your way to your destination. Learn to keep your head up, inhale,exhale, and think about how to adapt and overcome your obstacles. Where there is a will there is a way !

Teaching My Neighbor How To Drive

There is no greater feeling that being able to teach someone something new. Today, I gave my Indian neighbor a lesson in driving. I had to give him baby steps. In order to truly learn how to drive, it is a good idea to first learn how to park. There are too many people out here that claim that they know how to drive, but can't park correctly in a parking space ! He did really well for someone who has NEVER driven before. He thanked me for being able to sacrifice my time to help him learn to drive. The moral of this story is this: At one time or another, someone took the time to show you something that was new to you. Therefore, when you have the opportunity to do the same for another, you should always pay it forward !

What A Child Believes Is Real It Is Real to Them

During the Christmas season of 2014, my little niece D' Mya was taken to the local Christmas parade in her city by her mother. While she was there, one of the elves gave her a plastic slinky. A few hours later, she ran to her mother crying hysterically because she had broken it. Later she called me because she wanted to know if I could give her a ride to the North Pole so that she could get another slinky from one of those elves. I told her that I would see if I could get in touch with one of those of those elves or maybe even Santa himself to hook her up with another slinky. You have got to love the way kids think !

Fond Memories at Age 4

At the age of 4, my favorite show on television was Bozo The Clown. I thought that this clown was so amazing because he was always doing fun games on his show. Well, one day, my mother found out that he was coming to the Village Shopping Center in Conway, Arkansas and she took me to see him. He flew in town in a news station helicopter. It was the most amazing thing that I had ever seen in my life at the point. It was even cooler that he walked up to me and shook my hand and me a generic autographed picture of himself. When I saw him fly away in that contraption, it was even cooler than when I had seen him appear.
Years later, I was outraged when I found out that had only been a guy dressed up in a suit. However, the memory of my experience with him would last for a long time.
The moral of this story is this: During the Christmas season, Billions of children across the globe will be excited to see a man in a red suit, because he has the power to travel across the globe , in one night, to bring each boy and girl their favorite toy. Don't be tempted to spoil the excitement of hope for them just because you know his true identity.

The Challenge of Running In My Underwear

Back when I was in my 3rd year of college at the University of Central Arkansas, I was challenged by some friends to run with them in the inaugural Underwear Run. We all met in front of the school cafeteria. Keep in mind that it was in the month of December when we did this. Therefore, you know that it was ice cold out there. I decided to wear my black silk boxers. I should have worn some Fruit of the Looms ! Right as were getting ready to run this girl and her 3 friends came and stood right next to me in plain clothes. The girl that stood the closest to me said to her friends, " Hold this!" Within three minutes, she stood there next to me in what I suspected were Victoria's Secret under garments. I looked at her and replied, " You're running with me !" We ran all over campus. We ran in the library, and even in the campus police department. We ended our run by plunging into the school fountain. I ruined a good pair of Jordans doing that. The moral of this story is this: Throughout your young adult life, you are going to do random things to take up your time just because you feel that you have nothing else better to do. Although you may enjoy doing these wild things, always remember to be in this process of planing a better life for yourself. If not, as you get older you will be in your old age pondering about what you could have done better with your time. Check out this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CGExNLBAoI