Fathers Day: Mother

                             …It is my hope that young women today reevaluate their lives, themselves and what they would like
                                               their lives to actually be…you have to consider what you are saying to the next generation…  
                                                                                                                            - Cicely Tyson, May 28, 2013, The View Talk show

I usually write separate blogs honoring mothers and fathers.  This year I have combined the celebrations into a season finale May/June “double-issue” with a special article about Will Smith and son, Jaden. I came across the interview as I logged into my AOL® email. But first

males, boys, humans

come into
being
through the portal
of females

The phenomenon of human reproduction, while scientifically explicable, is a Divine action, an expression of sacred divine love. 

For me the ultimate acknowledgement of the sanctity of parenthood, fathers and mothers is when I became a young adult who graduated college but still had some work to do on self and in the process had finally forgiven my own (deceased) parents especially my biological mother.  Furthermore I consciously acknowledged, in my heart, women who took the time to advise, coach, and love me as I watched them raise their own children - boys and/or girls - with the dexterity of a surgeon.

Once I corrected the ignorance and limited understanding of who I am, with the compassionate support of those who cared, I  learned to LOVE myself, first, and fully accepted LIVING WITH my own beautiful body. (p. 28, Validation Denied Grace Bestowed).

The interview with Will Smith and Jaden regarding parental “ownership” of children, triggered memories of my own father’s style of guiding me as his little girl.  I think he, too, wouldn’t judge me, but advise and guide me…as he did when I went “bye-bye” with him, in a cute shorts set or dress, ankle socks and black patent leather shoes…holding my hero’s hand. (p. 9, Validation Denied Grace Bestowed).

The following link is an interview where Will Smith discusses how he and Jada released “ownership” of their children but remain guides as their children make informed choices in their own lives.  Enjoy!   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/26/will-smith-kids-ownership_n_3339618.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

 

On Fire To A Tall Cool Drink

Returns in the Fall…..Have a Fabulous and Safe Summer!

 ~Quelyn, Author of

Validation Denied Grace Bestowed:somewhere between the ghetto and God was something called foster care...

FOR APPEARANCES, BOOK SIGNINGS & TALKS CONTACT US AT:

thebutterflytour@aol.com

Validation Denied Grace Bestowed is available everywhere and at:

www.iUniverse.com

(812)330-2909 or (800) 288-4677

 

Copyright©2013 Quelyn Purdie

 

TOGETHER

Together.

They were knocked off their feet, and landed….together.

Ballroom dance instructor Adrianne Haslet-Davis, from Boston, described how she and her husband, airman Captain Adam Davis were injured from a bomb planted at the 2013 Boston Marathon.  Mrs. Haslet-Davis appeared on The View, Thursday, April 25, 2013 via satellite from her hospital bed. Captain Davis and Mrs.Haslet-Davis were enjoying a walk and attended the Boston Marathon, when they were blown off their feet by the first bomb and sustained foot and leg injuries.

Just two weeks before the bombing, Captain Davis had come home, in one piece, from Afghanistan. 

As The View’s  Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Barbara Walters, in her signature inquisitively-comforting tone, spoke with Mrs. Haslet-Davis via satellite, she shared how the support of her husband and family are paramount to the healing process.

Together.

Growing up there were events that affected my experience of family life from: the volatile fights between my biological mother and her boyfriends (one of whom was shot and my mother, brother 4 and me, 6 raced to the hospital in a cab to “see about him”. I was scared but secretly thrilled, Snoopy-thrilled, to be out of the apartment…TOGETHER.  My brother and I didn’t get out much due to my mother’s 4-nights-a-week absence); to: the feuds within the foster family I ultimately grew up in but enjoyed family trips, cook-outs, concerts….TOGETHER.  So even though  foster care was a strange idea for me, there were enough positive experiences of together to make my teen life tolerable.

Together for me means support, solidarity, vigilance which takes the bite out of trauma…or, if an event of merriment, together inflates the elation of the experience - in the moment; paying attention to one another.

 
Captain Adam Davis and Mrs. Haslet-Davis, TOGETHER, WE salute YOU.

Thank you for reading. 

 ~Quelyn, Author of
Validation Denied Grace Bestowed:somewhere between the ghetto and God was something called foster care...

FOR APPEARANCES, BOOK SIGNINGS & TALKS CONTACT US AT:

thebutterflytour@aol.com

Validation Denied Grace Bestowed is available everywhere and at:

www.iUniverse.com

(812)330-2909 or (800) 288-4677

 

Copyright©2013 Quelyn Purdie

Oprah and Dr. Robin: Hungry

“What?!”  you ask.  Actually Oprah and Dr. Robin are quite alright.

Dr. Robin’s book Hungry: The Truth About Being Full was the topic of Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday interview.  Briefly, they talked about how Dr. Robin got through a when-it-rains- it-pours experience in her life - in the midst of having the notion that she was “doing well” and that “everything was taken care of”:  

“Even though I looked alive and vital, the hourglass measuring the aliveness of my soul was swiftly draining to the bottom. I was losing my battle to be myself. I was in my prime. My career was taking off; I was surrounded by loving friends and family. Yet it felt like time was running out.”

Dr. Robin L. Smith, noted psychologist, ordained minister, motivational speaker, and best-selling author of Lies at the Altar, seemed to have the perfect life, but underneath it all, she felt empty.

                                                                         - From Dr. Robin L. Smith’s website http://www.drrobinsmith.com/books

Now we all know Oprah and Dr. Robin are great teachers (who rock ‘til we shine) right?  But Dr. Robin proves even the greatest amongst us go through huge challenges.   Watch Oprah’s Next Chapter/Super Soul Sunday interview with Dr. Robin right here:

http://www.oprah.com/own-super-soul-sunday/Full-Episode-Oprah-and-Dr-Robin-Smith-on-the-Hungry-Soul-Video

What came up for me as I watched the interview was  1) to deepen gratitude and make it a consciously daily experience.  And  2) contemplate Oprah’s most profound question of the interview:  “Are you home now?”  What does it mean to be “home” for me?

Watch the interview and see what comes up for you.

Thank you for reading. 

~Quelyn, Author of
Validation Denied Grace Bestowed:somewhere between the ghetto and God was something called foster care...

FOR APPEARANCES, BOOK SIGNINGS & TALKS CONTACT:

The Butterfly Book Tour™Team / beyondlabelz@yahoo.com

www.iUniverse.com

(812)330-2909 or (800) 288-4677

Copyright©2013 Quelyn Purdie

 

A Diamondsaur Comes (Roaring) Back!

A diamondsaur is someone whose work is celebrated, timeless, and has become a silk thread in the fabric of human life, and possibly/has launched the careers of others.  A human being like this is an icon ; they are masterful at what they do.

So, it is time,

it’s time we start to boldly speak Valerie Simpson’s name
in the same breath we mention such women musicians as Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Diana Ross, Celine Dionne, Chaka Khan and others.

Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford’s songs launched the careers of Diana Ross and Chaka Khan.

What I know for sure, to borrow one of Oprah Winfrey’s (another icon) famous expressions, is: when a diamondsaur returns, they’re visibly back in the game of their profession, with impactful and uplifting intent.

When Valerie Simpson appeared, stunning, on stage in the Allen Room at the world renown Jazz at Lincoln Center last Thursday evening, tears trickled down my face.  She

 
looked celestially beautiful
full of health and joy
in her above the knee
black sleeveless dress
with an elegant overlay in the back
her feet embraced with
red satin pumps
her presence
commanded our spirit
to dance and rejoice
along with hers
still she remained the
professional
yet so benevolent
that we could freely be
in awe
with as much integrity
as her own genius

Ms. Simpson delivered a concert that would be etched in the memory of the hearts of all who attended the one-night only event.  As she and her excruciatingly gifted band performed songs from her new album, Dinosaurs Are Coming Back Again (http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-Are-Coming-Back-Again/dp/B0086PGOBA) Ms. Simpson encouraged us to be and do whatever we dream of doing...and don’t wait.  Her crystal-clear, melodious voice and concerto-caliber piano play brought us to our feet time and again, including an encore.

All I kept thinking was she’s back! She’s an American icon, I don’t care (about others’ opinion/definition), she’s an American icon... She’s the “dinosaur” who is back...again. You know what?  she ‘shut it down’...I’m just sayin’.

- Dinosaurs Are Coming Back Again--For anyone who questions what offerings they can still make, this song says: Be encouraged. I love Nick Ashford's fairy tale-real lyrics here.    -Valerie Simpson, Dinosaurs Are Coming Back Again Album Notes, 2012

Thank you for reading.

~ Quelyn, Author of

Validation Denied Grace Bestowed:somewhere between the ghetto and God was something called foster care...

FOR APPEARANCES, BOOK SIGNINGS & TALKS CONTACT:

The Butterfly Book Tour™Team / beyondlabelz@yahoo.com

Validation Denied Grace Bestowed is available at

iUniverse.com, (812)330-2909 or (800) 288-4677

….and bookstores everywhere!

Copyright©2013 Quelyn Purdie