GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLFRIEND GATHERINGS

Learning from YOU to empower ME !

Best Things in Life #16 – Sharing Excitement

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Excited WomanSometimes we can speak our thoughts into existence.   Some years ago, when my life was very lackluster and routine, I told one of my sistergirlfriends that I needed more excitement in my life.   It seemed the words had just popped out of my mouth when excitement became my new best experience.   I soon discovered that the most excitement occurs when it is shared with a good friend.

One of my most memorable exciting experiences occurred in Atlanta, GA.   I had just changed careers from Accounting to Information Technology.    This was at a time when there were very few women, especially women of color, in this field.    I was attending my first industry conference. The first thing I learned upon my arrival was there were plenty of men in this field and they all did NOT look like nerds.

At the opening session, I literally bumped into another woman of color as we both were coming out of the auditorium doors.   We quickly bonded, learned a lot in our respective conference sessions, and enjoyed our free time meeting new colleagues – especially the male colleagues.   All of this mingling led to what became our memorable exciting experience.

Normally, at these conferences, there was always an elaborate closing session with star-quality entertainment.     We were excited because we heard The Temptations would be performing.   So, one morning, I was walking in the hotel hallway heading to my first session when I saw this guy step out of his room and started walking toward me.   He was staring at me so hard that it made me a little uncomfortable and I think it showed on my face.   He noticed and apologized.  He  stated that he had been touring in Japan and it was just nice to be back home around the sisters.    He then explained that he was part of the band (guitar player) for The Temptations.   I rushed to tell my new best girlfriend that it was confirmed that the Temptations were in the hotel.

Later, during that same day, we got on the elevator and there was one of the strongest men I had ever seen.   He was in a small group of other men.   One of them introduced himself and told us he was over security for The Temptations.   He confirmed to us they were performing that night and suggested that we get as close to the stage as possible.    So, we did.

We had the closing session speech, the dinner, and then it was time for the entertainment.    The Temptations came on stage and we were right up front singing right along with them.    Then, suddenly, one of the Temptations announced they wanted someone from the audience to come up on stage and sing with them.    The huge bodyguard came right over to us and reached out his hand.   I stepped back because I was too chicken to attempt to sing with them.   My new best girlfriend reached out her hand and grabbed the bodyguard’s arm.   He lifted her as if she was a feather onto the stage.     The music started and she sung “My Girl” with The Temptations!   She was FABULOUS!

I was so excited and tried to take as many pictures as I could.  Of course, this was pre-digital so we did not know until later that I had chopped off a few heads on a couple of pictures.   Overall, it was SO exciting and my new best girlfriend told me it was a dream come true for her.    Needless to say, we have been sistergirlfriends for a couple of decades now and we still get excited when we reminisce on this memorable moment in our lives.

 

QUESTION(S):

Have you experienced and shared an exciting moment with a friend?

If so, please share.

Best Things in Life #15 – Language and Cultural Exchange

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Imagine.   Your sister-girlfriend has a job assignment in Rome for the next 2 years.   You decide to go and pay her a visit for 3 weeks and explore Rome.   She throws a party to introduce you to all of her newfound friends and co-workers.    Across the crowded room you spot someone smiling at you that looks like this:

 

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He is standing with your sister-girlfriend and her new man.  They start to walk over to you.   You become excited……. all over.   When they reach you and start the introductions you realize that you and Mr. Everything-Italian-Men-Are-Suppose-to-Be do not speak the same language!   OMG!    What is a hot and bothered woman to do?

Girlfriend, RUN to the next language class or grab a self-study language program (Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur will do) and get to it as soon as possible!

A similar situation happened in my personal life and I learned how to speak Spanish sufficiently in 3 months so that I could begin to know someone who became very special to me.   We both learned each other’s language so that we could communicate better and learned about each other’s culture.    This has led to my meeting other persons of the same culture to form other close friendships in my life.   When I have traveled to countries where Spanish is the primary language, I have been able to communicate with ease.   The experience really enriched my life.

I know as Americans we tend to think English is spoken everywhere and to learn to speak another language is optional.    Some of us even have a low opinion of persons who speak our language with an accent even though they may speak 2 -3 other languages.   Yet, when I have traveled abroad and spoke the native language with my accent, it was clear to me that my attempt was appreciated by the native people.   We need to change our views on speaking more than one language and be patient with those who speak our language as their second language.

If you have ever studied one of the Latin-based languages, you will recognize that English is a tough language to learn.    Also, you will know why they call the Latin-based languages the “Romance” languages because the way they phrase is so beautiful ….. especially when they are talking about LOVE.

So take the plunge.   Study a foreign language.  Learn a cultural dance.   Share a cultural meal.    Be prepared for the “Hola”, “Bonjour”, or “Ciao” that might walk across the room into your life.     Don’t allow cultural differences and language barriers to limit what could be a wonderful experience in your life.

****About the photo:   My photographer sister-girlfriend, Veronica Owens, went on a photo shoot journey across Italy and sent me my gift request of a photo of a handsome Italian man.

QUESTION(s)

How do you feel about learning another language?

Do you think it would be beneficial to your life?

 

The Best Thing In Life #14 – Wanderlust

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Woman with travel cases.I am afflicted with wanderlust.  It is a malady I embrace with all of the passion within me.   Merriam-Webster defines wanderlust as “a strong longing for or impulse towards wandering” which adequately describes my affliction.

It started when I was young and read about beautiful faraway places.    I dreamed of those places and placed myself there mentally.   I soon realized I had inherited this affliction from my father who always talked about his life in Baltimore while in the army, his travels to New York and to sunny southern California.    This was an extraordinary achievement for a country boy who grew up in east Texas and traveled to these places when African-Americans were not welcomed everywhere.

Our family vacations consisted of road trips to visit relatives in Dallas which is an adventure driving through east Texas where the trees are so thick you have to “pump in daylight” as my father described it.  We also had a road trip to Los Angeles once before the interstate (I-10) was enhanced and that required driving across Texas (Houston to El Paso) which is still a notable feat.   As kids, we loved taking these steps out of our everyday lives to enjoy something different.  My father’s favorite statement to us was, “See the world!”   His command gave my wanderlust power even though my rational mind sometimes thought it was impossible.

Then life happened.   Responsibility grabbed me.   The pursuit of material things engulfed me.  Life, responsibility, and pursuit became the antidote to my beloved affliction.   I was able to subdue wanderlust and navigate apathetically through the daily grind.   It all blew up when my father died.

Believe it or not, sometimes losing a person you truly love motivates you.   The physical removal of that person from your presence can make your dreams leap from your pillow into reality.   I decided to incorporate those things I loved about my Dad into my life.  I allowed wanderlust to explode within me.   The impossible became possible.

I made a bucket list of all the places I had read and dreamed about.    I started traveling to those places to experience a slice of life there.    I encouraged my family and friends to join me.   Sometimes I would go alone.   A sense of satisfaction always filled me when I returned home.   For a few months, the normal routine of life would be bearable – until I did that first internet search on the next place on my bucket list.   My bucket list is a “living” document and I think I will run out of life before I see all of the places that call to my heart.

Wanderlust has fueled many wonderful adventures for me.   Wanderlust has brought me loving friends, beautiful vistas  and memorable experiences.    Wanderlust is a welcomed affliction in my life.

 

QUESTION(S):

Have you ever been affected by wanderlust?

The Best Thing in Life #13 – A Good Book

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Students Reading Books Showing EducationOne of the treasures I learned to value very early in my life was a good book.    I was fascinated with books before I learned how to read.  When my older brother started school he came home and read his books to me.   Books were readily accessible in our family household as our parents controlled access to the one and only television.   Picture books fueled my imagination and when I started school reading naturally became my favorite subject.

As I entered my pre-teen and teenage years, my love of books did not diminish.    I was a student who loved the time spent in the library.  I read the classics, fiction, mythology, religion, autobiographies – whatever caught my interest.    In the summer, I walked 1-2 miles in the middle of hot Houston days to go to the bookmobile that came bi-weekly to my neighborhood.   All of my friends thought I was crazy reading so much while school was out.

I visited many beautiful places in the world, learned about other cultures, and plotted my life’s path all from books.   I even raided my single aunt’s hidden collection of sexy romance novels and imagined the qualities of the lovers I wanted in my life.   I must admit few lived up to those qualities and that is probably why I am single now.

Books have been my constant companion on business trips, road trips, and vacations giving me delight as I relaxed on beautiful beaches or sat in a solarium on cruise ships while traveling to some foreign port.    The Kindle has made my relationship with books easier as I can carry my entire library with me now and keep my suitcase under 50 lbs.

When I think of life without books I recall an old Twilight Zone TV episode where a man truly loved books.   All he wanted to do was read but at the expense of failing to do all else to the chagrin of his nagging wife.    Then one day the world came to an end via an earthquake and he was the only person left.   After he got over the shock, he realized he now had all the time to read.    So, he went to the library.   Just as he was settling in to read there was another tremor which caused his glasses to fall to the floor breaking into pieces.     I could totally identify with the anguish that covered his face at that moment.

My definition of a good book is one that enhances knowledge, experience, compassion, belief, and faith which makes it one of the best things in life.

 

QUESTION(S)

Do you love a good book?

What is your definition of a good book?

Best Things in Life #12 – A Rainy Day

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Why is it we want to snuggle down under the bedcovers when we hear the sound of rain in the early morning?   I think it is an inherent memory from our prehistoric ancestors of a time to be still and allow the rain to replenish the earth.    I think even then we understood that a rainy day was an opportunity to rejuvenate.

I know all of us have busy lives and a rainy day can cause a level of frustration in trying to accomplish all of those items on our daily schedule.    I know for some of us a rainy day incites the mood to rush around even more which is why there are so many traffic accidents on such days.     I know for some of us a rainy day is a lonely day because it impedes the opportunity to get out and mingle with others.

Sometimes it rains a lot in my hometown of Houston, Texas and my girlfirends and I have learned how to just let it have its way when it comes.    If it is a gentle rain, we usually proceed with our normal schedule.   In fact, we have a little funny justifying statement about those gentle rainy days as we grab our purses and umbrellas to head out of the door.  We say to each other, “Girl, rain don’t stop nothing but a picnic!” and it always ends with laughter.   If it is a flash flood day, we know to stay in place and we look for the opportunity to make it a fruitful day.

Here are some of those opportunities that you can consider for your next rainy day:

  •  An opportunity to sleep in and get more rest
  • An opportunity for personal reflection and meditation
  • An opportunity to try out a new recipe
  • An opportunity to curl up with a good book or watch a DVR’d / Netflix movie
  • An opportunity to pick up the phone and actually call some family and friends to hear their voices
  • An opportunity to sit still and actually listen to some of your saved music on your IPOD
  • An opportunity to work on that scrapbook or photo journal project
  • An opportunity to grab your spouse or lover and make love all day!   (My personal favorite.)

So, the next time you wake up to the sound of rain, don’t groan.    Just consider it an opportunity to slow down and enjoy an activity that is usually not a part of your normal (sunny) day.

QUESTION(S):

What is your first thought when you hear the sound of rain in the early morning?

What are some of the things you do on a rainy day?