You Get More & More Amazing

CeCe Winans

Back in January, my favorite female vocalist performed in concert at a church.

And, yes, after all these years, I STILL love her voice!

God bless her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doppelgänger

If I didn't know better, I'd SWEAR I have a print ad out now that I absolutely do not remember SHOOTING.

And for which MOST DEFINITELY NEVER received a CHECK!!!!

Oh, the other dude is also MUCH HEAVIER!  Haaaaaa!

I'll Wait

I saw this posted onto Facebook yesterday and really had to take a minute to think about it.  And then, I thought, WOW!

I've since posted it onto my own Facebook page and have received some interesting feedback.  Only one person was a tad rude.  But I made sure to tell the target of the rudeness that I was on his side!

So, again, I ask: how can one be against using violence to fight violence and STILL support our troops?

I'm waiting...

Baltimore Is Burning

The rioting in Baltimore, after the funeral of Freddie Gray, is all over the news.  Everywhere!  I've only seen what I've seen online, 'cause I haven't turned on the TV to watch newscasts.  One video I saw, though, moved me to tears.  It's of a mother who is pleading with her teenage son to come home and leave the rioting.  I'm tellin' you, the video footage gets me to the core of my soul.  I can't stop weeping.  I hear her pain.  Her disappointment.  Her anger.  Her fear.  Her strong maternal desire to see her son safe.  Eventually, she got him to come home with her.  Thank God.

I hope one of the morning or evening news shows conducts an interview with this mother.  'Cause I'd like to know how she knew her son was out there.  And what was going through her mind when she confronted him in front of everybody.  Truth be told, at the moment she was able to get close to him, I bet she didn't notice that ANYBODY ELSE was out there.  I bet at that time, she ONLY saw her baby.

God bless the people of Baltimore.

God bless the people of the WORLD.

TGIM!

Thank God It's Monday!

This past weekend I was blessed to see my first theatrical production at Los Angeles City College (LACC): "Flyin' West."  Chris Cleveland knows one of the actors in the play, so our tickets were comped.  Thank goodness, 'cause the play had its moments, but it didn't make me wanna give 'em a standing ovation at curtain call.  But, of course, I did anyway!  I ALWAYS applaud anybody who mounts students for mounting their productions!  ALWAYS!  Haaa!

Last night, I attended a Q&A screening of BET's "The Book Of Negroes."  Per usual, Pete Hammond moderated the affair.  Dang, I wanna do what he does!  I know, I know.  Just DO it!  Anyway, again, I applaud the filmmakers for getting this miniseries completed, but it isn't really my cup of tea, so I don't suspect I'll see any more of it.  I'm hella happy for the project's star, though: Aunjanue Ellis.  She's been kickin' around Hollywood for a minute, so it's great to see her take front and center for a change!  She's a true talent!

Last Tuesday, I flew to Sacramento to attend a special day at the Capitol as a representative of the Saban Community Clinic.  The day-long event that included meetings with senators and assemblymen (and women) was sponsored by the California Primary Care Association (CPCA).  I had a BLAST!  I had never been to the State Capitol before, so walking around the building and meeting with politicians was really cool.  I was put up in the Hyatt Regency, which is directly across the street from the Capitol.  How's that for convenience??  And I have to say, the hotel is really nice.  However, they sure hiked up the price of a room for that week.  I stayed in a room that usually goes for a little over $200.  On the night I stayed there, it was $439!  Ouch!  Capitalism is a real mother!!!

What Happens In Vegas...

Last Tuesday night I celebrated my baby brother's 50th birthday in Las Vegas!

Say WHAT!!!!!!!!!  Saying the words, "baby brother" and "50th birthday," just don't sound right!  But they ARE right!  Soooo VERY RIGHT actually.

My little brother is now 50 years BLESSED!

I rang in this milestone with him, his beautiful wife, Terri, two of my sisters, one of my nieces and one of my sister's dear friends.

We had a BLAST!!!!!!!

I wasn't aware, though, that people can smoke in the casinos.  I didn't appreciate that, but other than that, everything else was TERRIFIC!  Absolutely TERRIFIC!

Next year, my youngest sister celebrates her 50th!  And I'm lookin' hella forward to it!!!!!!!!!

I wish my brother the very best!  He's a GODSEND.  To me...

And to a host of others!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY, T-man!  :)

Oh Happy Day

Today, my time with the elderly was terrific!  I got a chance to meet the offspring of a few of the residents.  I always enjoy talking to their children.  It helps me get a better understanding of what they were like as younger people.  I mean, when I met the residents, they were 80+, so hearing about their lives at 40 and 50 and 60 is really a treat.

One of the residents asked me my thoughts on "gaiety."  When he used that word, I thought I knew what he was talkin' about, but asked him to clarify himself to be sure.  Well, yeah, he was talkin' about what I thought he was.  He wanted to know what I thought of various religions' edicts about homosexuality.  I told him what I truly believe:  I couldn't care less what ANY religion thinks about it.  I intend to continue living MY life the same way:  respecting ALL people from ALL walks of life, and treating them the way I want to be treated.  Period.

As each day morphs into the next, I hope and pray more and more people learn to live and let live.  I want that more than I want anything else in this whole, wide world.

Yep, my day with the elderly was truly a HAPPY DAY!

p.s.  And EVERYBODY oughta volunteer somewhere!  It'll make you feel hella good!

Not I

A dear friend recently asked me one helluva question.

"Cam, do you ever go to bed sometimes and wish you never woke up?"

I know that question would probably take many by surprise, but it didn't rattle me.  And it didn't because I know he lives with depression.  In fact, that awful disease took his mother's life.

My friend's dilemma is that he has put his heart and soul into his profession but has gotten what he deems to be very little in return.  And that causes him to be depressed.

I understand his frustration.  His pain.  His fear.

But I don't share his depression.  I don't share his bouts with hopelessness.

For whatever reason, even when the night is its darkest, I STILL have hope that tomorrow will be a BRIGHTER day.

And for this reason, and a few others...

I FEEL TRULY BLESSED!

My Reason

THIS is the very reason why very little that happens in the world affects me much.

I've learned that...

The more you CARE,

The more you HURT.

I mean, I DO care about SOME things.

Just not MANY!  :)

Beau

BEAU

He never came to me when I would call

Unless I had a tennis ball,

Or he felt like it,

But mostly he didn't come at all.

When he was young

He never learned to heel

Or sit or stay,

He did things his way.

Discipline was not his bag

But when you were with him things sure didn't drag.

He'd dig up a rosebush just to spite me,

And when I'd grab him, he'd turn and bite me.

He bit lots of folks from day to day,

The delivery boy was his favorite prey.

The gas man wouldn't read our meter,

He said we owned a real man-eater.

He set the house on fire

But the story's long to tell.

Suffice it to say that he survived

And the house survived as well.

On the evening walks, and Gloria took him,

He was always first out the door.

The Old One and I brought up the rear

Because our bones were sore.

He would charge up the street with Mom hanging on,

What a beautiful pair they were!

And if it was still light and the tourists were out,

They created a bit of a stir.

But every once in a while, he would stop in his tracks

And with a frown on his face look around.

It was just to make sure that the Old One was there

And would follow him where he was bound.

We are early-to-bedders at our house -- I guess I'm the first to retire.

And as I'd leave the room he'd look at me

And get up from his place by the fire.

He knew where the tennis balls were upstairs,

And I'd give him one for a while.

He would push it under the bed with his nose

And I'd fish it out with a smile.

And before very long He'd tire of the ball

And be asleep in his corner In no time at all.

And there were nights when I'd feel him climb upon our bed

And lie between us,

And I'd pat his head.

And there were nights when I'd feel this stare

And I'd wake up and he'd be sitting there

And I'd reach out my hand and stroke his hair.

And sometimes I'd feel him sigh and I think I know the reason why.

He would wake up at night

And he would have this fear

Of the dark, of life, of lots of things,

And he'd be glad to have me near.

And now he's dead.

And there are nights when I think I feel him

Climb upon our bed and lie between us,

And I pat his head.

And there are nights when I think I feel that stare

And I reach out my hand to stroke his hair,

But he's not there.

Oh, how I wish that wasn't so,

I'll always love a dog named Beau.

                                                    -- Jimmy Stewart

Easter Love!

"It's quite simple really.  For LOVE...RISE!"

                                                                            --Allen Sowelle

Man, I couldn't have said it any better.

ALWAYS make time to tiptoe through the TULIPS!

HAPPY EASTER to one and ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Griffith Park and Me

Griffith Park Observatory

Since I moved here to Los Angeles back in 2000, I have had a love affair with Griffith Park.  When I lived in Korea Town, I would hop into my car and drive over to the park by 10 AM each morning.  There, I'd do push-ups at the site of an abandoned snack cafe.  Then, I'd walk up the mountain to the Observatory, then walk back down the mountain.  The exercise was exhilarating.  And I enjoyed meeting all the new people I'd encounter along my path.

Today, I still enjoy the park.  In fact, I'm gonna head over there as soon as I type this post.  I've already completed my push-ups for the day, so I'll simply walk when I get there.  I'll park alongside Travel Town, then walk to the zoo and back.  Yeah, that's what I'll do!

There's no love like the love between Griffith Park and ME!  :)

I'll Never Walk Alone

Oprah Winfrey in Kula-Maui, Hawaii

Here I am a glorious 51 years old.  Glorious.

How did I get here?  I'll tell you how.  By not abusing drugs.  Or alcohol.  Or people.

Sometimes I say my age out loud and can't believe I'm talkin' about myself.  Who's 51?  Certainly not ME!  I mean, I feel like I've always felt.

Or do I?

Truth be told, when I kneel down to pick sweet potatoes from their bin at Trader Joe's, I feel discomfort.  I didn't feel discomfort while kneeling just a few years ago.  But I sure as heck do now.  That's 51 for you.

Nowadays,  more often than I care to admit, I wanna take a nap.  I didn't care for them when I was a kid when sundry babysitters instructed me to.  But now, at 51, I welcome them.  Heck, I look forward to 'em!

My 51-year-old life is what I've made it.  And I accept responsibility for that.

My 51-year-old life is mine to shape however I choose.  And that makes me feel soooooooooo THANKFUL.  And soooooooo HOPEFUL.

It's good to know I surround myself with people who make me feel good about being alive.  So, whether I'm in the midst of a hundred people, or by myself...

I will never walk alone.

Absolutely never.

S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G!

I've never visited Kauai, Hawaii, but I see I sure NEED to!

Absolutely BREATHTAKING!!!!!!!!!!!!

This pic looks like the road to ANYWHERE!

The road to EVERYWHERE you'd wanna go!

Nature is simply S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!