The Shadow of The Imagined

I don’t know you.
Correction: I don’t know all of you.

You’re like a shadow.
That part that comes from the shining of the afternoon sun on your true self, the heart of you.
But please, show me your heart.
Or will it take time for me to see you?
After all. . .
Your shadow—is a representative.
My shadow—is a representative.
I can only imagine who you are from your shadow.
But once the sun goes down
Once trouble and tribulation emerge in the night
Once pain, jealousy, and envy wrap their arms around us and
Envelopes us
And squeezes us like the hungry pythons they are. . .
Then and only then will I know if what I see is what I imagined.
Or if what I imagined is truly real.
Or should we continue to fake it?
Should we continue to live as our shadows?
Continue to live within our imaginations of each other?
Instead of facing the pain of being our true selves?


Writing prompt: Write 5 minutes on the following phrase: A shadow can indicate what is only imagined.

Ten Thursday Thoughts

1. I am glad it is Thursday.  Not sure why, as I am just at home. I think this is day 70 of quarantine? Not sure. Day 70!  All I really know though is that tomorrow is PAYDAY! Glory.

2. I really wished I would've started working on developing some new good habit during this time. Imagine where I would be right now, 70 days later. Sigh

3. I had a four hour training on gub'ment travel etiquette. After 3.5 hours, I unhooked my laptop, got up from the dining room table, and went and laid across the bed with it. This was me for the last 30 minutes of that training:

After about 2 hours, I figured this training was for the new people. But I think they made us Oldheads take it just to keep us busy.

4.  It's been raining a lot. I have been staring out the window with Mitch and Callie at the rain... and whatever other craziness is going on.

They especially like licking on the salt rock lamp. I told them they gonna get high blood pressure if they keep it up.

5. Speaking of Mitch and Callie, they are so done with me.

You can really see on Big Mitch's face that he is REALLY done with me.

6. My idea of exercise these days is walking 50 times around my kitchen island. I gotta do better. Gotta march around it 100 times.

7. I talked to my mother last night. She's in a nursing home, and they have restricted visitation. It was good to talk to her. Odd to see when she calls, but she is doing pretty good, and she sounds good.

8. I drink more coffee than I should.

My normal is one regular cup a week. But right now, I drink coffee three or four times a week (including weekends). I have learned to brew my coffee 2 parts decaf and 1 part regular. This helps a bit to cut down on the caffeine.

9. With that said, I went to sleep around 2:30 am last night. I must remind myself not to drink anything caffeinated after 12 noon.

10. What I'm listening to right now: Salt-n-Pepa "How Long"



That's it for my Thursday Thoughts!

Wordless Wednesday: Sigh...

Ten Tuesday Thouughts

Ten Thoughts on a Tuesday... once again.

1. So... summer is officially here! Memorial Day festivities everywhere. Social distancing and masks be damned!

2. I didn't do anything for Memorial Day. Heck, I can't even tell you what I ate yesterday. I am still held up in the
house. I would probably pass out from fright if I had to be in an enclosed space with anyone right now.

3. I can tell you what did happen this Memorial Day, though: My neighbors to the left had a HUGE Memorial Day party.
HUGE.

4. They were popping fireworks and playing music so loud that it shook my house. Fireworks would pop and women and
children would scream to the top of their lungs. I have to admit that it was a bit jarring.

5. I was trying to get a little writing done. My writing time is around 10 pm to 1 am. but I didn't get much done. I
finally decided just to go to bed at around 11 pm. (Their music was still bumping).

6. Poor Callie was shell shocked, running back and forth, like she's searching for her gun. Mitch didn't care.

7. I don't know what time the party was over. I just know all was quiet at 6:30 am, the time I woke up this morning.

8. But, they started back up around noon today. And it's 5:30 pm right now, and they are still going. They have thrown
open the doors of a truck and just got the music going. All day.

9. Now... one call to the police about a noise disturbance and asking for them to drive by may have helped. But in this
day and age, that is a NO-NO.

10. Why? Because I would feel horrible if the police drove through here and started shooting and it becomes a tragedy.
It would've been on my conscience for the rest of my life. When all I had to do was tolerate a little music.

And you know what? That is just what I will do.

I have headphones. I can put those on. I can turn my TV up. I can go into my master bedroom, which is on the opposite
side of the house from the party house.

The party will eventually end.

Memorial Day 2020

Memorial Day is upon us.

I give honor to all of those who have given their lives to protect my freedoms.

This Memorial Day takes on a special meaning during this pandemic season. We are also giving honor and respect to those who are braving the front line of the Covid-19 fight, the health care workers.

And sadly, this Memorial day is in honor of those who have passed from the virus.

This is a Memorial Day I will always remember.

Not for the celebrations and barbeques, but for all that has happened during these past few months of 2020.

Friday Freestyles

Friday!

And we's free!

I suppose. That's what they say on the TV. Memorial Day weekend is upon us! And it's going to be a fantastically beautiful weekend.  So they have opened the country back up, and we can all get together as long as we are doing our social distancing and have our masks on.

Bump that.

LadyLee don't leave the house unless I'm going to the grocery store and to the pharmacy. And that is once a week at the most. I prefer once every 2 weeks, but my baby greens for my salad don't last that long.

I ain't going about business as usual until Mayor Keisha SAY go back to business as usual.



That's right. I ain't doing nothing unless Keisha say do it.

Humph.

Man, I just did a grocery store run. Best item I scored is some Chow-Chow!

I love this stuff. It reminds me of my Great-grandmother Minnie Bell, and how she would make a big batch of it a couple of times a year in this big metal mixing bowl as big as the sun. So I buy some every now and again. It goes great with collard greens. This jar will last me 2-3 years (yes, it takes me that long to get through it). I don't even remember how much it cost. I snatched it up that fast.

Yes, things are back to normal out here in these ATL streets. And I want to let you know that these people are out in these Covid streets, and they ain't thinking about social distancing and they don't give a damn about masks.

I had on my mask today, and I had my sanitizer. I had on my headscarf. And I navigated these streets well enough. But that don't mean that I need to put on the bikini and head to the beach. And it don't mean I'm going to be in anybody restaurant or bar. Not going to the church house. None of that.

Going back to normal when Keisha say go back to normal.

I don't know what day this is of teleworking. They are still trying to come up with a plan at work. Right now, we are all required to wear masks when we come back. That is all they have figured out so far. Right now, I am tired of thinking about it. We will get back when we get back. One day, this will be in the past. Let us hope that it will be over soon.

So if you didn't hear, today a study came out in a respected medical journal that the Hydrochloroquine that our beloved president has been touting is basically trash. They found that there was a 30% increased chance of death and over a 300% increased chance of heart arrhythmia.

I told ya'll that drug is a problem. And if you believe the president is taking it, I have a bridge in downtown Atlanta that I can sell your right now for the low price, $19.95. Humph.

No.

And he is ordering all places of worship open.

No.

All that singing and shouting and spitting...

No.

We are stuck in a BAD reality show. And we can't turn the channel.

This all feels Jim Jones-ish to me. I will peer at it all this curiously from my window seat.

In other news, I got my taxes back and I am ready to ball! Ball til I FALL...At the house. As much as possible as I can in the house!

Song of the Week. " Tonight" by Sweet Sable



I really like this song and was reading the comments section and found out she died on April 10th from the Covid. She had that same lung problem that Bernie Mac had, sarcodosis [sic], and the virus just exasperated it.  Rest in Peace, Sweet Sable.

One more song, this one more familiar.



That's sooooo '90s.

I hope this pandemic is over soon.

Ya'll be safe out here.

Wordless Wednesdays: Crabs... and Carnage

In a Nutshell....

In a nutshell, that's my problem with this whole coronavirus pandemic.

Oh, I keep hearing how, at some workplaces, they are testing your temperature at the door.

Ok. That is fine.

But what do you do when someone has the virus, and is asymptomatic.

How do you figure out who's a carrier?

How does Bill above know he's a carrier?

*crickets*

I think this all has to do with the debate surrounding the quarantine. I think, from what I am understanding, that we are supposed to assume that we are all carriers, and do our social distancing and don our masks, not to protect ourselves, but to protect others from ourselves.

But there are some people out there who don't want to hear all that.

In a nutshell, those people are dicks.

A List for Well Being in Isolation

So I came across this list, a checklist of sorts, concerning maintaining our well being during isolation. I came across it on Facebook.

I think it's a pretty well-rounded list.  Not sure I will use it, but I am surprised at how much of this I do already. 

Of course it helps to shower daily. Makes me feel like I am going somewhere.

I gotta take my medication or I will feel like pure trash later in the day.

I try to drink plenty of water, but I have noticed that I have developed a coffee habit as of late.
*LadyLee going to find a bottle of water RIGHT now*

I am getting some cleaning done. What I like to do, and what's VERY productive for me, is to put on some type of favorite song playlist. Each time a song plays, clean a room. When the new song starts, move to a new room. I have a very small house, so a hour's worth of this routine goes a long way and I get a lot done. Of course, I have a check list, and I check off when a room is finished.

I do tend to something growing or living: My cats Sister Callie Jo and Big Mitch. And I know they are still wondering why I am home so much.  The looks I get from them are classic. And they tend to go hide and sleep most of the day.

The Mindful presence section:

Spritiually - my pastor does a 10-15 minute affirmation and confessions session most mornings. It is tremendously helpful. We are just simply setting the spiritual thermostat of the day pretty much according to Psalms 91.

I love music, so I listen to a lot of music. I have a ton of playlists with my favorite songs, and I am here for it!

I do not think there is a day that goes by that I don't talk to someone, whether it be on the phone, or through text or email. I even have done some Whatsapp coffee dates with people, which is so helpful to actually see and talk to someone at the same time. (I don't have facetime for apple products, so I am so glad this type of thing is available).

I did something the other day to get my heart rate up: I marched/walked around my kitchen island. It was surprisingly effective and helpful. I have even done some stretching with with a couple of YouTube channel people, so that has been helpful. I wish I could just be consistent, though. That would be so helpful.

Doing one thing that I want to do just because I want too... that would be crochet. Or read. Or get some writing done. Or watch some of my favorite shows.

I always get in a good laugh! No way a day goes by without laughter. Thank goodness for that!!

Doing one thing that I would be glad I did later: Today it was wash and dry a load of clothes. And I washed several of my face masks by hand this morning (I think I have seven of them. Doing a post on those later).

So this is a GREAT well rounded list. I think I am doing well enough, but I can do better.

I find that maybe 2% of the time, I am not doing good with being alone. I spend much time alone overall, as I tend to be an introvert, but I am use to coming and going as I please. So I am trying to cope with that, especially not being able to talk to people face to face or hug people. I didn't realize how much I hug folks.  I saw my aunt-in-law on Saturday to deliver supplies, and it hurt to have to stand outside and talk, some 6 feet apart. It's the new normal for now. It is what it is.

But back to the list. That is a good well-rounded list.

A Whole Mess of Collard Greens

So...

A few weeks ago, one of my homegirls sent me a picture of some collard greens she'd cooked for dinner. She did what we all do: pull out a forkful out of the pot and throw it in a bowl to test it out. She sent a picture of some beautifully cooked greens in a small white custard dish.

Man oh man... Don't that look GOOD? Only thing that would've made that look better would be if the fork was solid gold. LOL.

And every since then, I've been craving some collard greens. I usually order them from a local chicken spot on UberEats, but I saw on the news that said chicken spot had closed down for deep cleaning when one of the cooks came up positive for the coronavirus.

So, uh that's a no, Captain.

They are back open now.

And that's STILL a no, Captain.

I remembered my girl saying something that peaked my interest, though.

She said she bought her greens in the bag, already shredded.

And I was like OH.

You woulda thought she told me that she went in her backyard, dug a hole, and discovered some gold.

Greens in the bag already shredded. Oh yes, I can do that! Why didn't I think of that?

When I cook greens, I buy them whole on the stalk, and spend time cleaning them. But I HATE cleaning them. Many years ago, my old supervisor's daughter Chayse came over, as I was keeping her for the day. She wanted something to do. I had a sink full of collards, and uh.. I taught her how to clean greens, and I let her have at it!

It took forever, but oh well. When you come to my house, you gonna WORK, honey. That day I taught her how to clean greens, and my sister taught her how to make cornbread dressing. That day, she WORKED! You gotta train them up!  Click on the link in the last paragraph to read all about it!

So last week, I bought a bag of greens. I bust open the bag and cleaned them.

It takes much less time. Thank goodness for that.

I like my greens a little spicy, but not too spicy. I had some fresno peppers that had dried out, so I added one.

I also cut up a whole onion and a little fatback. I haven't had fatback in YEARS. But these days if I go to the grocery store, if I want it, I get it. So I boiled my fatback for about an hour before tossing in my greens.

And I let those simmer for about 3 or 4 hours. Of course it don't take that long, but I cooked them to death like my grandma use to do.

And here they are.

I forgot to arrange them in a pretty bowl. I ate them too fast. I ate some, then I froze the rest. I managed to get about 4 quart freezer bags worth. That should take me through the rest of the year.

I'm not supposed to have dark leafy greens because I am on a blood thinner, but OH WELL.

My nurse said if I do eat greens, I better have the same amount every week.

Uh no. I only want a few forkfuls every once in awhile. And I had to have some that day.

Do you know that greens taste even better when they have been cooked and have sat in the fridge for a day or two? Or if they have been cooked and then frozen?

I don't know what that's about... but I am here for it!

Can't wait to pull a bag out and have a little... next month!

Ten Thursday Thoughts... Beauty Supply Store Edition

Ten, no SEVENTEEN Thursday Thoughts from my venture out to the Beauty Supply Store!

1. First of all, there is NO WAY I wanted to run up in a Beauty supply store. NO WAY! I'm doing good just to make my venture out to the grocery store biweekly (or weekly).

2. My aunt needed some supplies for my bedridden Uncle Dean. I usually order these things online, but with the pandemic wrecking shop, it is hard to find certain things.

3. One of the supplies that are hard to find are disposable gloves. And I needed some latex free gloves, since my uncle's folks are allergic to everything.

4. I called the local beauty supply store, and lo and behold, they had gloves. So I had to get the nerve up to go up there, because I was antsy.

5. Why was I antsy? Because you've been in a beauty supply store. There's a lot going on, in the Asian ones especially. And this particular one is very cramped. So I organized my mask and sanitizer. I carefully fold paper towels and place them in a storage bag and soak them in 91% rubbing alcohol. And I am prepared to run my tail up in there and run out quickly.

6. So I drive up to the store, which is a mile from my house. I am masked up and ready. There are two women standing at the door talking. I go to open the door and it's locked.

"They only allowing 3 people at a time in there," one of the women said.
"Oh, ok," I said.

(She could've told me that before I touched the door)

*ladylee dousing hand in sanitizer and alcohol wipes*

7. I leaned against my car and waited. The two women at the door were a bit overly agitated about one of their relationships. One told the other that she was right to drop that fool. I happen to agree with them, but I said nothing.

8. When it was time to go into the store, the clerk said everyone needed masks. One of the two ladies protested. But they got it figured it out.

9. We all went into the cramped store. I moved fast to find the gloves, but I had to ask. The black male clerk pointed to where they were and I headed that way FAST. But I was trying to figure out which ones were latex free. I yelled out the question. And the Asian clerk came over and leaned down next to me to show me where the gloves were.

This frightened me terribly. I know I fainted a little inside. I almost yelled SOCIAL DISTANCING PLEASE!!!!

But we both had on masks, so... Jesus, take the wheel. Gotta have faith right now.

10. Here are the gloves. And doggonit, they are expensive!

$14.99 a box! Usually on amazon, before the pandemic, they are around $7-10 a box. Right now on Amazon, gloves are $28 a box. So this is a good enough deal.

Good enough.

11. While this is going on, one of the two ladies who came in with me was going OFF on someone on the phone. I don't know who it was, but I felt sorry for the person, because they were getting verbally shanked!

12. The black male clerk kindly asked the lady to leave her phone call and finish shopping, to which she complied, thankfully. (I just knew she was going to tell whoever she was talking to hold on... then cuss the clerk out. And I was here for it!) The two ladies turned their attention to the many packs of fake yaki hair hanging on the wall.

13. I took the opportunity to look around for more stuff I needed. I needed bandannas for my head!

They are small and tight. I have a big head, but I will work with them. They were cheap. I know that because one wash had them fraying at the edges.

They say keep your hair covered up when you're out and about because droplets can get in your hair. I have been living off the same head scarf for the past 20 years, seems like...

I love it. And it is big, big enough for my big head. I need backups, though.

14. I needed some rattail combs. I found the blue one on the left at the house in a utility drawer (not sure why it was in there)! Oh how I jumped for joy! I bought the black one.

15. I bought some gel to lay my bee bee shot edges down.

Shine 'n Jam, baby! Shine 'n Jam!! Silk Edges!

Not all that important, since I won't be going anywhere, but I happen to see it, and thought.. that looks interesting.

I'm definitely gonna toss them under the bathroom sink

16. I checked out my stash with the cashier, and left (after the ladies). All in all, it was a decent trip. But I do NOT want to go back anytime soon. I bought my aunt four boxes of gloves. She better make them last. I'm not going back until July!

17. I was out and about for a couple of hours. (I made a stop at one of my small neighborhood markets on the way back home).

This all puts me in a bit of awe, day by day, that we all breathe each other's air. And this whole virus is airborne. I hope we make it through all of this. Scratch that... I KNOW we'll make it through all of this.

Yes and Amen.

Those are my SEVENTEEN thoughts... on a Thursday!!

Wordless Wednesday: Nephew Justin and His Lawnmower

Ten Tuesday Thoughts

It's Tuesday!

Not sure why I am excited about that. But I am.

1. What is this, Day 55 of me being at home? Not sure. I am beginning to lose count. Day 55!!!

2. They don't know when we are coming back to work. I am just going to close my mouth and bite my tongue on it. I just expect so much out of leadership. I expect too much. I just need to sit still and calm down.

3. Speaking of leadership, what the world is wrong with our beloved President? I realize that is a loaded up question, but.... he is doing too much.

4. Lord have mercy... please don't let the virus hit the White House. I know a couple of folks in the West Wing have it... but my goodness, I hope it doesn't spread. All this no-mask-wearing business and no social distancing feels like it's about to be a problem. Please don't let there be an outbreak. NO.

5. Murder Hornets are here!

What the heck, man?!?! We don't need another problem. UGH!

5. Now we have something called "Obamagate" creeping into the conversation. Feels like our president is making up stuff off the top of his head. SMH.

6. I am having good productive days and days that I just don't get much of anything done. Giving thanks anyway.

7. The UPS stops just about every day and drops off something to my neighbor across the street. I am sure it is work related, but my imagination is running wild.

8. Chicken and dumplings is one of my favorite meals, but I may eat it only once a year.

It gives me the 'itis something awful, and I am no good after eating it. I must immediately go to bed. Therefore, I don't care to eat it often. It is good going down, but definitely has me slowing way down.

9. D-nice's Club Quarantine on Instagram has been a happy place for many, including myself.

It sure is helpful to have it on while I'm cleaning up or cooking.

10. I really enjoyed the Jill Scott verzuz Erykah Badu session on Saturday night.

Good music that brought back GREAT memories.

Favorite Meals II: Sonoma Chicken Salad

One thing I know I love is chicken salad. I always made it when I've had some leftover chicken.

But I like this one I've gotten at the Whole Foods. It's called Sonoma Chicken Salad.

It has gone for $10.99 a pound. It might cost more now. I haven't bought it in a couple of years. And when I was buying it, I would buy no more than $5 worth. And that might enough to make a sandwich with.

I make it at home. It may be bootleg, but it tastes good enough.

I start off with chopped chicken meat.

This is usually leftover rotisserie chicken, or some chicken I need to boil before it goes bad on me.

The other major ingredients are grapes, walnuts and celery.

Chop it all up!

Throw it in a bowl!

Add some mayo, salt and pepper, and voila!

Sonoma chicken salad!

I don't know the amounts of the ingredients. I just eyeball it, like Grandma does. And it tastes just as good as Whole foods version.

I have even stretched this out with a chopped boiled egg, but that is too much going on.

This right here, though!

Oh so good!

Favorite Meals I: Mango Salsa!

I love nacho chips.

With stuff on them.

Cheese, chicken, beef, steak... salsa.

Right now, I am trying to increase my fruit and veggie intake while in quarantine, so I wanted to make some mango salsa. Whole Foods has it, but it is way too expensive. So I looked around on Pinterest and found a decent SUPER easy recipe.

It consists of chopped mango, red bell peppers, red onion, cilantro, serrano pepper, lemon and lime.

I don't know the amounts. Don't really care. Just eyeballed it. I added a pinch of salt also... Mix it all together, and-"

*LadyLee snaps fingers*

Talk about good? Whoo-hoo!

I can eat with my chips, or I can have it with salad greens. Or with some baked chicken!

I like that it is super colorful. And it gets REALLY good if it's allowed to refrigerate overnight. I think all the flavors get a chance to marinate.

I don't know how that all works, but I love it!!!

TWELVE Thursday Thoughts

Ten, no TWELVE Thoughts... On a Thursday!!!!


1. Man... I have lost count of what day it is in this quarantine madness. I think it is Day 50? Ugh. DAY 50.  This leaves me near speechless.

2. These days are running together. And I don't go back to work until June. COME ON, JUNE! Geesh.

3. That is, unless the Covid madness barrels out of control, and we spike back up in cases and deaths. We will be closed back up in the house... again.

4. I find that I am a bit haphazard. I may get some work done some days, then I may get absolutely nothing done (or at least it feels that way).

5. I never have to comb my hair, as I usually have it shaved down near bald once per month. But with all that's going on now, I haven't had a hair cut in 7 weeks. And right now, I find myself searching around the house looking for a rattail comb, because I desperately need it!

6. The ice cream man keeps circling the block. I think he is friends with the fellas that live a couple of houses down and across the street. They are always outside talking in the middle of the street, laughing and what-not.  At any rate, I wish the dude in the ice cream truck would turn that awful music off (One of my neighbors called it pediophile music. I think that phrase is stuck in my head.)

7. These new neighbors, who have been here about half a year, are better than the old ones. The old ones played music all time so the night. They were just so doggone loud.

8. With that said, I don't call the police on people. I just let them be. Play your loud music. I am too afraid of calling the police, and they come through acting a complete fool and something tragic happens. Ain't nobody got time for that. I don't want to have to live with the thought of  "If I just would've not called the police, none of this mess would've happened."

9. I made a grocery store run today.  I only wanted some fresh fruit and vegetables, but daggonit, I bought the whole store (well, not really. Only feels that way). My goal is to do major shopping every 2 weeks, and go once a week if I run out of salad greens and perishables, stuff like that. That is working out, but I need a plan B. Only spend a certain amount. Ugh.

10. Right now, I don't go to bed until around 1:30 am. I HATE that. I want to go to bed around But I rarely sleep 8 hours. I sleep about 5 hours a night. I wish I could change that.
11. One thing that gives me some solace is that my pastor does a 15 minute affirmation and confession session on facebook most mornings. I really look forward to that. Helps shift my attitude into a better and more positive space, because Lord knows I truly need it.
12. I am overly grateful for journaling. And for being able to post something on blog. I feel like it keeps my mind alert. If it wasn't able to get my thoughts, plans, and frustration out on paper where I can see them, I don't know what I would do.


That's it for my 12 Thursday Thoughts!

Honoring the Soldiers on the Frontline

So there was much excitement this past weekend over the Blue Angels flight through the city of Atlanta as a salute and honor to the healthcare workers who are taking care of patients during the pandemic.

I made sure to write down the time of the flight. They would be taking off from Dobbins Air Force base at 1:35 pm. That meant to me, even though I am about 15 miles south of the Air Force base, to have my tail outside around that time, because it would take them no time to get downtown. I knew they would be looping around the multi-county metro area, so as to pass over our hospitals...

But the jets use to fly over when the Braves played in the downtown stadium. Everything happens VERY fast.

So I stood outside near my mailbox. Waiting to hear the sound of the jets.

And around 1:50 or so, I heard them as they flew overhead.

So I heard them before I saw them.

I held my camera to the sky! And there they go!

Look a little closer!

And there they went!

Closeup!

Real Closeup!

Boy that was exciting!

All five seconds of it. Because they were really rolling!

My neighbor and her child came running outside after the fact. I told them, "Ya'll late, because they are gone."

Yes they were.

I didn't understand why they were flying east. Most flights follow the freeway south I-75. But I am just now understanding that they were flying over a hospital on the East side, maybe two of them. THEN they were flying the path of the freeway, down over the hospitals in the southern suburbs.

Now what was SUPER exciting was that there was a SISTA flying one of the jets! Captain Remoshay Nelson!

I thought she was a member to the Blue Angels, but she is a member of the Thunderbirds. If you look at the pictures above, there is a set of dark jets (Blue Angels) and light jets (Thunderbirds).  The thunderbirds are the light jets.

Who knew? I learn something new every day.

I put pictures up on facebook, so leave it up to my writing partner Terry, the consummate historian, to give a full profile of her. His comment was as follows:

What few news outlets fail to mention is the other half of the “Tribute Team” is the Demonstration Team from the United States Air Force. The Public Affaires Officer and Pilot of the number 12 jet that takes dignitaries up and flying is Capt. Remoshay Nelson. She is a graduate of Howard University and a Member of the Alpha Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. More importantly, she is quietly a very capable fighter pilot. She has made a career as a Public Relations Officer however. She hails from Douglasville, Georgia.

Terry know EVERYTHING. He busts out with so much history, that he makes ME wanna go read a history book.

Anyway, it was a great show.

Now, Captain Nelson is the consummate professional.

It could not be me, Dr. LadyLee, up there flying a jet.

You would've KNOWN what jet I was in. I would've had some red smoke coming out of the back, some sorority glitter on the bottom of my plane.. you would've known that it was your friendly neighborhood Oldgirl rolling through. Especially since I, and she, are from Georgia.

And I can hear my fam and friends.

"What plane are you gonna be in? Can you call when you about to fly over us? What plane you say you gonna be in? Can you land the plane on our street?"

LOL!!!!

Oh boy!

But it was great to see the planes fly over. I know I struggle to get myself together before I leave the house for a simple trip to the grocery store. I cannot imagine having to take care of sick patients. I just can't.

So moments of joy, I know those are always welcome.

Moreso than the salute of the flight itself, the pictures of healthcare workers on hospital rooftops jumping for joy was everything.