Of Masks and Hair

I received the most interesting gift a month or so ago.

It is a mask made and cast in Uganda. The mask is made then burnt with fire. I don't know what that exactly means, but is smells strongly of fire and wood and barbecue (if that makes any sense).  I like it. Besides, I have no African art. This is a nice piece. I may look in to collecting a few more pieces.

My coworker Lady M's husband goes back and forth to Africa on public health business several times a year and sent it to work via Lady M.

The cats hate it. If they are running around being more raucous than usual, I bring out that mask. They sit down immediately. Not sure why they are so afraid of it, but it is hilarious.  Look at Sister Callie Jo below...

"Bet you sit your butt down and stop all that ripping and running," I told her.

I had no idea where Mitch ran off to. He wanted no part of that mask.

But my coworker's husband did something else nice for me earlier this year.

We'd always joked about taking some personal item of mine back to Africa. He could take it and leave it there. That way there's a part of me in Africa. It would be like my ancestors, who'd survived the Middle Passage, had made it back to their homeland. Of course I don't know what part of Africa from whence my people originated, but just to have something of mine taken back to the Motherland would be a great thing.

I thought about writing a poem. Or sending a scarf or a piece of clothing.

I pondered this for months.

"Don's going to Africa again, and he may not be going back for awhile," my coworker said. "Decide what you want him to take."

I couldn't decide what to give him. Then I had an idea:

It was about time for me to get a hair cut. So I washed my hair and I grabbed my clippers and shaved the hair from the nape of my neck. There was a half a handful of hair, but I collected a thimble full, enough for a teaspoon-sized plastic bag (a bag that previously contained small electronic parts for my new cell phone. For some reason I saved the tiny bag).  I placed the little plastic bag in a envelope and gave it to my coworker to give to her husband to take on his next trip to Africa.

"Tell Don to blow it into the wind," I said.

And that's what Don did.

"Don stepped out on the balcony of his hotel room and released your hair and let it blow in the wind," Lady M said.

I imagined this charming Caucasian man saying a few words and releasing my hair into the wind. I wondered what he said, but I didn't ask. I am sure it wasn't all dramatic. He was just doing me a favor, this returning my DNA to the motherland. 

"GLORY!" I yelled, my hands raised high in the air. "My ancestors made it back home!"

And we talked and joked about that even up until now.

I could not think of anything to give him to take back to Africa. But my hair was a great idea. It was personal. It was a part of me. The genetic material of many generations is found in hair.

And my past generations made it back from whence they came.

Even if it was in a small bit of my hair.  

Virtural Jewelry Box

What is up... yep, I've been missing in action, but have no fear!

Here I am...

... with a peak into our virtual jewelry box.
I know Serenity_23 is never pleased with my jewelry of choice- colorful rubber bands for my wrists.

So imagine my surprise when during a visit to Grandma's a couple of months ago, my auntie gave me some lovely gear for my wrist.

My Auntie Joyce is so talented. She is an artist and photographer, and now she makes jewelry.

This jewelry is even good when I'm active... like when I am rough-housing Oscar-Tyrone.

LOL

She made my sister Kentucky a bracelet also.

Kentucky is a diva and likes bright colors.

"Auntie asked me what you like, Lisa," my sister had said when I asked why we had different bracelets. "I told her you like dark colors."

Yes I do. My sister knows me well.

Back in September, Singlema said she saw something perfect for me. She sent me this:




A charm necklace with charms of my initial, my amethyst birthstone and charms symbolizing my favorite hobby... chrochet!

Last week, we celebrated Cowgirl Cre's birthday. A couple of coworkers gave her some really nice earrings.

Cowgirl Cre loves earrings. These are just perfect for her.

So that's a peak into our jewelry box.

No high powered bling. None at all.

Our bling are nice homemade and sentimental jewelry....

We would have it no other way.

Favorite Gifts, Part I

I sometimes get interesting cards and gifts in the mail from readers.

It all makes an Oldgirl smile it does.

I holler "Look Oscar-Tyrone, someone thought of me today!"

*Oscar-Tyrone gives a blank stare and walks away with his tail in the air*

Silly cat! He don't understand how great that is. I am ALWAYS thankful.

Anyway, I got a text message from my friend in my head, reader and lurker Lisa B. stating
"Good Morning! I have sent a package to you. Be on the lookout for it. Mailed it yesterday evening. Didn't put a note inside but u will know its from me."

To which I responded "O_O!!!!!!!!"

I like Lisa B. She's my best friend in my head. She is!

LOL

Anyway, I was sweeping the kitchen floor one Saturday morning, and the doorbell ring. I almost didn't answer it, thinking it was the Witnesses. But I answered.

And it was my friendly neighborhood Mail Lady! With a package for me!

She handed it to me. I almost dropped it.

"Be careful! It's heavy!" she said.

*lee cheesing real hard*

So I opened the package, and lo and behold, here's what I see:



*lee passes out on kitchen linoleum*

I didn't pass out. But I do believed I screamed loud enough for the whole block to hear me.

Let's see, there was some squash relish, some green tomato relish, and some chow-chow!

I have never had green tomato relish before. You best believe I opened that jar and grabbed a spoon and had myself a taste.

That is sho nuff something good! Sho NUFF!

And then there was some chow-chow. That is cabbage relish. I LOVE chow-chow. My great-grandmother use to make it back in the 70s. It took her ALL day, too. I remember sitting in the kitchen watching her do it... and while it cooked, we would go in the bedroom, and watch her "stories" (soap operas).

Oh the memories. And Lisa B. sent me some.

THEN there was the squash relish.

Now I posted about this awhile back. She gave me mason jars of squash relish, pear preserves, and plum jelly.

All of it was good. Still working on the jam and jelly!

Ohhhhhh, I made that squash relish last a good long time!

But alas... I ran out. And I called my sister Kentucky, who found the squash relish recipes on the web, talkinbout how she was going to make some.

Humph.

I gave Kentucky some of MY relish way back then. I can still see her putting some in a small gladware container.

(I want my disposable container back, Kentucky).

I sent Kentucky the above picture of MY relishes.

When I talked to her later, she said "Ooh wee, I'm coming over to get some of that!

*crickets*

"The hell you say," I said. "You gits none of this."

That shut that conversation line down.

LOL

(But I was not lying. Me and Kentucky gonna FIGHT if she even think she gets a taste of it. Knock out, drag out fight 'til one of us passes out.)

So Lisa B.

Thanks sooooooo much for the relishes. You gonna keep me eating good until next year, hon!

I 'preciate you!

Look out for a couple of jars of my homemade red bell pepper ketchup.

I've been thinking every since I made those...

"I'ma send Lisa B. and Mama Lisa some of my mason jars of ketchup... Show them that even though I am a city gal, I got some Celie in me too!"

LOL!

Stay tuned for Favorite gifts, Part II, next week (from BayouCreole Chick Ali)!