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.

My Deepest Apologies... and Most Hearty Congratulations

*LadyLee dries crocodile tears, picks up pen and pad, and painstakingly scratches out a letter*


Dear Crystal...

Dearest Bride-to-be!



*LadyLee leaning against fence wailing hard like Celie wailed when Mister kicked Nettie off his property*

You are one of my favorite chemists in the whole wide world.

Always come to work sharp!

Cuz' you going straight to the nearest Happy Hour after work!

Always kicking the phat high heel boots!



Cuz' you got it like that, Ma!

(Plus, you don't have to change from your work shoes to your stripper heels for your night job... Just wear them to work!!)

My dearest Crystal!

You scratch out my head when I was ailing!

In other words, you was always there when I needed to vent, when management was being some bustas...

And yet...

And yet...

AND YET...

I COMPLETELY MISSED YOUR BRIDAL SHOWER!

*LadyLee screeches and falls prostrate on the hard concrete*

Oh Crystal!!!

I am so sorry!!

I did not forget. Just mucked up the day.

I thought it was on Sunday and not on Saturday. I'd laid out my clothes and everything. Even yelled at my lil' sister Kentucky to make sure she was around on Sunday morning to paint my toes so I could wear my cute sandals!

I missed your shower.

Woe. is. meeeeeeee!!!!!

You know girl, I was peeking around corners Tuesday morning as I walked the halls. I just knew you were gonna bust me in the head with some chemistry glassware and tackle me to the ground. I was braced at every turn!!

But I didn't run into you...

A beat down avoided for yet another day.

I think you know I messed up.

I messed up bad.

(Ask Cowgirl Cre. She called me while she was on her way to your shower. I argued her down that she had the wrong day. I. was. wrong!!!!)

But, I will be at the shower ya'll having tomorrow at the workplace.

I will be there, the first one there.

Congratulations to you and Rudy, who look like he wanna be rapper T.I.

LOL!!!!

I'ma need him to put on his chinchilla coat (the one he's wearing in the pic on your desk) and sing "You can have whatever you liiiiikkkkkke" at the wedding reception!

LOL

On the real, my girl...

I remember that long talk we had in the sample prep room, when you were grinding up your cheese samples in the meat grinder... I had the *gas face* because you begged me to come sit in the room with you while you worked in there ("Leave me alone, Crystal!!!" I'd yelled). And we had a very long talk about a recent break-up you had, and your determination to find someone who loved you for you...

I sat at the steel table, listening to you over that stupid meat grinder... Just nodding and listening as you talked it out.

I was happy to see a woman stick to her standards...

That is rare these days.

But I heard the determination in your voice. I knew you meant what you said. I will always remember that day. Always.

Some of the most memorable conversations are held in the strangest places.

You were gonna wait on your Prince...

And now you've found him.

Glad you found Prince Rudy!

Good for you, Princess Crystal! Good for you!

And this time, I promise I won't forget the wedding date: May 30th, 6 pm sharp...

I will be sure to sit at the end of the pew and throw rice at you, straight in the face, as you walk to the altar!!!

LOL!!

Congratulations Crystal and Rudy... All the best to you!

Forever and ever.

Your friend, LadyLee.

More Laughing... More Singing... in Heaven

Bernie Mac

October 5, 1957 - August 9, 2008

Issac Hayes
August 20, 1942- August 10, 2008

More Congrats in Store, More, More, More: Congratulations Lil' Cory!!

Man, I don't know what's going on lately, but it seems like good GOOD stuff is happening for people all around me. There's stuff going on that I didn't even blog about.

But, if you don't know by now, KNOW THIS:

I ABSOLUTELY love when someone I know achieve's a special goal in their life.

I LOVE IT. I LOVED-ED it.

If you don't know, you better ask somebody. Yeah, I'ma be skipping around, singing the smurf song, clapping my hands hard, tossing rose petals high in the sky...

I Love to see someone achieve goals... doing good postive things! And you know, I'm not thinking about the achievement, I am thinking about the story behind the process and path to that goal.

And I was wailing, yelling and crying this weekend at LadyTee's baby cousin Lil' Corey's graduation.

Congratulations Lil' Cory!!!!!!!!!

Lil' Cory graduated from Atlanta Area Tech this weekend.

If seeing Lil' Cory graduate wasn't enough of a treat enough, I got a chance to see the Hardest working man in show business, Tom Joyner, give the commencement speech.


That man is something funny. I have GOT to catch a Sky Show when it comes back to town.

You may ask why we call him "Lil' Cory". Afterall, he's a huge linebacker looking dude, lol. Well, LadyTee's man was named Cory. So we called her man "Big Cory". We came up with "Lil' Cory" to distinguish the two.

And he was little at one time. I remeber when he was 2 or 3 years old, and me and LadyTee would pick on him something terrible, have the poor boy wailing, even. His Mama, Nita (miss you, Nita!) would yell at us, and warn us constantly:

"You know the boy gonna be big when he grow up, right? He's gonna get ya'll back!"
We were like. . . so what. And we kept picking on him.

He got big. Was huge by age 12. Could pick us up and move us out of his path. Thus, we tred quietly around him.

He has been our rap expert FOREVER. We use to pay him no mind, but then we started seeing trends. Cory knew the hot music. He would boom different artists LOUD on his stereo equipment. We all do that, yeah. But, the difference is, Lil' Cory would do this 2 to 3 years before they blew up, before anyone had ever heard of them.

"Lee, this group is called Wu Tang, and you watch, they gonna be worldwide in a minute."
"Shut up, Cory, you don't know what you're talking about."

"Ya'll hear this right here? That's that Kast [Outkast]. They local folk right there. They gonna do it."
"Cory, shut up! And turn that mess down!"

"These peeps right here. Cash Money Millonaires. This boy name Master P. They gonna be fiya!!"
"Man, turn that mess off. You always playing some craziness."

Well, after awhile, well. . . Over the years, let's just say I get in contact with Lil' Cory before buying questionable music. He is ALWAYS right.

Anyhow, Lil' Cory has had a rough time of it over the years. Both parents passed away, and he's moved around a lot. He dropped out of high school. I mean, there were times when I hoped he was alright, where ever he was. Sometimes, all you can do is pray for people.

Then. . .

He and I had a private conversation one day.

We (Me, lil' Cory and LadyTee) were standing outside at my car some seven years ago, I believe. It was a dark fall evening. We were at LadyTee's house, outside talking. LadyTee ran in the house to get something for me.

Lil' Cory looked over his shoulder. Then he turned back to me.

"Lee," he said. "I'ma tell you something, and don't you tell nobody."
I nodded. Didn't know what the heck he was about to say. I just nodded. Almost smiled.
"Lee, I've decided to go ahead on and get that GED. I'm going to do it."
"Well you do that, man," I said. "Go ahead on and do it."

We talked more about it. He wanted to do it, but didn't want every one on him about it, pressuring him, I suppose.

I socked him on arm, popped him in his chest, told him he could DO IT.

I get a lot of that. I have convos with folk and they break out with "Lee, I got something to tell you, but don't tell nobody."

When I hear THAT? I'm like - Awwwwwww, suki, suki, now!!!

Why? Because that is the START of things right there. That person has been privately pontificating about something they want to do. Then I imagine them getting so swole up with the idea that they got to just tell somebody.

And they like to tell me. Let's just say I've seen one other person reach a goal this week, and I am not even blogging about that, since it's too private. But I saw the light in that person's eyes, and uh... got all happy again!!!

And that's how I'm feeling about Lil' Cory right about now.

He not only got his GED. Shoot, he did that a few years ago.

He went on to get his degree in Dental Lab Technology.

He not only achieved his GED goal... He went over and beyond.

And seeing him march into the Atlanta Civic Center in his cap and gown, I got a little choked up.

We had a convo awhile back during his first year of school. He explained the intricacies of denture making. I didn't know what the heck he was talking about. I just remember him being VERY enthusiastic in his explanation of the tools he used and all that. I had the *blank stare* most of the time, trying to take it all in. I eventually smiled, and asked if he was gonna be able to hook up the gangsta grills. He said he was thinking about it! LOL!! I also wanted to know if I could get the free teeth cleanings. (You know how we always looking for the "hook-up").

But, while he was explaining his craft to me, and now while at that graduation, I was remembering that night he said he verbalized that GED goal and was gonna do some things...

And here we were... he had done that and more.

So, congratulations, Shawty!! (Yeah, I'ma call you what you call me, man! LOL)

You know me, I took plenty of pictures. A TON.

I'll only post a few here.

First of all, Cory's best friend was there. Nothing like a BFF representin' for ya.


I think ol' Rodney has been his road dawg since high school. And that's a good thing!

LadyTee's Mama "Babs" was cheesing a bit too hard. That chick was fighting to get in the pictures, showing all 32 teeth.

"We need you to turn down the wattage, Babs!" LadyTee said.

It was as if the sun was blinging off her teeth. But she ignored us. She was happy for her nephew, and rightly so. So smile as big as your heart's delight, Babs!!!!!

All the fellas lined up for a group pic with Cory.

I tell you, why can't the young folks smile? Why do they have to always look like they're about to make a hardcore rap video? Even Rodney's little son got his mean-mug going.

Anyhow, that's cool.

Because there was one person with the sweetest smile of all. . .

Cory's 3 month old apple-cheeked baby girl.


Now, I was standing outside of Nell's graduation a few weeks ago, talking to Cory, and I asked him what his baby's name was.

Her name is "Korea"," he said.

*Crickets. MAD a$$ crickets*

I snapped on him. "How the heck you gonna name your child after some foreign country?"

He stared at me. "Lee, it's Corya. She has my name, just add an "a" to it."

I nodded. "Oh, my bad, my bad. That's cool. That's a good name!"

And Lil' Cory killed the mean mugging when it came to his baby girl, Corya.

His girlfriend was very proud. I can tell by that "leaning on the shoulder" thing she was doing. (Ladies, you know how we get when we know we got a good man!)

Baby Corya was sharp... Even down to the Polo sneakers.



Not suprising, because Lil' Cory is always sharp as a tack. Some 10 years ago, he taught me how to properly iron and crease pants, using the bootleg starch you mix in a bottle. ("Lee don't you EVER fool with that starch in the spray can. That's booty. Don't you EVER use that!!!")(I'll never forget that longwinded discussion! LOL).

More pics of Cory and Corya.

He's such a proud papa!!!

I'm proud of SO many people right now. I don't know WHAT'S going on this past week, but I've been getting good news from so many folks... I wake up with a smile every morning!

And Cory, I am, most of all, proud of you.

I saw it in your eyes, the fall night we were outside talking.

I wish we coulda got a snapshot of the future when we were talking way back then. But you didn't need it.

You had the one thing that you needed-

FAITH IN YOURSELF.

No glimpse into the future can trump that. And that was all you needed.

So Shawty... go hook some folks up with much needed dentures. . . or the occasional gangsta grill.

All I want to know is can you hook an Oldgirl up with some free dental cleaning?

LOL!!

Proud of you, man. Really, really proud!!! I know that you will do great things.

CONGRATULATIONS Dedric, Class of 2008 !!

My best friend LadyTee's son, Dedric, who we affectionately call "Nell", graduated from high school last Friday.

!!!CONGRATULATIONS DEDRIC!!!

Dang boy... seems like you were JUST born yesterday. I remember the night your Ma went into labor. It was 1989. I was 19 and your Ma was 21. We were over at your Aunt Nita's house, watching television. Your Mama was sitting on the couch, eating beans and franks. Then she started in on a bowl of cornflakes.

(Yes, I was sitting there, staring at her. I thought her food choices were, uh, disgusting).

"I got gas, Lee," she said.
"Look at what you eating," I said. "No wonder."

"Shut up, girl!"

I got up and went home. I had class early the next morning, so I needed to do my homework and go to bed.

She called me the next day.

"Girl, a little after you left, my water broke."
"WHAT?"
"Yeah, girl?"
"You had the baby?"
"Yeah, girl! It was a piece of cake. Nothing to it, come on down and see!"
"Alright!"

I remember hanging up the phone and thinking: "She sound like she a little high or something."

Which she was.

By the time I finished up at school and got to the hospital, she had come back to reality.

She looked crazy as hell, all weak and dishelved. I sat next to her on the bed and held you in my arms. You were sleeping, and your Mama was WHINING hard.

"Girl, I ain't having sex EVER again, not even with my husband. Blah, blah, BLAAAH!!"

LOL!!!!!

That was the beginning of an adventure. I remember when you first started walking and talking, and how, when you knew I was coming over, you'd stand and stare out the window, waiting for my car to drive up.

You would go crazy, screaming...

"My Friend! It's my friend!!! My friend is here. IT'S MY FRIEND!!!!!"

This would thoroughly piss your mother off...

"She is NOT your friend, Dedric. She is MY friend!!!"

I would try to calm her. "Tee, he's only a baby. He's only 1 years old. Just let him think that. Look at him, he look so happy."

"I don't care," she would say. "He need to find his own friends."

**crickets**

You caught on, even at a young age, and stopped saying it.

But it didn't matter.

We were still happy to see each other.

And now, I'm glad to see you have your own road dog, your own best friend Pat, who we call "PJ".

PJ was at the graduation when we got there. He was off in the cut, "trying to talk to somebody's woman", LadyTee's Mother "Babs" said.

But I was glad to see ol' PJ. He represents, like only a best friend should. (Even though I had to tell dude to pull his sagging pants up a hundred times, LOL!!) And now, I don't have to hear your Mama threaten you anymore. ("Dedric, leave Lee alone. That's my friend, not yours! Go find your own friend!")

(But now, she is following her daughter "Milk-Milk" around, saying "Don't YOU wish YOU had a BFF?!")

Don't worry, Milk! You'll have your own BFF soon enough.

LOL!!

Your cousin Lil' Corey came to the graduation. I don't know WHERE he came from. It was almost like he swung into the place on a rope through the roof or something. When they called your name, Dedric, we all hollered and screamed, but he bent over the balcony, and hollered loudest of all.

Yep, we were GLAD to see you get through high school, boy!!

I am particularly glad. I don't have to hear your Mama complaining about getting you up at 5 a.m. anymore so you can make the 2 hour bus ride to that dayum North Springs High school. GEEZ! (But I am going to miss our early 5 a.m. convos, LadyTee. Maybe I'll just call you around that time for ol' time sakes. LOL!)

I don't know why you young dudes won't smile, and want to be all hardcore. But your Mama was all smiles that day. That's just how happy she was to see you march down that aisle and get your diploma!

Your school asked loved ones to write letters to the graduating seniors, and LadyTee asked me to write a letter to you. I had soooooo much to say, but wanted to keep it to only one page. I wrote how I was sooo proud of you, and how I know you will go on to do great things.


But I wrote one thing in particular:

Boy, your Mama is always screaming... "She's my friend, not yours, Dedric."

I beg to differ.

I AM YOUR FRIEND.

Really though.

Dedric, I am SO proud of you. I know you will go on to do GREAT things. You are one of the most compassionate and caring people that I know. Like I said, it seems like you were born just yesterday. I remember your first words, when you first started to walk.... I remember all of your life triumphs. And don't forget, you are my #1 playstation NBA08 game playing partner (LOL).

You've turned out to be a wonderful young man.

Go Forward, and do great things.

And always remember.

No matter what your Mama says...

I am your friend.

Rest in Peace, Karen.

My book club sista Karen unexpectantly made her transition on yesterday, April 29, 2008.

I light a candle for you, girl.

Rest in peace

Love, LadyLee.