About Me

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Washington, DC, United States
I'm a naturalized Caribbean immigrant in the grand old U.S.A. I live in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Ward 7 and I'm a forever-journalist. I started my first career as a magazine editor and I haven't been able to give it up. When I started this blog, I was knee-deep into my fourth career as a government public relations specialist. However, I have been heading up my editorial staffing company, Invisible Colours LLC out of my Ward 7 neighborhood. I'm expanding my company's brand by offering video production and other social media technologies for clients. This blog follows my journey as a 40-something-year old in Washington, D.C. Married for several years, I have three kids--a boy and two girls. I am blessed, and I'm loving all that God has given me. I have a master's in journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor's of arts from the University of the West Indies. I hope I can offer a little insight into my life and my experiences. Writing serves as a catharsis for me. It is what I do best. It is what I love. It is who I am.

Friday, April 29, 2011

On the Royal Wedding

Sigh. I'm not ashamed, I watched the royal wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton this morning. I actually woke up my six-year-old Taleyah to come with. :-)  I remember watching Prince Charles and Lady Diana get married back in 1981 with my mom. I was home from school I think. But this morning, we had a small window of opportunity to watch it as we were getting ready for work and school. Very romantic and magical. My youngest, Dakota, was also entranced. She watched it after she got up. When she saw the dress, she's like, "the princess, the princess," pointing at the tv. How did she know all this? And Taleyah was watching intently. Mouth open.

In retrospect, this is what most little girls dream of--to be like a princess on her wedding day. Or to just be a princess, like Tiana from Princess and the Frog. The last time I was talking to Taleyah about getting married, I took a decidely modern approach. I didn't tell her, after they were married, they lived happily ever after, like most of us heard. Such a myth. When I was younger, I always said that was a misconception. I just told her, after they got married, they continued to live and to work through the rest of their lives as happily as they could together. It's not always going to be happy. There are challenges to live through. You have to decide which challenges are worth it and which aren't. But you have to make sure you're equally yoked to the one you're with, and everyone has to be on the same page. Happily ever after gives the impression that nothing ever goes wrong, and you smile through it all the time.

But that's the reality of our lives--its challenges, its joys, its sadness, its ups and downs. I was happy to see William find the love he was looking for, especially with all that he and Harry have been through--especially with the loss of their mother.

In terms of the wedding, I liked the top bodice of Kate's dress by Sarah Burton. I thought the bottom seemed a little plain. She could have put some of the lacing below, but all in all she was beautiful and well put together. I liked her maid of honor's dress. The kiss was a disappointment--way too short. For some reason, it looked like she was pulling away for the second kiss. In comparing theirs to his parents, I think I read where about half an hour before they got married, Prince Charles told Lady Di he didn't love her. That was devastating. What was she to do. She loved him; plus she was 19, a young bride. In kissing him, her neck was over-extended for the kiss. Prince William's was a little too. But in looking at their body, both their belly buttons seem to be outward, more focused on the people not so much facing each other. I wonder what Janine Driver would say. She's the body language expert who says to look at people's belly buttons to see where their interests and hearts are.

Friday, April 22, 2011

On Death

One of my good friends, Larry Dillard, just died this week. He was only 59. I met Larry when I was a 2002-2003 APSA fellow in Rep. Robert C. Bobby Scott's office, and Larry was the scheduler and press secretary. I credit Larry as the first person who had me thinking that government public relations wasn't the "dark side," as we're led to believe in journalism. I had left the Afro when I met Larry and he gave me a lot of opporunities.

Generally, for Mr. Scott, I wrote speeches, and did research on the legislative topics he did such as the budget and the judiciary. My largest project was working on the Iraq war, showing it was the wrong war at the wrong time. But Larry showed me how to write the press release, and he allowed me to craft quite a few. He had me tag along to a couple of press events with him. He was the quintessential spokesman. This weekend, I'm heading to Newport News, Va., to say good bye to an old friend. My fellow Gemini. I'm riding with some other buddies. I think it's easier to share the time with others.

Just this past March would be the last time I would see him. I had a monthly dermatologist appointment, and after I left, I headed to CVS. Who should I see but Larry hanging out by the prescription counter. We sat on the chairs and talked old times for a little under an hour. It's like we had nothing else to do. We were both relaxed and chilled and just talked old times, what's next, retirement, my son heading to college, and everything in between. That brother was full of info, life, and everything else. Since I left Scott's office, whenever Larry saw me, he would stop, say, hey, how's your husband? How're the kids? That's Larry. Thanks, Larry. God's speed and blessings on you. A true friend.

That's the hardest part of getting older. As I continue on the journey, more and more people I know seem to die along the way.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

On Aging

I find that as I get older, certain things that irked me, no longer get under my skin. I can't think of an exact example at this moment but I will soon. That's another thing, I find I'm getting forgetful. Sigh. That's one thing with aging, the body betrays you. Is that a knee pain for the umpteenth time? Man. And why is my hair thinning out? You think your body will stand the test of time, but like a car that gets old, the body needs maintenance and updating. My poor little 2003 Rav 4 is having a hard time at it.

And why at 39, do I have fine gray hairs sticking out. Geez. I didn't think that was possible. Time to whip out some dye. Blonde anyone? The ironic thing is, as I get more comfortable in my skin, it's getting older, and is holding up less and less. I'm only going to be 40. I wonder how older women in their 60s to 80s make out?

Sunday, April 10, 2011

On Family

Yesterday, my inlaws came to spend some time with us. My nephew was promoted in the Army and his parents, uncle, sister, nieces and friends visited our house for the afternoon. It was pleasant to spend the time with family I don't get to see often. But I also got a chance to cook some curried chicken, channa and potato, and some rice. It was topped off with my mom's hot sauce--to die for hot. And we shared some chocolate cake my brother and sister-in-law brought over.

Got me thinking of the blessing that is family. I also marvel at this interesting dynamic of where I fit in on the family continuum. In my married family, I'm one of the "older" adults because of my position with my hubby. He's the youngest of the four siblings, and even though I'm now going to be 40, my hanging peers are my brothers- and sister-in-law who are all well closer to 60 and 70. They are so engaging with the stories and the banter back and forth. Antonio's niece is over 40 and is already a grandmother, and his nephew is a couple of months younger than I am. But because I'm Uncle T's wife, I'm still Aunt Michelle. I marvel at this dynamic especially when it comes to the family I was born into, which is much bigger than my married family.

My mom is one of 10 to a mother who still is one of eight. So, I'm one of the older grandchildren with children. I'm about to have an 18-year-old who's heading to college. So my cousins will be my peers even though I'll hang heavy with my mom's siblings who were much younger when I came about in 1971.

The interesting thing about family is these roles we get to play, and at times the dual and triple roles we may have to play when in different situations. For instance, when I was growing up, when it came to my mother's family, my sister and I were the oldest of the cousins as my mom was the oldest. With my father's family, we were the youngest as he was the youngest of his four brothers. And we got to play these roles as older, wiser caregiver when I babysat my two-year-old cousins when I was 14. Or we get to whine, we want gum, when we were with the older cousins on my dad's side. They were the caregivers.

I can sit back and reflect on these minor roles I've had to play. I'm not sure which I preferred--the opportunity to be the bossy older cousin or the whiny younger one. Each has prepared me for the more flexible and grown up roles I've had to adopt as an adult as wife, mother, reporter, writer, friend, volunteer, public relations specialist, editor, freelancer or just plain Michelle B. Sometimes I still feel like a little girl inside doing all this role playing, although the rest of the world sees me and says I'm a grown a.... woman.