Because I am a Human….
Ahhh yes! A day were I finally have off from work and have planned nothing more than a dentist appointment. I feel good. I got up and got the kids off to school and came back home and decided I would catch up on my blog and share some recent happenings in my life.
Yesterday I attended a wake/funeral of a late neighbor. His name was Loundry Berry. A 58 year old man who spent his lifetime in the company of education. As I would talk with him from time to time, we would discuss how school was getting to us and how stressful taking even the miminal amounts of classes can be. He had already obtained a B.A in Early Childhood Ed ( I believe) from Ottawa University and was pursuing his Masters. He also made, played, and taught African Drums and drumming. He was a man of culture I can tell you that. Mornings I would watch him walk to his car wearing the traditional African garb and looking so STRONG. I admired his confidence and pride in our culture. That was the most beautiful thing about him. But I realized something was wrong when on an early Saturday morning movers came and were hauling all type of stuff out to the garbage. Couches, refridgerators, stoves, clothing, plants, bookshelves…and then a pair of man loafers. That hit me. And yet I still didn’t know what was going on. My other neigbor knocked on my door one night as me and a friend were making dinner, and she asked had I heard. Then she went on to tell me about how he had been sick for about 3 months, and thought it was cold. Doctors finally told him it was pneumonia, drained his lungs, and discovered Cancer. Wow…..
I was saddened to hear all this. Me, losing my father to Cancer in 2006 was and is something that I have not gotten over yet. There are so many questions left unanswered, so much time that was left unattended. I think about my dad and how he was so prosperous and loved by many, and I sometimes feel like he is living through me. Wierd. But it’s like I wish he could still talk to me and tell me what I should be doing. I do miss him. But Mr. Berry was a good man from what I know. He was patient and wise…he will be missed. As I walk around the apartment building, it’s almost like I don’t want to make too much noise….it’s like I don’t want to disturb him, although he is no longer here on earth.
So, yesterday was a good day of reminicsing and saying goodbye to an old friend, and old neighbor.
Yesterday was also interesting because I finally talked with my boss about the possibility of me going part time to pursue my love of becoming an enterpreneur. YES! I have NEVER shared with anyone besides my husband about my desire to open a men/women Vintage Clothing Boutique. YES! Three years ago, I remember walking into a Wells Fargo and waiting almost an hour to speak with a personal banker about a small business loan. I remember that day…a young handsome black man greeted me, shook my hand, sat me down and asked me for my business plan. At that time, all I knew was I wanted to name my boutique “Rarity Couture” and it would house rare couture items from around the world. Vintage and stylish peices for the man and woman. Well…with no business plan, and no real knowledge, he sent me on my way to do get some educating. Over this period of time, my life has changed and I want new things…but yet have the same vision for my boutique. So..just stay updated because I am really making the first step to get this thing going…considering internships at other vintage clothing boutiques, travelling to interview and tour really prestigious stores outside of Wisconsin, and also keeping my head in books and websites to get the history of what I plan to do and the resources. I want this goal to be accomplished in the next 1-2 years. So…I’m going to have to tug on relatives, friends, associates, and business partners to help me get to where I need to be. It can be done. February of 2009, I plan to visit New York Fashion Week to observe what ‘they’ think the new trends will be for the upcoming seasons. This too is another step for me as far as research. So it sounds fun, but much learning will be going on. 
Another thing I have been working on is graphics. I have always had an appreciation and love for art, so I guess that is why I dibble dabble into so many areas. I have begun working on a book cover for a co-worker who is wrote a book about baseball and his love for two teams. His motivation behind this was the fact that someone told him that it was impossible to be a fan of two teams. He felt so compelled to share his story of how he fell in love with two teams and the real life possibility, that he went on to write a whole book! I’m proud of him and although I am not a sports fanatic, I beleive in his vision and want to help out. Below is JUST AN EXTREME SAMPLE I sent to him:
Rough Draft Cover with image he provided
the before and after photos
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