The Holidays Oh What A Magical Times Of the Year

Okay good people, I'm taking some time away from the madness to chat it up with you all. What madness you ask? Why the HOLIDAY MADNESS!!! Yes it's that time of year again folks - misteltoe, garland, candy canes and why can't I find a freaking red cable knit sweater in a size large for my cousin - time of the year.

I thought that once I became a mom I would love the holidays, the magic of seeing my little one's eyes light up at the sight of the tree, the joy of watching him open up presents....yeah whatever!  Let me tell you something, I spent an hour struggling to put my Martha Stewart tree that I bought from Kmart together, only to realize that it was leaning distinctly to the left. I rifled through the box to see if I missed a piece, I looked at the directions only to find out my tree came short a piece...thank you Miss Martha Stewart, and I had to dismantle it, re-box it and drag it back to Kmart, stand on line for 30 minutes to exchange it for another one and go home and do it all over again.  Can you tell I am not having a good time yet?  Don't get me wrong I love the opportunity to get together with family and friends, drink a little egg nog, play a little spades, do the Cupid Shuffle, but sometimes I wonder, is all the decorating and gift buying worth it? Would you enjoy yourself any less without the presence of 10 feet of garland?

I think that while those things are lovely, that we forget what the holiday is about - family.  There is nothing in this world that can compare to my Grammy's fierece hug, or my MoMo's refrain of "Oooo girl that's my song" when the Cha Cha Slide comes on (yes it can still get a party started).  If you take away all the superficial things, all the ornamental nonsense, what is at the heart of the holidays is love and family.

So while you are standing in line on Christmas Eve trying to get the very last Wii - think about that.  Oh, and Honey, if you are reading this, I want the silver Coach bag, not the black! LOL

Merry Christmas One and All!

Black Superwoman and Other Urban Myths

Welcome women one and all!! My name is Cleopatra Jones and I will be your narrator on this journey through black womanhood. I will speak the truth on being a black woman, wife, mother, daughter and all around superwoman!

Born and raised in NYC I grew up surrounded by Black Superwomen - my momma, which I affectionately call MoMo who raised me as a single parent and taught me how to be tough and how to by FLYY as hell, with little money! My grandma - Grammy - who showed me what being a no-nonsense, I'll slap the taste out your mouth woman is all about. My auntie - Beber - who showed me that being true to yourself is the best thing you can do - damn the rest and my cousin Tangie - who helped me along my path to being "grown".

I learned more from these women than I ever could from 4 years of college, 2 years of grad school and 10 years in the work force. They helped to shape me, mold me and are still helping me today to get my footing, now that I am a Black Superwoman myself with a child, a career, and a marriage of my own to deal with.

So sit back, relax, put your tray tables away and move your chair into its upright position, it is going to be a bumpy ride!