There Are Lots of Kinds of Pain

There are lots of kinds of pain. At the beginning of my last therapy session I had told my therapist that I was having a pain day and he asked me how I handled that. I told him that I responded differently, based on the kind of pain it was. If it is arthritis pain, it...

Broken Platform

I have abilities. I used to market them. Website design. Graphic Design. Business Consulting. But I got busy getting better after I got really sick and had to stop and focus on me and after awhile the few clients I had, had to move on and I just haven’t tried to...

That is What They Know

I have a person from the past that emails me. I always respond but I don’t tell them too much. Just enough. I know they love me but our relationship has always been toxic. It isn’t their fault. They are a good person they just need some help and I can’t give it to...

5 Books for January 2024

Happy New Year! I don’t believe in making resolutions but I do believe in doing my best every day. So after committing to 7 books a month for the end of 2023, I decided that I might want to change gears to free up more time for other things. However, I still enjoy...

The Pain of Being Black

Very rarely does Karen G Clemenson share the pain of being Black. She has trained herself to focus on the growth, the goodness of the White people that have helped and loved her, and the moments worth celebrating as we evolve. But she had a moment of rawness as we...

The Monster Inside of Me

The monster inside of me doesn’t care about what I think or feel or want to be I was born with this and I don’t think it cares how old I am It is part of my genealogy I see it in ancestors and a few who have come after me ~ I have tried to get rid of this thing that...

My Soldier & I

I didn’t move into her camp She moved into mine My soldier & I, together worked hard to make it ours ~ Doctors & therapists were helpful to give me a name for all the things that make me different I had been asking for help for so long ~ Medical professionals...

An Important Letter

I wrote a letter to my biological father and his 2nd wife this week. It took me about 3 days to get every thing written down that I had been holding against them for the last 40 years and answer any question or accusation they made against me in the letter they sent...

Grandparents Understand

Nana told me grandparents understand I had told her I was sad I had learned late it was my responsibility to make time for Grandma Clem ~ I was baking banana bread when she came to me My heart felt warm and I knew Grandma Clem was here ~ She told me she knew her son...

No More Letters

I have been the daughter of a fool For so long I wanted you to remember you loved me to choose me one time ~ Back when we built things together and grew things in the dirt and danced to Thriller and Three Dog Night Before you dishonored our home Before you left Before...

The Birthday Card I Didn’t Want

Today I went to get a package I was expecting and was shocked to get the birthday card I didn’t want. I must have looked as terrible as I felt because Lorie asked if I was ok. I stuttered as I answered her. I can’t say I wasn’t surprised by what was in that purple...

Nana Really Liked Him

I think I met him when I was about 4 years old. He was a stylish man with black curly hair and my nana really liked him. He had a pretty smile. He was quick on his feet and he liked to play with us. I remember that quiet look of shock as I went through many stages,...

7 Books for December 2023

We have reached the end of 2023 and it seems a good time reflect on my reading goals and what I learned while reading 7 children’s books each month. Children’s books are special. I learned that old children’s books are often nostalgic and teach classic ideas, where...

The Icon

I breathe in because I am human I say your name because you are human too I have lived the life of a performer The lights the bystanders the costumes and makeup They cost too much I don’t keep my secrets anymore They are too heavy I want my yes to be yes and my...