Have you seen it?

Today I was reminded of one of the most excellent, honest films i have seen in a long time...Trouble the Water... If you haven't seen it, you need to get, rent or buy this film. It is AMAZING. (young people, get an OK from your parents first - the language is raw and real). This is Katrina, drop by drop as it's NEVER been shown before. You are taken into the waters, and just when you think you're not gonna make it...

I saw this film about three months ago, and for weeks it did not leave my mind. I was touched by it in so many ways and on so many levels. It should have won EVERY award it was up for. I am usually not at a loss for words, but am still somewhat speechless as to how deeply this film impacted me.

Over the past months one thing has become more glaringly clear for me than it ever was in the past. TRUTH is powerful. THE TRUTH will set us free. THE TRUTH as Kimberly recorded it, changed her future and probably many of those who witnessed her truth. Thank you Kim, BlackColdMadina, for being brave enough to share you and your life with us. You have no idea what your honesty, courage and unspeakable kindness has done for so many.

I do not know if you will ever find this post in the great big blogosphere world, but if you do, I want you to know that I pray you, your husband and children are doing well.

I would love to hear others' view / reaction to Trouble the Water.

I dare you to be amazing.

What do you remember?

If you lost your mother as a child, what are your earliest memories of her? Were you too young to have any memories?

Music and Hot Combs

Even though i was very young (five) when my mother died, thankfully i have a few remaining memories. The most vivid remembrances i have are those of the music, smiles and smoke. Music and people seemed to fill our home all the time. The voices of Barbara Streisand, Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye were heard so often, i thought they were members of my family too. My love of music is rooted in those early days.

Forever burned into my memory is the sight and sound of swirling, sizzling smoke, rising from the straightening comb my mother used on the women who sat in our kitchen chairs. I was in awe of both how my mother used that comb and how she made the women laugh and smile while she did their hair. I don't remember the comb being a pleasant time for me though. Unh, unh, not at all. That comb was hot and i dreaded it being so close to my skin. If i had my choice, i would have gladly exchanged my seat in the hot hair chair, for the seat that would have given me a few more memories of watching my mom make people smile.

Sharing the struggles and victories of living without mom

If you lost your mother early in life, then you understand our need to talk. So, what's your story? We want to know. Someone else needs to hear.