GO COCKS!

-



When I left Detroit, it was to attend the University of South Carolina. The USC Fighting Gamecocks. This was a turning point in my life. Not only culturally, but in so many coming of age ways. I originally had a scholarship to be a manager on the volleyball team because Coach Drake from Chippewa was the girls Volleyball coach there my freshman year, so I got a discount on my tuition. Christy was also a manager. A few weeks into the season, Coach Drake decided to go back to Michigan, leaving me and Christy without "jobs" and our break on tuition. Thus, my first job in college was in the Bates House cafeteria. Eventually, I moved up to working at the school paper. 
USC is where I met so many friends that are still with me to this day. Many here in Atlanta, and others scattered all over the US of A. Thank GOD for the "FaceBook" that enables us all to keep up with each other in all parts of the country. I went in without a major, claimed Fine Arts at the end of freshman year, and then realized I needed to make money, so I switched to Advertising with a Minor in Graphic Arts. This was before the Personal PC and Cell Phones people. We're talking old school - our parents were lucky to hear from us via calling card once a week. We went to Group Therapy almost every night, I sang in the show choir Carolina Alive and rode my Mountain Bike EVERYWHERE. Many more entries in the 365 days of Impact will outline specifically how attending USC for College changed my life forever. It was the best of times. I wouldn't trade it, the life lessons, the friendships, the hardships for anything!

Popular posts from this blog

Stopping Overshopping

-
Image
Shopaholism, a lso known as Compulsive buying disorder.   We all know at least one person who does this.  They shop for things that they don't need, they are addicted to finding the best bargain.  They hit the sales thinking it is OK because it is not buying something at full price.    W hen your purchases shift from impulsive to compulsive, you may be grappling with a more serious condition: a shopping addiction.  This is made even worse nowadays due to how easy it is to shop online.   Here are signs that you may, in fact, be a shopaholic: You have many unopened or tagged items in your closet   You often purchase things you don’t need or didn’t plan to buy An argument or frustration sparks an urge to shop You experience a rush of excitement when buying Purchases are followed by feelings of remorse You try to conceal shopping habits You feel anxious on days you don’t shop You shop beyond your means Perhaps you max out credit ...
Read more

Deadbeat Dads

-
Image
I did not know either of my grandfathers. My mother's father, John D. Poteete worked for Ford Motor Company in Detroit. He took Nana away from Alabama to the motor city in search of work for the automobile industry in the 40s. Unfortunately, he liked to gamble at the Hazel Park Racetrack, and most weeks would blow his entire paycheck and drink himself silly. Nana basiically kept the family financially afloat, working during the days leaving Mom and Uncle Johnny to take care of themselves. Sometimes John D. would come home so drunk, mom would have to peel him out of the bushes and put him to bed.  Think about your childhood and compare it to that.  Mom grew up on 5 Mile road, an area of Detroit that is now not super desireable to live in. Nana eventually left him and went back to Alabama, but never divorced him as divorce was not an option in the 50s. It was frowned upon.  You could separate, but not divorce.  They remained married until he passed away on a bus i...
Read more

Big Ken

-
Image
In the half century that I've been alive, I have only been to two funerals that had over 100 people there. Big Ken's funeral was one of them. His grandkids called him Grandy. He certainly was a grand man - standing 6'4" he was a big man but gentle by nature. He was quiet, not a big talker, but when he did talk, it was insightful, and ususally made YOU think, sometimes for hours after you had spoken with him. I called him Uncle, but he was really my cousin by marriage. He touched the lives of so many people - and it was amazing to see just how many in the church that day we were all paying our respects. Words that describe Big Ken are humble, honorable, devoted to God, teacher, coach, mentor - the example he set is hard to emulate, but I try daily. Big Ken made you think about your life choices and why you were making them. He would offer advice, but it was never judgemental. Big Ken was an icon who made a big impression on my life.   He loved his garden too! ...
Read more