Charity Benefit in Chicago

Tonight I attended a fund raising benefit for the Global Alliance for Africa which was held at the Millinnium Knickerbocker Hotel. There was a silent auction of many pieces of art as well as a raffle for two tickets to Africa. My girlfried was saying all night that she was going to win that trip and amazingly enough the winner's ticket was one number away from hers. It was bittersweet for sure.

The benefit was a fund raiser for Global Alliance for Africa. This fundraiser is done every year and consists of a great deal of the volunteers for the alliance. It was great to witness such giving from so many. Most of the people there were from the non-profit sector and it was just a beautiful event.

Adopt and Adapt

It has been wonderful traveling this month visiting family and friends. Seeing how those you love from a distance, live in their everyday lives.  Noticing their habits, the traditions they are  creating and  just watching carve out a life for themselves is quite interesting.
The way people live has always been fascinating to me.  I love seeing how we are similar as well as seeing how we are different.

 I have always been one to adopt the habits of others that I admire. It was something that I started to do many years ago. You often find people who are jealous of others because of the way  they live, better yet their perception of how they live. I have always been one to adopt the habits or traditions that I find pleasing and adapt it to my life. Jealousy is such a waste of time and energy. My mother taught me years ago to never desire and definitely not covet what you see in others, because you have no idea what they do or have to go through to maintain. My method has always been to adopt and adapt, and most of all compliment.

My Trip Home

The first two weeks of September I spent in Georgia visiting family and friends. I was not aware of how much I have missed everyone back home. I have been living in Los Angeles for just about five years without those close connections. Yes I have been back to Georgia a few times but only for a few days at a time. So I stay connected to everyone via cell phone and internet. I am sure that is not surprising to anyone. However convenient modern day technology is, it is no substitute for socializing with those you love and those who love you.

I was also fortunate enough to reconnect with some old friends that I have not spent anytime with in 25+ years and that was great. In every situation it appeared as though all of those years were a blur because we just picked up where we left off. A couple of them I didn't have a real relationship with at all, but we went to school together and traveled in the same circle of friends, so in that case we were able to discover each other and enjoy each other.

My time in Georgia also allowed me to meet some new relatives that I discovered through my genealogy research, predominantly with the use of ancestry.com. That was especially powerful, because we discovered how much we have in common and in a few cases how similar our personalities are. It continues to prove how strong genetics can be.

This trip was tremendously enlightening and encouraging as well as soothing to my spirit.

Two major events took place while I was in Savannah. One was the Labor Day Cookout given by my cousins Ella and Delores who are sisters.Delores Thompson Blige

Ella Thompson Brown

This is an event that takes place every year and the family comes from all over the US to attend. I think this time I was the one that traveled the furthest, coming from California, and their brother Marvin and his family coming from Denver. It was great to see them all.



The second major even in the order of which they happened was my parents surprise 5oth Anniversary Dinner. It was much smaller than I would have liked but it was nice just the same, and they didn't expect it.

This was an intimate dinner of 20 people held at the The Pink House in downtown Savannah.
There were pleasantly surprised, my mother started to cry and my father was smiling from ear to ear. It was great to be able to do something for the two people that have given me so very much in my love. I love them dearly and I wish them many more years together.