Retired for 12 years, after nearly 38 years as a STEM production editor, trainer, and team leader for a local printer/publisher, I now have the time and energy to pursue my love of writing, music, and other arts. My writing is primarily in the form of essays, book and film reviews, and poems. I am also a musician---a vocalist who plays piano, organ, guitar, and flutes. My music can be found on this page, as well as on Facebook and YouTube. Some of my writing has been published in online and print magazines and books. Check out my site for more details.
Even my dog understands the 10:00 PM Curfew now in effect in Baltimore City. Normally, we would go for our last walk of the night—around our yard—anywhere from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM. But since Tuesday night, we’ve been taking our last walk a bit earlier, making sure to be inside by the “witching” hour. … More The Curfew, The Curfew! Let’s Not Forget The Curfew
I have written before that I am a native of Baltimore, with long and strong roots in the state of Maryland. The Baltimore you are witnessing on your news tonight is not my Baltimore. The hordes of rioters, looters, arsonists, and thugs you have seen on your screens tonight—or that you may have watched on … More Baltimore City Is My Home
Dance Theatre of Harlem’s 40th Anniversary Exhibit at Reginald F. Lewis Museum—Featuring Keith Saunders This past Saturday, April 18, 2015, my Mom and I attended one of the opening-weekend events for Dance Theatre of Harlem’s (DTH’s) 40th-anniversary art exhibit at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore. Though based in New York, DTH has a … More Out and About: Dance Theatre of Harlem
On the first celebration of Earth Day, I sewed an “Earth Day” patch on my bell-bottom jeans and wore them with pride. In the years since, I admit I have not done much to celebrate. This year, however, I had a flash-inspiration: to “flood” Facebook with videos of Neil Young’s great song, “Who’s Gonna Stand … More Earth Day 2015: #WhosGonnaStandUpandSavetheEarth
March 30, 2015 Today, March 30, is World Bipolar Day. This date is doubly significant to me. It is a day of worldwide awareness for this serious and too often debilitating illness. But it is also my personal anniversary date, marking the official beginning of my experience with this illness. My first episode of mania, … More World Bipolar Day: I Am One of the 27 Million
Over the course of this week, two remarkable, not-so-random, acts of kindness by young people flooded the airwaves: the humble apology of ex-University of Oklahoma/SAE Fraternity member, Levi Pettit, for his participation in the infamous “lynch a n*****” chant; and the mature-beyond-any-age petition for forgiveness of the crass ex-Bloomsburg University baseball player, Joey Casselberry, for … More Racism in the “Postracial” Era: Three Teachable Moments
It’s the first day of Spring and it’s snowing outside. Off in the distance, a train rumbles by, sounding a whistle of sighs. Little birds, dropping from snow-covered trees, fly low to the ground, startled by what they have found. And the far-off train still rumbles and sighs, the sound carried by the … More First Day of Spring 2015
This music video was originally shared on Facebook as part of my timeline series, Advent 2014. Today, I am posting it in tandem with my latest article, “Turning Over a New Leaf,” in the spirit of this Vernal Equinox/Solar Eclipse/New Moon Day. “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent” is an element of preparation for Communion in … More Turning Over a New Leaf-Music Video
Having read three different articles this week about the Vernal Equinox/Solar Eclipse/New Moon event taking place today, I decided to take it seriously. My intention was to follow one of the suggested guided meditations laid out in two of the three articles. But instead, I followed my heart, meditating in my own way. First, I … More Turning Over a New Leaf
Cue Rod Serling: Tonight’s episode is about a woman driven mad by the slightest time alteration. The simple “loss” of one hour from her day sends this woman into a nightmarish world in which daylight arrives too soon and lasts too long, while night passes in the blink of an eye. You are about to … More Lost In The Twilight Zone, Thanks to Daylight Saving Time
baltimoreblackwoman 