Lynn M. Dixon's Blog, page 10

It Gets Better!

“Peace on earth and let it begin with me,
Have mercy on us and those across the sea.”

So much pain and suffering is happening in the world today. Sometimes there are no words as we see others cry, grieve, bleed and feel unlimited despair. Amazingly, the selfish acts of a few who have hidden agendas can disrupt and destroy the lives of many innocent human beings who are just trying to go about their daily lives and existences.

But oh, well. Wars are usually caused by those hidden away in some bunker and far from the anguish and strife. We who are seeing this play out on the world stage can lean on our faith or look for something bigger than ourselves to cleave to for understanding and mostly for the ability to hang in there. Though we all feel helpless to put a tourniquet on the flow and the slaughter, we must at least attempt to carry on.

I think of the dichotomy of life when I think of songs like Frankie Beverly and Maze’s Joy and Pain.  It’s like that. Yes, life is a two-sided coin and whether heads or tails, there is the bitter and the sweet.  I think of the famed writer Kahlil Gibran’s books such as Tears and Laughter or A Tear and a Smile and the titles alone speak volumes. We get both in this life.

Once, when I felt that my heart had been shattered into a million pieces, a man at a venue sang Smile (Though your heart is aching). I felt he was singing to me personally and he too had tears in his eyes as he may have been remembering some painful event.  As I write this piece, I am listening to Rod Stewart sing What a Wonderful World, which Louis Armstrong also sang quite beautifully.  Perfect for the moment!.

Only lyricists, poets and writers of the word can string lines about life’s ups and downs in such a poignant way and touch the heartstrings. They have the eye and mostly the heart to feel pain and they have the insight to let others know that “this too shall pass.” And though the tears spill out and the raging seas rock us, the survivors must somehow and someway know that it will get better. Brighter days are ahead after the shock wears away and acceptance takes root.

In the depths of our pain while the dark curtains envelop us, believe it or not, there will be a reason to smile again. While we waddle in the bottomless feelings of despair, there may be a small child who needs a hand to hold or a smile and someone to guide the way forward. And that is something that neither money, silver, gold, land grabs nor any other material hoarding can give to a hurting world. Give a hug and show the love!

Lynn M.
October 14, 2023

The Chicken-Bone Express!

The journey of life is like a train ride! I have taken Amtrak’s City of New Orleans numerous times between Chicago and Memphis and once from Chicago to Jackson, Mississippi. People board and people deboard just as people come into our lives and leave out of our lives.  As in life, some stay for the entire trip and others are present for shorter periods of time.

They bring their own wares with them and quite like meeting passengers on a train, some bring joy and laughter. Some drop pearls of wisdom and some crack jokes to lighten everybody’s load. And some, unfortunately, bring darkness and the heavy curtains of doom.

Most people on the City of New Orleans are on a mission. For me, it was to visit family for leisure, attend a funeral of a loved one or go back to the college campus to complete my studies. There were a few stops along the way where sleepy college students boarded the train with pillows and backpacks at some ungodly hour to get on or off at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Southern Illinois University- Carbondale. The routes have been altered over the years. They were generally knocked out and caught some Z’s and often they had cars away from the others.

But we, The Chicken-Bone Expressers, had our own section and it was generally more lively as people chatted or comforted each other because many had gone deep into their pockets and were traveling to bury their relatives. It was called The Chicken-Bone Express because black people fried up some chicken, wrapped their Coca Colas in tin foil (aluminum foil) to keep them cool and placed their treasures in a shoe box. (Their magic lunch boxes.)

And when hunger hit, they could simply lift the lid of the box and chow down during the long ten or eleven- hour journey either heading North or South. It was the BYO (Bring Your Own) before the phrase was even coined. It was probably born decades ago to be cost-effective and/or black folks could not eat in the dining car or use the eating area on the segregated trains. And, the BYO stuck and was passed down to the next several generations.

People were generally kind, well-mannered and again, they were often going to visit a sick one, go bury someone or just visit family, in general. I do not recall anyone being rude or trying to pilfer others’ possessions while they were sleeping though I am certain there were some low-lifes around. Thank goodness for that Invisible Divine Protection that shielded us from the unblinking eyes of the wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Years ago, The Chicken Bone Express, I mean the City of New Orleans used to stop at 63rd Street in Chicago. It was a whistle stop before heading on to The Loop, so our cousins knew that they’d better jump off in time. But that was a long time ago and now the train goes all the way into The Loop unless family is getting off in the South Suburbs at the Homewood Station.

The last time my aunt and cousins came up in 2010, we drove to Union Station in The Loop to get them. They had upgraded to a First Class Ride! It was a joyous reunion and the minute we saw them being driven on one of the little trolley-like carts, we all burst out in laughter. We knew that it would be just a matter of time before the stories rolled out about who they saw, who they laughed at or who got on their nerves during their long ride on The Chicken Bone Express.

Lynn M.
October 7, 2023

All Good!

Have you ever heard the phrase, “It’s all good in the neighborhood?” It is a response often given when the speaker silently knows that things could always be worse. When you look around and certainly look at the evening news and see what some people are experiencing, it is indeed all good.

It may be time to pull out the gratitude journal and list those daily blessings of health, prosperity, oodles of peace and  tads of myriad joy. One minister said, “It may be something as small as a piece of chewing gum, but still give thanks.”

When noting the high scores of the unsheltered, and while feeling compassion as they struggle, you should remember the phrase, “Except for the grace of God, there goes I.” So for a warm cot, hot meals, safety and warmth, yes, things are indeed all good in the neighborhood.

For every iota of peace that allows you to  read, reflect, write and think with clarity while cherishing each moment of serenity, you should give humble thanks. In a less than perfect world, you should continue to muster the courage to put one foot in front of the next and keep it moving forward.  Put on some good music, plaster on a smile and know that it is all uphill from here.

Lynn M.
September 30. 2023

Sag Harbor

As a Midwesterner, I had not heard of Sag Harbor until I first read Sonny Hostin’s novel, Summer on Sag Harbor over the summer. I was then made aware of the locale and safety net for blacks that own summer vacation homes off the coast of Long Island. Though her book had several subplots, there was an underlying theme that pointed to the need for black families to safeguard their properties from the newest carpetbaggers.

I just read Colson Whitehead’s Sag Harbor and his ruminations of his teen years gave me further insight into a historically black safe haven for affluent blacks in the New York area. Most of their grandparents purchased land in the 50’s and earlier. Many trailbrazers such Langston Hughes, Paul Robeson, W.E.B. Dubois and Colin Powell found comfort and refuge there when they wanted to get away from the big city lights and its stresses.

It is a place where they could enjoy life, uninterrupted by the restrictions of racism that silently screams, “Thou shalt not.”  The owners had their own property, classy backgrounds, beaches, cookouts, parties and means of relaxation. In Whitehead’s book, the question, “Are they coming out?” was common. He and his brother went out for the entire summer in the 80’s, found jobs and lived the life until school resumed in the fall back in the Big Apple.

The younger generations that inherited the fruits of their grandparents’ labor often maintained the properties and passed it down to the younger generations. Yet, some did not know the gold that they had in their hands and let the houses fall into disarray. Some had fallen on hard times.and were unable to keep the houses up. Whatever the reason, the vacant houses always caused concern for the owners because they knew that it would just be a matter of time before poachers would appear to swoop up the prime location spots.

Since reading about Sag Harbor, I have viewed a few vlogs or travel videos on YouTube. One interviewer spoke with some of the elders as they shared their stories and experiences. They too spoke of the need for the youth to step up to preserve the hard-earned special place. One had been coming out there for 75 years and another for about 70 years. Both had the hope that the younger property owners understood what was at stake and work to preserve what had been passed down to them.

I imagine those in each region have their getaway spots and certainly if they live in metropolises like New York City or Chicago. As a Chicagoan, we took weekend sprints up to resorts in Wisconsin or went to rent cabins in Michigan. Several Midwesterners own summer properties in Michigan but I cannot saw that either compares to the black class on Sag Harbor.

Reading is good for the soul and everyday is a day of learning.  I now know that Sag Harbor is the black side of the Hamptons just as Oak Bluffs is the black side of Martha’s Vineyard, after a friend visited and enlighted me over the summer. Everyone needs a place to breathe, relax and rejuvenate without fearing that they have mistakenly crossed some invisible line of hate and stepped onto someone’s long toes!

Lynn M.
September 23, 2023

Gotcha!

The whole gotcha mentality is so negative. Whatever happened to the ‘You-can-do it’ spirit as yea-sayers whispered encouragement into the ears of those they rooted onward?  They used positive affirmations and life-giving phrases like ‘Go-for-it’ or ‘You’ve got this’ or ‘Reach for the stars!’

The gotcha minions focus on cutting folks off in their tracks. Their choirs sing, “Opps, You did it again.” They deplete the energy as they subtly imply that someone is imperfect, flawed and not up to snuff. It burrows the listener downward as it predicts gloom, doom and enhances self-consciousness which makes normal sprinters question themselves, their worth or their ability to make it through. 

Rather than allowing the words, gestures or nuances of the nay-sayers to get inside, it’s best to mentally shut them down. Turn if off. Ultimately, it does not matter if the ‘i’ is not dotted or the “t” is not crossed. As the kids in a local park used to sing, “It just doesn’t matter!” Often those with the pointer hollering, “Gotcha,” are the most flawed of all.

Those with good manners, good breeding and good home-training will bite down on their lips and vow not to respond to the little people. They will hold their peace and ignore the Lilliputians (little people) and like Nemo, just keep swimming. There is a saying that goes, “If doesn’t matter to you, then it does not matter.”

So, the next time a tiny thinker shouts, “Gotcha!, either act as if nothing has been said or shock their socks off and retort, “So what!” Then laugh at their gaped open mouths and walk on towards the next silver lining!

Lynn M.
September 16, 2023

Creating in Isolation!

The other day I listened to an interview with Colson Whitehead, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winning author. We here in Illinois had a full hour of glorious information and reflections from Mr. Whitehead, largely due in part to interviewer and Author Tochi Onyebuchi. A good interviewer allows the conversation to flow while guiding, gently nudging but rarely interrupting or cutting off the guest’s train of thought. He did that and we got the best of Colson Whitehead that night.

We listeners were honored to be there on the Zoom meeting as Colson Whitehead said many prolific things that could easily cause a writer to write. What initially stuck out for me is when he alluded to the fact that writers write in isolation. It is a one-person enterprise and he reminded us that we may have to forego the social events or the hanging out with friends in order to get the work done.

I thought, “Yes!” A resounding, “Yes.” I have had to block folks’ phone numbers and have even bordered on rudeness in order for people to respect my privacy, my borders and my space. As Robert Frost reminded all readers, “Good fences make good neighbors.” That helped me to know that it is okay to say, “No.” In fact, how much do we owe to the outside forces anyway?

Colson Whitehead also said that we are all human and we know what we must do to stay afloat. So, we tailor our schedules to get the projects done. However, a lot of the other fluff is quite unnecessary and often extraneous, so I feel that we as not only writers, but as humans have the right to mute, block and turn down the volume on noise. And, that noise can come in many forms as it continuously attempts to grab our attention and take us off of our game plan. Or, it could be that those running interference simply do not have a game plan.

Either way, those outside forces can become like barnacles that decidedly attach themselves and hold on for dear life. Like on a boat, they weigh us down and they eventually have to be scaped off, if we or the boat is to move forward and the work is to be completed. As one of my mother’s friends said in jest , “They will get all up around your neck!“

So we writers should take solitary walks, do lots of self-talk and listening and kindly excuse ourselves from the company of those who are draining and subconscious nay-sayers or critics. Those who create as an artform must replenish themselves, have some alone time and continually stay focused on the task at hand. And that takes time of being in the zone and free to let the ideas flourish forth so that they can appear on the printed page!

Lynn M.
September 9, 2023

September 2023: A Poem

Starting out with a Super Blue Moon,
Sweaters and jackets needed quite soon.

And for those attending any school,
It’s imperative to keep your cool.

Walk away from that conflict and noise,
Just take deep breaths and maintain your poise.

Yes. Enjoy those much milder breezes.
Vitamin up. Avoid the sneezes!

Breatheable air helps you remain calm.
It blankets you like a soothing balm.

Oh! It’s back to basics for us all,
Be productive and answer the call!

Lynn M.
September 2, 2023

Reflection Time: Summer 2023!

It is now late August, so it is time to reflect on the Summer of 2023. It has been good for me. Most mornings, I spent an hour at the lakefront (Lake Michigan, that is) soaking up the sun and getting that Vitamin D for great healing. I sat, wrote, and did Yoga stretches and people-watched as they strolled by, walked their dogs to the doggy park or enjoyed activities out on the water itself.

I read multiple books that I obtained from purchases, library visits or pulled ones from our mini-residential freestanding library situated on our block. What a treasure!  I saw one of my books on display at the local library and that certainly was a summer highlight! Thus, many of the books’ settings were places here in the States and some were in faraway places which made me quite curious. So, that led me to another high adventure for the summer.

I took several trips through vlogs. Yes, that’s right. Vlogs meaning video-blogs. It’s a new thing and a way that travelers share their trips through videos, pictures and commentaries, often set to calming music as viewers travel along. Yes, for free!  No airports, no flight cancellations, no lost baggage, no scary flights, no fights on the plane. Just push play and join along from a safe distance.

From my readings, I went to Stockholm, Sweden; Marathousa and Kalamata in Greece and on to Zurich, Switzerland for starters. I continued my lengthy travels by going to Martha’s Vineyard, Provincetown, Nantucket, the Mackinac Island and Puget Sound in the States. I boarded the Euro Train in the UK after visiting Stratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeare’s birthplace) and traveled over to France. There, I went down to Provence, Saint Paul de Vence (Author James Baldwin’s home abroad) and on over to Lisbon, Portugal, Belgium’s top cities, Rotterdam (The Netherlands) and up the Isle of Wight. I even went inside of Queen Victoria’s summer castle, The Osborne House, on the isle to experience what life was like for her, Prince Albert and their children.

I took breathers and went over to Germany, where my mother visited twice to Frankfurt and I went on to Hamburg. I even traveled with a black American family in Italy’s Positano area and took a train ride with an Aussie family leaving Italy and going into Switzerland.  I took a look around Copenhagen, Denmark, a place my father wanted to see. Certainly, I am leaving something out but after the Maui fires, I took a look at Lahaina before the fires and went over to Oahu’s Honolulu to see Washington Place and the Iolani Palace, the residences of the last two monarchs of Hawaii.

In person, I went into Chicago to see the Chicago Tap Theatre perform on the north side of the city. As a child tap dancer, it was simply awesome to watch these highly energetic dancers do their thing. And I met a former colleague and we chatted and dined at Shang Noodle & Chinese in downtown Evanston after his exciting visit to South Korea, his birthplace. He shared his many pictures and took me on a vicarious trip there!

But what would any of that matter without the music?  It is the backdrop of our daily lives so I sang, crooned and danced to the genius of artists like Dionne Warwick (old and new), Tina Turner (a great loss), Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass, Willie Nelson, The Eagles, David Garrett, The Backstreet Boys, Queen, Kenny Rogers and so many others. The Bee Gees had me up dancing as did Bruno Mars with his rendition of Love Train. He even had me cracking up as I shared his Smoking Out the Window and Love Train with a friend from my disco days. She laughed and said that his Love Train had she and her husband of 44 years trying out their senior moves on the dance floor.

As I thumbed through the political arena and watched poor Mother Earth burn, flood, quake and shiver from the winds, the books, the travel vlogs and the music helped get me into summer’s final stretch. I even found a comical version of the viral Montgomery Brawl as I remembered that laughter is always a strong medicine.  A thrifty, cost-effective summer has been both enriching and fulfilling.  As Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions sang in People Get Ready, “Don’t need no baggage, you just get on board.” And I am the wiser for it!

Lynn M. Dixon
August 26, 2023

Back-to-School-Retro Style

Book satchels, new pencils, new erasers
New crayons, maybe.
Loads of loose-leaf notebook paper, folders.
Nifty Notebook? For the prosperous.

New dress, new socks, new shoes, pressed hair.
New hope , but new fear of that new teacher.
With new rules and new ways of doing things.
Seeing old friends, some new ones? Perhaps.

Teacher’s pet with several haters rolling their eyes,
When allowed to go in hallways to chalk down that long string,
To help pop those straight lines on the blackboard,
For the teacher’s perfect penmanship.

Or, going outside to smack those erasers together,
To alleviate some of that chalk dust and send it into the air.
Or gathering old rags in a bucket and running,
That clean water for a serious blackboard wipedown.

Lunchrooms noisy and filled with small cliques,
As bullies marked off their limited territories.
All signals and signs as seasons changed and chill set in,
While heading back to school, back in the day!

Lynn M.
August 12, 2023

Staying in the Mix

I’m currently embarking on a new reading venture after seeing Jason Reynolds interviewed on television. I have been out of the loop of librarianship for a while and one day away can be equivalent to a light year.

New books are being rolled off the presses like steamrollers. When I left the scene some ten years ago, we always referred our older, reluctant readers to Walter Dean Myers. He handled the hard topics on several fronts of inner-city life and its many aspects. Young people who had no link nor like for the printed word took to him like a wildfire.

And though Mr. Myers has passed on, his books remain on the shelves. I am so happy to say that I not only met him at an American Library Association Conference, but I have a picture of him autographing a book for me. And now, a new relay race runner has appeared on the set. Jason Reynolds now holds multiple awards and honors as he reaches the young, teen reader. According to a very knowledgeable YA librarian that I chatted with the other day, Reynolds tells his tales with a humorous twist.

Jason Reynolds is the new dominant voice that is guiding youth as he whispers his words in their ears. The same YA librarian testified that a non-reader in his circles read one of Reynold’s books and wanted more. The family was elated! Diverse writers understand that all readers need to see themselves and familiar situations in books which help them to become hooked on books.

After getting wonderful book talks about Jason Reynolds from the YA librarian, I chose one of his fiction works, called Patina. She is upset with herself for making a false start as a track runner. She is trying to adjust to no longer living with her invalid mother who has diabetes. She and her younger sister Maddy now live with her Uncle Tony and his wife whom they call Momly. Momly is white and cannot do their hair, so Patrina has to braid her hair and her little sister’s hair. Funny!

Reynolds does write with a light tone and sense of humor though Patina is facing some pretty challenging experiences. She is now in another middle school which far from being like her old neighborhood school. She is learning how to mingle and work on projects with children from other races.

I will keep chugging along and see how Patina will deal with the constructive criticism from her track coach. As I stay in the mix, I will see how Patina copes with her new life in her uncle and aunt’s home as she looks forward to seeing her mother on their Sunday church visits. And even more remarkably, she seems to be committed to being a protective, older sister to little Maddy.

Lynn M.
August 8, 2023