The Gift Of Love

December 17th I received news that my sweet daughter Suzi was in a tragic accident in Las Vegas. After much confusion my sister Benita and I arrived at the hospital where my favorite nephew D.J. Had already been the primary person until I arrived. He lovingly held my hand and heart through the process. I am grateful for the Love that he and my sister Benita served me during this difficult time. Sadly not all family members were in my corner of much needed Love & Compassion. It’s not that I expected an outpouring of love from anyone however I wasn’t prepared for the cannons that came my way as I tried to bury my sweet Suzi in peace. She was treated horribly and couldn’t get a cup of cold coffee while alive. No one will hurt her anymore! I promise. I am breaking the chains on the black family slave plantation mindset. I’m posting and telling for all of us misfits, black sheep and underdogs. Plantation church negroes must repent and build their own system that doesn’t require destruction. God got this!💕🙏 We Must Return to Being the Gift Of Love

Suzi Baker 1987-2019

Giver of Love 

Organ Donor 1% er

The Value of Friendship

Sharing a love of life and adventure my friend and I laughed our way through lunch. He comes from Seattle once or twice a year to embrace our home and help in the garden. Dan worked with my husband as a vice principal and after the passing of his beloved wife he traveled with my hubby and oldest son to move us to Philadelphia. He has been a constant thread in our life and I cherish and value the relationship. I hope you have such a friend. 

Picking Pears with Papa

#family #summertime #southernlife

SILENCE

Norman F. Chamberlain....

                                          Norman Chamberlain & Wisdom Wright Seattle Wa 2012

Memories like the corners of my mind...misty watered colored memories of my Dearest Norman.

One such Love that will forever be in my Heart. I miss you like crazy but know you're right here!

                                                    Norman Chamberlain & Gwyn Baker courtesy Pacific Media 1990

Through the years and the tears you brought me Joy and allowed all things Beautiful. I so Love you.

                                                     Norman Chamberlain Columbia City 1991

.....Forever is forever is forever is forever

FISK UNIVERSITY HEIRS...

Reflections of Tomorrow by Wisdom W. Wright

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            I peek through the curtains looking at all the different faces that I will soon meet. The sun is peeking through the clouds that fill the sky and I’m just about to go on stage to perform my scene. With this being my first time acting, my heart is beating fast. While my eyes scan the room once more, I finally see her. I see the woman whom I’ve just had tea and biscuits with a few days ago. I see the woman who laughed about her journeys at Fisk University during World War II. I see the woman who smiled while reminiscing about being an independent young woman who took the train back and forth between Pennsylvania and Tennessee. My mind is finally at ease while on stage, because Vivian Freeman’s confident spirit resides within me and I know she is looking forward to the young lady who is about to portray her. Raise the curtains… it’s show time!

            I grew up in the small knit community of Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. My family had just moved from the Pacific Northwest and the thought of moving to another region in the United States was frightening to me. I would have to adapt to a new culture, a new community, and the mindset of the people. My family was fortunate enough to move to a community that would be the perfect place for me to make everlasting friendships and hold fond memories of childhood. When I was in second grade I was asked to participate in a community play for individuals who contributed to Huntingdon Valley. This was how I met Vivian Freeman; the woman who helped shape who I was back then and who contributes to my personal development today.

            Vivian Freeman has lived most of her life in Huntingdon Valley. Not only was she one of two Black-Americans to graduate from Lower Moreland High School, she was also valedictorian of her class. She would eventually continue her education at Fisk University earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching. She told me riveting tales of riding the train as an eighteen-year-old girl alone in a world full of confusion and fighting as World War II pressed on in her undergraduate years at Fisk University.

While the world was surrounded by the uncertainty of the future,Ms. Freeman would start her day by wearing her lovely hat and gloves and walk onto the platform of tomorrow as if the other day was just a fleeting moment that pushed her towards her goals. Her courageous spirit has taught me to believe in myself and go beyond the conventional way of life and look for a path that is more noteworthy, vibrant, and fresh. Although uncertainty looms over most of us, Ms. Freeman has encouraged me to live in the moment.

  Photographs of Ms. Vivian Freeman Fisk class of 1946, Wisdom Way future Fisk Scholar

Cultural Divides Part 2

One of the first friends I met, Lady M a Nashville transplant. Our families spend time together often

“Manners and behavior can take you places where money can’t, no matter what color you are"

Mr. Bill “Bojangles” Robinson 1949

Upon further investigation of cultural division it appeared to show its face in areas of fear and superiority/inferiority complexes. Call it what you'd like; sexism, classism, racism, caste system, intellectualism, etc it all comes down to the "golden rule" of treating others the way you would like to be treated. That said, not everyone wants to be treated with respect and their principals may not align with your way of living. I love the quote from Mr. Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Manners and behavior are of utmost importance in order that we as a community get along and benefit the whole. It is how you " act, interact and react" to people, places and situations that determine your experience.

Every city and community I have moved in I made sure to take the time to listen and learn as many have been there before me. I enjoy hearing tales of how the community was formed, who came and went. There is nothing new under the sun as they say. We are here but for a measure of breaths and it is my intention to breathe healthy beautiful breaths therefore I do not like spending precious moment tearing down but instead I prefer to build and create bridges.

Cultural Divides first take place in the mind and are acted out. When we judge we create separation and can not receive. Remember that judgment creates separation. Practice being open to new situations and people. Every moment is a new beginning and an opportunity to experience something you have never experienced. Let's build healthy strong bridges together and share this beautiful Earth knowing that others will come after us and be grateful we have left a blueprint for successful sustainable living!

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change. "Charles Darwin

Cultural Divides?

Ruth Benedict in 1937 Anthropologist, cultural relativist, and folklorist


Experiences of Culture

What comes to your mind when you say the word culture? How about cultural influence?

The word "culture" is most commonly used in three basic senses:

• Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture
  
• An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning
• The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group

As I was born and raised in Seattle, Washington in West Seattle and lived briefly in San Diego California and also in Huntingdon Valley Pennsylvania before moving to Nashville Tennessee I have had a few experience of culture across the country. For the last two and a half years I have had many unpleasant experiences where I currently reside. The workshops, conferences and transformation coaching I have done over the past twenty odd years should have provided me with the skills to handle such situations. Sadly it did not. There was more learning and exploring for me at the ripe age of 49. I took to research and oral/written interviews of the locals to get to the "root" of the challenge.

Here I will share what I found. Ruth Benedict did extensive research and I had come to many of her conclusions twenty odd years ago.

Benedict, in Patterns of Culture, expresses her belief in cultural relativism. She desired to show that each culture has its own moral imperatives that can be understood only if one studies that culture as a whole. It was wrong, she felt, to disparage the customs or values of a culture different from one's own. Those customs had a meaning to the people who lived them which should not be dismissed or trivialized. We should not try to evaluate people by our standards alone.

Because my challenges were with brown people in the South I found this interesting.

Environment has more to do with intelligence than birth does, including how much money is spent on schools. "Southern Whites", for example, scored below "Northern Negroes" in the IQ tests administered to the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in World War I. And the per capita expenditures on schools in the South were only "fractions" of those in northern states in 1917.

Almost 100 years later the scores are still the same. Why?

After many interviews with locals and people who migrated here from the "North" I believe I am on the trail of discovering the "Truth".

Part 2 coming soon!

Bird Song Breakfast Pleasure

The earth prepared the stage for our 3rd Breakfast with the Birds quite beautifully!

Our garden watch dog sat with confidence and patience...

fresh fruit, iced tea, buttery croissants and more were in attendance.

We had birds on the linen just in case few showed up in the 90 degree heat...

Simple pleasures of chocolate dipped strawberries or silver platter and goblets of tea...


All for the art of taking in bird watching and listening to their story...Everyone has one to tell. Are you listening to others and telling your story?

Room For A View

There is a room...full of thoughts, words and delicious tales

a secret place where you can go all by yourself...you can sit and read or simply be....

perhaps you would like to view nature and all of her wild inventive ways.

or cozy up to a book of interest and discovery...

maybe the room will be your place of refuge or appetizing wonder...


no calls to make or time to behold...for the Room of your Mind is worthy of viewing! Create wonder and joy in your life this weekend.

Afternoon Tea in the Garden

" There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as an afternoon tea." - Henry James

This morning after getting the children off to school ...I prepared my scone mix and baked them gently in the oven. While the tea was brewing and the scones baking... I went to the parlor and found my favorite teacup my daughter Suzi gave me for holiday 13 years ago. Sitting in my garden I shared the birdsong with warm strawberry scones and a hot cup of Joy. I agree with Henry James... there are a few hours more agreeable than this ceremony. Do you enjoy a slow cup of tea?

Missing My Glam'Babies

I must admit....I am feeling kinda sorry for myself...why? Let's say because I have raised 4 wonderful human beings and the first two are adults and living in the Pacific Northwest. Great you say? Sadly for me they have the most adorable children, my son has 2 and my beautiful daughter has 2, however, I am not able to hold or kiss them because I am in the South. No, not South America! Anyhow, this is a picture of Saaj and Gwyneth in our home in Belle Meade. I miss walking them across the street to the park and taking them to see Martha at the plantation. I so miss the laughter and funny faces that Saaj would make when his Uncle Wellington did something he knew could get him in a spot of heat with me. Gwyneth learned to walk on December 25th in our living room. We vacationed this past June and were afforded the opportunity to take them to daycare and gather kisses throughout our two weeks....but it's not the same. Perhaps I shouldn't blog about this but I believe in being true to the Spirit of Truth. Poking around on blogs sort of got to me when I found Carolyn and her gardens, then I found kindred souls that enjoy Victorian and all things British...heaven forbid I found junkers and writers, lovers of history and humanity...I was hooked! My oldest son and daughter are a distant memory...only because they choose to live life and not include me...It hurts...how can I make sense of raising two incredibly Great human beings and watch society win their hearts? No answer but choice. Well, I do have delicious memories and the chance to share with my sweeties Wellington and Wisdom. Thank the memory angels for photos both physical and mental that I can capture my Glam'babies any moment I feel the need. Will you keep Gwyneth, Saaj, Rie'Annuh and Michael in your prayers? They are amazing and I believe your prayers will make it even more so!

Michael Jackson...make the change

One of my favorite photos is of President Reagan with Michael and First Lady Nancy as he was presenting an award for Michael Jackson's humanitarian work with drugs and alcohol. Of course my love of his music leads me to believe the words from Man In The Mirror...."take a look at yourself and make that change."

Across the globe countries are in the process of transition and transformation...it is my hope that we look at the positive qualities in President Obama and make the change in our on life for the betterment of all mankind. Are you ready to look in the mirror and take action?

Way's Riding Lesson

It's a beautiful spring day so what's a girl to do....go ride her favorite horse!

Let's just take it easy after that canter...

That was a lot of work and fun .... now to finish my Sunday playing my violin

Tasting Beauty

We experience beauty in so many wonderful ways. I was reminded of the "tasting of beauty" when I visited my girlfriend Nancy at her new property in Pottstown. We laughed, walked and delighted ourselves while eating fresh strawberries, apple cinnamon muffins and cheddar cheese. Nancy was surprised while eating her strawberry and I said "freeze" while snapping this picture. In this moment I was able to taste the beauty of her spirit and our friendship.