“The potential of the average person is like a huge ocean un-sailed, a new continent unexplored, a world of possibilities waiting to be released and channeled toward some great good.” Brian Tracy
I asked is this the beginning of the 2012 holiday season or the end of the 2011 holiday parties as I attended another January holiday party. Que-ettes Karen Berkley, Rosemary Duchess Atkinson, Ivy Smith, Leah Hasty, Carolyn Jones, Yvonne Archer, Mary Ervin, Donyelle Best and members, hosted the party at the Omega Psi Phi house. The beautifully decorated room with Christmas themed tables and the scrumptious holiday menu with all the trimmings was a wonderful accent for line dancing and mingling with friends.
“I see the lights, I see the party lights”
We arrived dressed to the nines in evening gowns, tuxedos, cocktail suits and beautiful smiles at the Eutaw Street mansion of George and Sarah Wallace. Guests came from DC, New Jersey and New York creating a lively discussion about the annual January “last holiday” party for 2011 or the first party of 2012. Everyone agreed it’s one of the grandest parties of the season. The twinkling lights encouraged guests to dance, eat and chat until the “wee small hours” Enjoying the festive evening where Comptroller Joan Pratt, Audrey Quarles, Susan Parker, Jackie Robinson, Bill Brown, Errol & Debbie Taylor, Gaines Lansey, Pat Tunstall, Brenda Baker, Claudia McKee, Leroy Jackson, Pat Thomas, Yvonne West, Victor Green, Robert White, Michelle Burroughs, Victor Holliday and Jimmy Jones.
“Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” Henry Van Dyke
“Get on the bus Gus” The two busloads travelling to New York to see the Broadway production of Lion King with beaming granny Yvonne Archer where grandson, Baltimorean Judah Bellamy was making his debut as Young Simba.
“The poor man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without a dream.” Harry Kemp
Proud parents Avon and Bernita Bellamy said Judah realized his longtime dream with his Broadway debut. He has starred in The Wiz, A Raisin in the Sun and performed with Johns Hopkins’ Unified Voices.
“We are what we repeatedly do; excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle
Certified bridge instructor, director Regena Edwards will have more time to finesse her game now that she has retired from her successful career at SSA.
“You go into the disease as one person and come out of it as a different person. It has changed my perspective on everything. Things that used to upset me no longer do.” Grete Waitz
Christopher Lyles’ jubilant arrival at BWI airport where family and friends anxiously awaited to greet him as he returned from Stockholm, Sweden after a successful stem cell operation to remove cancerous tumors from his trachea was a celebration of a new lease on life for Christopher.
“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” Vivian Green
Christopher said the reason he had this procedure, which is not authorized in the United States, using synthetic material and his own stem cells was that “I wanted to see my four-year-old-daughter Erin get married, have kids. I want to be there for all of that. It’s not for me, it’s for her.”
A person who performs good karma (deeds) is always held in high esteem.”Rig Veda
“If I can help somebody” The continuous monetary support from family, friends and strangers made this journey a reality. Please make a donation in Christopher’s name at www.helphopelive.org to help defray his medical bills.
“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” Pericles
Our condolences to Marshall Booze on the death of his mom Dorothy Booze; Daphne Clash on the death of her husband Clarence “Sonny” Clash; Beryl Johnson on the death of her aunt Vickie Johnson and Wendell ‘Pete’ France and family on the death of mom Kathleen France.
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.” Erma Bombeck
The beautiful celebration of the life of my friend Barbara Davis, wife of Dr. Billy Davis, mom of Candace and Mark and sister of Laura Knight represented the sweet spirit that permeated Barbara’s life.
“There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place and I know it’s the spirit of the Lord” Conway Twitty
The memorial tribute and Indian song performed by Chief Lance Gumbs, vice president of the National Congress of American Indians and Chief of the Shinnecock Reservation told of Barbara’s visits to the reservation and how she encouraged him to run for chief, representing 555 tribes.
“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” Albert Einstein
Duda’s tavern is sponsoring Save Lady Maryland Day Feb. 18, featuring beer specials. Proceeds will benefit the Living Classrooms Foundation.
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing, that’s why we recommend it daily.” Zig Ziglar
Happy birthday to community activist, the Rev. Willie Ray, celebrating Feb. 4 at Conehead on Howard Street, Dorothy Williams mother of Diane Hocker Afro director of Community and Public Relations, Father Gerald Collins, Reggie Haysbert and Carolyn Stepney. It’s your birthday make some noise!
I’ll be seeing you! Valerie and the Friday Night Bunch