Front row - Odetta, Della Reese, Maya Angelou. Back row - bunch of people I just met and on the end - me!
Thursday, March 24, 2005
February 7, 2005 - A Day I Will Remember Forever
Front row - Odetta, Della Reese, Maya Angelou. Back row - bunch of people I just met and on the end - me!
My Brush With Greatness...
As some of you may know, I was lucky enough to have been extended an invitation to the GWSAE Speaker Series back in February. This session, entitled - A Wealth of Wisdom: Legendary African American Elders Speak - was to feature Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Odetta and Della Reese. Unfortunately, Ossie Davis passed away just days before. But once he started to take a turn for the worse, he and his wife Ruby Dee made a call to their good friend Maya Angelou and asked her to fill in for them. Being the gracious woman that she is, she accepted warmly.
Let me back up for just a minute....I received a mass email from a company that my employer works with that included the invitation to the event. There were only 10 tickets available and I was one of the first 10 to respond to this email. I had been to their speaker series last year where I got to hear Goldie Hawn (who's from the DC area) speak and thoroughly enjoyed it. A few days before the event I received a call from the president of the company extending the invite. Evidently they had a ton of requests to go, and since I had been to one last year - would I give up my ticket for someone who hasn't attended a speaker series event. So, of course, I said sure. I heard Maya speak at my college in the mid-90s, and felt that if someone hasn't heard her speak yet, then they definitely should get a chance. The president then offered me a ticket to another event - but I told her that those should really go to people who haven't been, but thank you for the offer. I was a little disappointed, but knew that I shouldn't be greedy - no matter how bad I wanted to!
I thought little of it until the day of the event - February 7, 2005. I received a phone call from the president again who informed me that one of the attendees had to cancel and would I like her ticket. I asked her shouldn't she offer the ticket to someone else who hasn't been - but she said that she was impressed with my graciousness in giving up the ticket the first time and that I really should have it. So I quit being nice and said YEAH! I made a mad dash home at lunch to put on a business suit and get some face paint - so I wouldn't look like my normal messy self.
When I arrived at the Kennedy Center, Ms. Della Reese was also arriving. Even though I think furs are disgusting and would never own one - she looked quite elegant in hers. So, I met with my group...we ate a nice dinner that's part of the package and then headed in to find our seats. Our seats were located 5 rows from the stage - so close I could have spit on them....but I didn't.
Everyone sat in awe as the women wobbled feebly onstage - I guess you don't realize just how old they are until you see them walking with canes or in a wheelchair. Although their bodies are old and weak, their minds and wits are as sharp as ever. It was very entertaining to see them laughing and joking with each other as they discussed the many struggles they faced as entertainers in the time of such prevalent racism and segregation.
After they spoke, we stood in line to get a group picture with the ladies - the one posted above. They were all so generous and kind and seemed to enjoy the fact that people are so fascinated with them. After the photo session, we were led upstairs to a coffee and desert reception. To my surprise, this also included a chance to actually get to speak with the ladies and to whip out my camera phone and take some candids with them. Della has obviously never seen a camera phone but the others were unphased.
They were all very nice and stayed until almost everyone had gone home. It was quite an evening. Never thought I would get such an opportunity - not without shelling out some major $$. I guess there's only one word that could sum this all up - WOW!
Candids of Great Ladies
These were taken with my cell phone - so they aren't very good quality. But you can make out who they are, so no whining!
Della & Me (taken by me and my short arms) 
Della & Odetta - keepin' us all in stitches 
Maya & Me (taken by an amateur) 
Odetta - famous folk singer 
Maya Angelou from afar
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Our Romantic Vacation...Phase 5 - The Trip Home
By Wednesday my head cold was dwindling and I didn't have to force down more medicine. Of course at this point, we were also looking at the end of our vacation. So we decided to do as much relaxing as possible!
We lucked up and got a the last set of beach chairs with an umbrella. Which turned out to be not so lucky within 30 minutes when all the clouds rolled in - this was 11am. But nevertheless - we were determined to relax and enjoy doing nothing.
A little light reading and I started to get thirsty. So, I sent my cabana boy (DaveBrown) to get us some fruity drinks. While he was gone a big white crane walked directly behind my beach chair, so I got a picture. Either they have bad eyes or are very used to tourists. There was a family of Euros a few umbrellas down that all had on their speedos. The 2 oldest children - yep, they had 4 kids - were so intrigued with the crane that they chased it away. I kind of wished that the crane had now been an angry duck or swan. You know, the kind that will chase you and try to bite and spit on you. Yeah, that would have been fun to watch - if it were to chase the parents that weren't watching the kids. Oh well.
After an afternoon of laying on the beach we decided that we needed to make reservations for dinner. We've done Caribbean, Italian, and American - so tonight we're going to Coco Bistro - the French restaurant. And why not - if it weren't for the French we'd be bowing to the queen, listening to crappy music like the Spice Girls and saying things such as "that bloke is the dog's bollocks".
Coco Bistro was a great restaurant and a great way to spend our last night on vacation. They have tables set in a small coconut grove in the back patio of the restaurant. The food was very good - very tasty.
Evidently there was a group of folks from Texas there for business. They sat just 2 tables away from us but it felt like they were much closer. They were out for a night on the town though. One of the ladies had even gotten herself all dolled up in her rhinestone jean jacket. Fancy! Boss Hog (or the leader of their group) was insistent that they get a picture of the group with the owner as he greeted the tables. And apparently he has an employee named Jim that takes direction like a man on a road trip. For 10 minutes, we weren't able to hear our own conversations because Jim wouldn't stop kissing the restaurant owners butt and get into position for a picture. All we heard was (in a deep southern accent that sounded sweet to me) - Jim....Jim....Jim, turn around so we can take a picture....Jim....Jim, turn around and smile.
After a nice meal and some light southern entertainment - we headed back to the resort and enjoyed another good night's sleep. We woke up early the next morning, to be sure that we had plenty of time to pack, check out and turn in our rental car. Some people (DaveBrown) don't like the excitement of cutting it close.
We got our bags packed and in the car. Checked out and said goodbye to the wonderful and friendly staff at the resort. Even left them a few postcards to mail - haven't heard if they've reached anyone yet though. Then we headed to the airport to sit and wait. We ate lunch there and surprisingly, it didn't make us sick. It was pretty good for airport food, much better than the snacks they give you on the plane - YUCK! We were 2-3 hours early so we settled into the pleather waiting area seats. Luckily there was a group of 6 British kids that kept me entertained while we waited.
I swear at least 4-5 of them were high on crystal meth or coke because they couldn't sit down for more than a minute. They spent a lot of time in the duty free airport store checking out the jewelry and booze. What I did notice about them was that they all appeared to be in their early to mid 20s. Not sure if they have rich parents or how they got the money to spend their holiday (vacation) in the Turks. They all appeared to have eaten well also. They definitely had gotten better tans than me and DaveBrown. I was jealous - especially since my only tan consisted of small sections on my calves and a small portion on the back of just one of my arms. How'd they do it?
The flight back was pretty uneventful. Another layover in Charlotte - don't fall for the airport BBQ though. Not so good - but they do have a Krispy Kreme. We got back into DC Thursday night and at this point, I was wishing I was back in the Turks. It was cold and dark. Immediately I started planning in my head our next vacation. It'll definitely be somewhere warm again. Maybe another Caribbean island. I really have my eyes on Antigua and Anguilla ... Now if I can just get my finances together....oh well.
We lucked up and got a the last set of beach chairs with an umbrella. Which turned out to be not so lucky within 30 minutes when all the clouds rolled in - this was 11am. But nevertheless - we were determined to relax and enjoy doing nothing.
A little light reading and I started to get thirsty. So, I sent my cabana boy (DaveBrown) to get us some fruity drinks. While he was gone a big white crane walked directly behind my beach chair, so I got a picture. Either they have bad eyes or are very used to tourists. There was a family of Euros a few umbrellas down that all had on their speedos. The 2 oldest children - yep, they had 4 kids - were so intrigued with the crane that they chased it away. I kind of wished that the crane had now been an angry duck or swan. You know, the kind that will chase you and try to bite and spit on you. Yeah, that would have been fun to watch - if it were to chase the parents that weren't watching the kids. Oh well.
After an afternoon of laying on the beach we decided that we needed to make reservations for dinner. We've done Caribbean, Italian, and American - so tonight we're going to Coco Bistro - the French restaurant. And why not - if it weren't for the French we'd be bowing to the queen, listening to crappy music like the Spice Girls and saying things such as "that bloke is the dog's bollocks".
Coco Bistro was a great restaurant and a great way to spend our last night on vacation. They have tables set in a small coconut grove in the back patio of the restaurant. The food was very good - very tasty.
Evidently there was a group of folks from Texas there for business. They sat just 2 tables away from us but it felt like they were much closer. They were out for a night on the town though. One of the ladies had even gotten herself all dolled up in her rhinestone jean jacket. Fancy! Boss Hog (or the leader of their group) was insistent that they get a picture of the group with the owner as he greeted the tables. And apparently he has an employee named Jim that takes direction like a man on a road trip. For 10 minutes, we weren't able to hear our own conversations because Jim wouldn't stop kissing the restaurant owners butt and get into position for a picture. All we heard was (in a deep southern accent that sounded sweet to me) - Jim....Jim....Jim, turn around so we can take a picture....Jim....Jim, turn around and smile.
After a nice meal and some light southern entertainment - we headed back to the resort and enjoyed another good night's sleep. We woke up early the next morning, to be sure that we had plenty of time to pack, check out and turn in our rental car. Some people (DaveBrown) don't like the excitement of cutting it close.
We got our bags packed and in the car. Checked out and said goodbye to the wonderful and friendly staff at the resort. Even left them a few postcards to mail - haven't heard if they've reached anyone yet though. Then we headed to the airport to sit and wait. We ate lunch there and surprisingly, it didn't make us sick. It was pretty good for airport food, much better than the snacks they give you on the plane - YUCK! We were 2-3 hours early so we settled into the pleather waiting area seats. Luckily there was a group of 6 British kids that kept me entertained while we waited.
I swear at least 4-5 of them were high on crystal meth or coke because they couldn't sit down for more than a minute. They spent a lot of time in the duty free airport store checking out the jewelry and booze. What I did notice about them was that they all appeared to be in their early to mid 20s. Not sure if they have rich parents or how they got the money to spend their holiday (vacation) in the Turks. They all appeared to have eaten well also. They definitely had gotten better tans than me and DaveBrown. I was jealous - especially since my only tan consisted of small sections on my calves and a small portion on the back of just one of my arms. How'd they do it?
The flight back was pretty uneventful. Another layover in Charlotte - don't fall for the airport BBQ though. Not so good - but they do have a Krispy Kreme. We got back into DC Thursday night and at this point, I was wishing I was back in the Turks. It was cold and dark. Immediately I started planning in my head our next vacation. It'll definitely be somewhere warm again. Maybe another Caribbean island. I really have my eyes on Antigua and Anguilla ... Now if I can just get my finances together....oh well.
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