At Nana’s house, May 2005.

Above: Keisha Nicole

Above: William Nathaniel

JT emailed this to me a couple of weeks back. A storm had debris all over the place at Busch Stadium. Ouch.

I tried to upload this to YouTube, but they claimed I violated terms of use. Whatever. I found the video there already uploaded… no violations. Is it ironic that this post immediately follows an entry about the American Disabilities Act?

Received this through work in an email a couple of weeks ago. From the United States Department of Labor.

ADA CELEBRATES 16 YEARS

An Important Message from

W. Roy Grizzard, Jr., Ed.D.

Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy

U. S. Department of Labor

As we mark the 16th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is important to reflect upon the accomplishments of this landmark legislation. The list is long, ranging from accessible buildings to accessible technology, from alternative formats to universal design, and from promising responses to thoughtful, proactive planning. Yet perhaps the most important accomplishment of the ADA is that it has enhanced the lives of all American citizens in ways that far exceed the original goals of its supporters, and President George H.W. Bush, who signed it into law in 1990.

Our children, with and without disabilities, have never known a world without automatic doors at a grocery store or curb cuts on the sidewalk. Because of the ADA, when these same young people enter the workforce, they will be able to work from anywhere and use cutting-edge technology, such as voice-activated phones and computers. Because of the ADA, employers can employ and retain thousands of talented, productive workers with disabilities who were untapped or underutilized by previous generations of employers. Because of the ADA, older workers are staying in the workforce, benefiting our economy and society as a whole.

First of all, the Pastor would like to thank all of you who paid your tithes last week. With the high price of gas – every little bit helps. And he wanted us to mention that if you write a check, please make sure that it does not bounce. He said that you are still encouraged to pay your tithes, and God only wants 10%, but if your check bounces we gonna take 25%.

From the health ministry

The usher board has asked those frequent shouters who routinely pass out on the altar to please wear clean underwear. Let your praise be holy, not your draws. Amen. The deacon board has brought this to our attention. Also, if you are one of the people tapped on your shoulder Sunday morning, make sure you pick up your Altoids at the hospitality desk before entering the sanctuary. Saints, lets not let our breath hinder our neighbor’s praise.

Special Note:

We would like to apologize for those who came out to the Youth Explosion Conference last night. The youth choir’s remix of Shake that Laffy Taffy was totally unexpected. The youth director has been reprimanded and will issue a formal apology Sunday morning. Also, for those who witnessed Mother Green getting up and doing the Laffy Taffy dance, and are concerned, she is doing fine. She is in Methodist North recovering well.

Saints, don’t forget about the Chitlin dinner this evening. If you haven’t already placed your order, call the church office. And for those who are a little skeptical after the last Chitlin dinner, please feel at ease knowing that Pastor Happy has prayed over the Chitlins and no one from the Drug Rehab Ministry was involved in the preparation this time.

The Collard Greens

An old black man lived alone in the country. He wanted to dig his yearly collard green garden, but it was always very hard work for him because the ground was hard. His only son, Junebug Jankins III, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament.

Dear Junebugg Jankins III,

I am feeling pretty bad because it look like I won’t be able to plant my collard green garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me.

Love,

Dad

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

Dear Daddy Jankins,

Whatever you do, don’t dig up that garden. That’s where I buried the BODIES.

Love Junebugg Jankins III

At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.

That same ! day the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Daddy Jankins,

You can go ahead and plant the collard greens now. That’s the best I could do under the circumstances.

Love,

Junebugg III

Another meaningless forward? Maybe to some… but not to me.

Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.

He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His father working in the yard saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could.

Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father’s fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, “But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn’t let go.”

Four Things about me; things you may not have known about me….

Four jobs I have had in my life:

1. Laundry Attendant at Holiday Inn
2. Cashier at Washington University in St. Louis campus book store
3. Sales Representative for Radio Shack
4. Customer Service Representative for a particular federal agency

Four movies you would watch over and over:

1. The Color Purple
2. Love Jones
3. The Usual Suspects
4. Fight Club

Four places you have lived:

1. St. Louis, Missouri
2. Denver, Colorado
3.
4.

Four TV shows you love to watch:

1. Days of Our Lives
2. Nip Tuck
3. 24
4. Everybody Hates Chris

Four places you have been on vacation:

1. Nashville, Tennesse
2. New York, New York
3. Virginia Beach, Virginia
4. Las Vegas, Nevada

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Fried Chicken
2. Coconut Shrimp
3. Baked Potatoes loaded with sour cream, butter and cheese
4. Steak, medium well done please

Places I would rather be right now:

1. Sleeping in the bed
2. Walking on the beach in Virginia Beach
3. Gazing the pyramids in Cairo
4. Eating spaghetti and bread in Rome

I update my blogger code from time to time simply because… things change, people change and I have changed.

B9 d+ t+ k s+ u f i- o x– e++ l c+

August 2006

http://www.leatheregg.com/bloggercode/

Yesterday, we took William to the doctor to get blood work done. The visit was much faster than we anticipated. William’s nurse was able to draw the blood from William with little pain. JT and I will take William back to the hospital on Monday for his first scheduled transfusion. Thinking about what William goes through makes me very sad, but I continue to pray for the well-being of my son and family. I believe that JT and I have made the

Later that day, we spent time with one of JT’s closest friends and her daughter. We had a lovely time while we ate at Red Lobster. I had a shrimp combo with fried, scampi and coconut shrimp. I really, really love the coconut shrimp with the pineapple dipping sauce. Delicious. The little cup of dipping sauce was extremely thin and runny, so I asked for more and the next cup was just fine. Of course I loaded on the cheddar biscuits.

G and K spent a little time with us that evening. Later, L came over to do my hair. I got a relaxer, which was well overdue, and a rollerset. As usual, William and Keisha battled over who was going to sit in my lap while L did my hair.