Thursday, December 31, 2009

Design of a MyBrownBaby Decade: Five Significant Events That Changed My Life



My bloggy friend, Ms. Wanda of Somewhere Over the 40th Rainbow, wrote a clever post yesterday in which she shared the five most significant events in her life between 2000 and 2009—our soon-to-be-finished decade; in her post, Ms. Wanda implored her readers to share a list of their own. I admit: I had quite a time remembering my last 10 years—the blessings, the beauty, the energy, the sadness. For sure, it was a helluva decade for me. Here, the five things I'll never forget (in no particular order):

God worked a second miracle for me and gave me my Lila, adding on to the most beautiful title any woman could ever have: Mommy. She joined her sister, Mari, who was born in the Prince party year—1999.




My beautiful mother, Bettye, went on to fly with the angels—leaving behind a husband, a son, a daughter, two granddaughters, and a gaping hole in my heart that will never, ever heal. I miss you, Mommy.




Reaching for peace and in search of satisfaction, Nick and I sold our New Jersey home, packed up our family and moved to Georgia—and never looked back. Everything we were looking for, we found.




With my babies by my side, I proudly cast my vote for Barack Obama, helping him become the first black president of this, our great country. Being a part of that history was magical.






After almost 20 years as a journalist—a career in which I've covered Rudy Giuliani as a political reporter, profiled entertainers as varied as Idris Elba, George Clooney, and Janet Jackson for everyone from the New York Daily News to Essence magazine, worked as an editor at Honey and Parenting magazines, served up expert mom advice as a columnist for Parenting, and authored 18 books—I wrote Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man for comedian and radio show host Steve Harvey; it debuted No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller's list, and was featured on Oprah twice. Woot! Woot!




I created MyBrownBaby, an incredible space where moms come to commiserate about what it means to raise a child of color in America. In this journey, I've stretched my mind, soothed my mom soul, and found a wonderful network of women who have filled my ordinary, everyday life with love and light. I thank each and every one of you who've subscribed, followed on Google Friends, or just made a habit of stopping by every once in a while. 2010 is going to be a great year, and this next decade is going to be more incredible than the last. I can feel it.





HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!




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12 comments:

  1. What a decade...I'm going to have to think of my list now. I try and remember the good as much as possible, so maybe my list will have only the 5 Greatest things from the 2000's that I will take with me into the future. The rest, like the bad and sad, can go on a long trip somewhere far, far away in one of those fancy hotrods you have up top! ;o)

    My best, Lynn

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  2. Y'know how the decade doesn't start until 2011? It's based on the first year starting from 0 to 1 (A.D.), first decade 11, century 101 and so on to 2011. Here's a thread of geekdom going at it over the decade

    http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/ten-gadgets-that-defined-the-decade

    Since we're in this new millennium, shouldn't we be 'bout it and start the decade in 2011? (and yeah, Prince got 1999 wrong, best song though)

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  3. It's been a roller coaster year!
    Happy New Decade Denene!
    My decade in review is going up on my blog tomorrow. Please stop by and check it out.

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  4. I LOVE IT!! How beautifully written! I felt like I should stop reading after the first memory and grab my mint tea and warm blanket before continuing! Thanks for sharing. I will do the same, b/c this exercise is sure to feel great!
    Happy 2010 and beyond to you and your family, Homie!

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  5. How beautiful is this post:) Thank you so much for sharing your decade, I was surprised when I saw that you lost your mom and moved from NJ to Georgia, wow so did I.
    What an incredible career you have I am truly in aw of you:) Thank you so much for the credit and the link:) I was thinking today that wow in the Next Decade my kids will hopefully be in college and either I'll be destitute or prosperous putting them all through school, hmmmm, hopping for the later.

    Blessings and Joy to you and your Family this New Year!

    xoxox
    Ms. Wanda

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  6. What a decade indeed!

    I'm still so very excited about the creation of MBB, and giddy that I can just say what's up to one of two of my favorite authors anytime while enjoying your brilliant writing everyday!

    I'm so spoiled!

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  7. Happy New Year! The next decade will see my nest emptying - This decade had one born and one fly and get married. Blessings to you in the next decade!

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  8. What a decade you've had indeed. Much success and many blessings in this new year .

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