Just got back from the dentist. So expensive and so drugged up now. You know, I'm working hard to stop smoking (day 8 of e-cigarettes), eat more vegetables and fruits, walk Tommy more and overall, just trying to take real good care of myself and stay happy. I'm old. Not really old like 60 or 70 or even 80, just older. Of course I don't look my age, especially since I took out the plaits in my hair, washed and colored with no relaxer. I just pressed, brushed and greased the scalp.
My hair has gotten even longer from 5 years ago when I finally decided to stop putting any relaxers in my hair. I guess you count color as a chemical, but you can buy a natural one. I have had my hair out for 7 days and it's driving me crazy. It's just flying out like a big bush and I mean big. One girl said it was beautiful because its my own hair. No wig, weave or tracks. Yes, Lord it's my own hair and it's as nappy as a Brillo soap pad. It's that tough. It can break a pick, plastic comb, hair brush, hot pressing comb and any other adverse conditions. My grandmother use to call my hair, "Back to Africa."
My grandmother would wash, grease and plait it. Her, my great aunt and mother would take me to the hair dresser every September before school started to get it pressed. I hated going to that hair dresser. Every young black girl in the neighborhood was there and I was usually the only one with a book in her hand. That's why today I carry books with me ever where I go. I would often say, "what am I going to do while sitting and waiting for Mrs. Gibbs to do my hair, "read a book, my grandmother would say, and I'll be back in four hours." I would be in that hot, loud taking, smelly burnt hair salon for four or five hours. Drove me crazy until I finally got to read my books, then I did not care. That's another reason I was called crazy, people in the hair salon would say "Jinny's grand child is weird, she always got a book in her face."
My first year in high school, and I was still not happy about getting ready to get my hair done for school, my grandmother decided to, "Stop paying that damn hair dresser Mrs. Gibbs to do ninda's hair." (Yes, I was called "ninda" they could not or would not say Linda. Even though my real name is Virginia-Linda. I changed it because I was not going around life being called, "Virginia-Linda." No way.) It was decided three days before the awful burnt of my scalp, that I would no longer get my hair pressed. My grandmother said, "Hell, the child comes home from the first day of school and the hair is all over her face, dirty, bushy and not straight and as nappy as hell." Stop the presses, it's not worth the money, just come over here and I will plait it.
I've been in plaits every since. I did years ago cut it real short after my child was born, but hubby, his family and mine did not like it. Said I look like a boy. So, it's 2014 and I will be back to long plaits before the end of the month. You don't know how long it takes to comb this here hair. It's a long, long time.
More new books:
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry: A Novel
RACHEL RENEE RUSSELL - DORK DIARIES SERIES - varied prices from $3.99 to $8.88 - - - I am getting ready to fill bags with books and any other items I can find, for the 25 kids of the Bring Your Child To Work Day and the 30 kids from the Carolina Youth Development Center. The Carolina Youth kids are in temporary housing due to abuse, neglect or what ever is needed to help these kids. There's a woman at my job who volunteers for them and last Christmas I was able to provide books and Christmas presents for 30 kids. That is what really makes you feel good, to give and give more. So, me and Tommy's next road trip, which is tomorrow, I'm stopping by The Booksmith to pick up the first 5 in this series for 10 kids. I don't care how much it costs, every year GOD finds a way for me to do this and I enjoy it so very much. On another note, her book is becoming a movie soon. I hope when it comes out I will be able to take some of the kids from the Carolina Youth Group to see it.
The Dork Diaries Set: Dork Diaries Books 1, 2, 3, 3 1/2, 4, and 5
NELSON GEORGE - THE HIPPEST TRIP IN AMERICA: SOUL TRAIN AND THE EVOLUTION OF CULTURE & STYLE - $16.99 - - - What more can I say about this book, it is long, long overdue.
The Hippest Trip in America: Soul Train and the Evolution of Culture & Style
Got to get one in for Black History Year:
This spellbinding novel magnificently re-creates one of the most exciting periods in American history, the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. As three black sisters come of age, they pursue lives and careers in three very different professions.
No Easy Place to Be: A Novel
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