Do I Look Like I’m Stupid? - Chapter 28

I can’t stand when some men try to play with my intelligence! I may have been born at night, but it wasn’t last night!

When men flirts with me, that’s one thing. However, when the man is married or engaged and flirts with me, that’s a whole different story!

I have been approach by a couple of men - you know, wanting to have “friendly” conversations. However being married/engaged, there’s some conversations one shouldn't be having with a single woman - especially a single woman of Christ! Now, I’ll call a scam when I see one and in these cases, I have. One guy, the engaged one, it turns really ugly.

I didn’t think anything of it when I was talking to this guy. However, when he called me 5 or 6 times a day - everyday, plus not mention his fiancee unless I asked about her, I knew it was a problem. When the Holy Spirit showed me what this guy was trying to do (have sex with me), I called this situation for what it was and nipped it in the bud. I’ve said my peace and I’ve let it go. He insisted that I was crazy, that he wasn’t interested in me “in that way” and called me out of my name! If the negro wasn’t interested in me in “that way,” then why did he reacted the way that he did? Then again, this “man” has a history of anger and emotional issues, so it shouldn’t have been a total surprise to me. I’m just sayin’...

The bottom line is that I desire to be married and I refuse to let anything or anyone stand in the way for what God has in store for me! I ain’t going to hell for nobody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until next time...

September 11th: Nine Years Later - Chapter 27

Wow...I still can’t believe it’s been nine years!

My recollection of what happened on September 11, 2001 was an interesting one. On the evening of September 10, 2001, my friend’s husband & I were on our way back to Brooklyn from South Carolina. I was helping my friend and her family move from East Stroudsburg, PA to Charleston, SC for a couple of days. Her husband had to return to Brooklyn while the rest of the family stayed in SC. He wanted to drive back and not fly, so I rode back home with him.

We were on I-95 doing 90 mph. He got tired, so we’ve pulled over to a truck stop in Virginia and rested for a few hours. After he caught his second wind, we continued on down I-95. A few hours later, we’ve gotten closer to home. Around 4:30 a.m., we were crossing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge (the bridge between Staten Island & Brooklyn), I’ve stared at the World Trade Center. I’ve always looked at the World Trade Center every time I cross a bridge, but this time felt different. I’ve heard a still small voice in my ear saying “Take a good look at those buildings. It will be the last time you’ll see them standing!” I scoffed it off. I didn’t believe what I’ve just heard. So I didn’t pay it no mind. I arrived home by 5:30 a.m. that morning. I was so tired, I’ve changed clothes and went straight to sleep.

A few hours later, my mother woke me up screaming, “Tonja, we’re being attached!” I was half asleep, not fully aware of what was going on. So I’ve said nonchalantly, “So what else is new,” and turned over to go back to sleep. The volume on the tv was so loud, that it fully awaken me and I saw it - a fire at that top of Tower 1. I couldn’t believe my eyes! Mind you, my mother and I didn’t have cable at the time, so we’ve noticed that only ONE channel was working that day. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, we’ve saw the plane crashing into Tower 2 live on tv! I’ve tried calling every person I knew that worked in the Wall Street area to see if they were okay, but all of the phone lines were dead! Then, we’ve watched the first building come tumbling down. One right after the other. My mother and I sat there in horror watching this massacre take place. Tears were rolling down my face. The place where I used to visit as a child as well as my hang-out spot when I was in college was gone!

I will never forget the men & women who died on this day, those who lost their lives saving others and grateful to God for those who survived this horrific tragedy.

Until next time...