Thinking about it

Can you hear it?

I can hear it.

Shhh..... Listen.

Can you hear it now?

It's Cleveland.

And I think it is calling me home.

I moved to Minnesota in 1998. I didn't know anybody here, but my tribe was here and countless relatives I had never met. It would be the perfect opportunity to raise the kids in the culture my grandmother taught me. Plus, I could finish college and make everyone proud.

Lately, it feels like my stay here in the Too Cold, Minnesota is ending. I miss my family and friends in Ohio. My mom is still holding my beautiful Meeko Da Moo cat hostage there. My best friend, Kelley just bought a house outside Cleveland and is making the area her permanent home. I am almost done with school. I have no where to live as of the end of August and places here are pretty expensive and crappy. My kids want to go back and be near their grandparents and friends. Like I said, all signs point to the Buckeye.

Now, there is the flip side. I have family connections in Minnesota. I enjoy the Native culture here. I"ll have my license to teach soon. I am employed. All of us have friends here. I like my job and the kids I work with. I still can learn much by staying here.

I guess when it comes down to it, Ohio looks more promising. Still, there are two things that need to happen to leave. First, we need a place to live. It needs to be decent, reasonable and near Kel since she is one of my greatest supports. Secondly, I need to find a job that can support my family. I have already started looking, but I have mixed emotions about the jobs available. In general, I am very excited, but very uneasy. It all seems so quick.

Do you know what one of the things I dread the most? Packing and moving all our stuff! Either way I have to move. That means I have to pack. I have 9 years of buildup in my house. It is time to downscale in a major way. The neighbor and I are planning a large sale in July. I'll be on ebay soon to get rid of some of our other items. Hopefully, this process will be successful and leave me feeling relieved and not regretful.

July is the big month here. I need to decide where my path leads. Minnesota or Ohio? I guess we will all see soon. Wish me luck!

Stay sweet 'n smile............................Mz.

Lost and Found

I think it was in a movie when I first heard this fabulous background music. I kept thinking it was "Boomerang" for some reason. When I went back and reviewed the movie, I realized it wasn't in it. That song must had been in another 80's or 90's movie, I just couldn't remember which one.

I remember my excitement back in the day when my ex-husband gave me a mix tape and that song was on it.

LOL! Mix tapes....remember those! It was such an 80's thing to make compilation of songs on blank cassettes. The quality was questionable at times, especially if you recorded off the radio. You tried hard to cut the radio announcer's voice off or to keep background noises to a minimum. One goal was to never have your parent screaming for you by your nickname in the background of a song. It was fun to even edit by cutting the tape reel and connecting back with scotch tape. Oh, the things when did back then after 8 tracks, but before cds! LOL!

Anyways, you won't believe the sadness I felt when that tape was lost forever. I had played that tape so much that a few parts were very worn. It skipped for a second here and there from my retaping it back together. I never even knew the name of the song or who created it. Mix tapes usually lacked that kind of information. There I was, back in that same boat. Once again, the search for my song was on.

I have no clue as to how many record store workers and music fanatics I have sung the melody of that song to in order to help identify it. It was much to no avail. I never thought it would take me almost 15 years for the answer. What's interesting is that tonight, my daughter put the movie "Glitter" with Mariah Carey on. As we watched it, my song came on in the movie. I was so happy to find it again. After some searching through the music listed in the movie, I found the name and artist. Yeah!

My daughter said I should thank her for finding it again. I did, too. She is my special baby girl. Which reminded me, the day I went into labor with her, was the day I saw "Boomerang" at the theater. I remember the contractions I had, but ignored while I watched Eddie Murphy win the heart of Halle Berry. It was such a good movie. I didn't want to miss it. I figured I would never get the chance to see it if I ended up in the hospital. Back then, movies like "Boomerang" or others with primarily minorities in the cast never spent longer than a week at our small town movie theater. Plus, movies took forever to get to video.

Funny how things connect in my life. So, I guess in a 15 year span, I was finally able to connect my song to "Boomerang" after all.

BTW, the song is "Moments of Love" by Art of Noise. I posted the video below.


Stay sweet 'n smile............................Mz.

Wordless Wednesday

Lake Erie

Stay sweet 'n smile............................Mz.