Say what?

I got done getting ready and took one last look in the mirror and thought to myself "self, you look good tonight". Now if you're like me, you have those "ugly" days or days when you feel like even if God slapped a bow on you, you'd still look like sponge bob. (can you tell I'm not a fan of the yellow sponge that lives under the sea?)

Anyways, so the intention as I went on my merry way was not necessarily to turn heads but I figured a few compliments might be nice so wore my sensible heels, put on my favorite lip gloss in the car and touched up my mascara. The darn thing nearly took my eye out. Next time I'm in need of a weapon I might remember to use it. I arrived at my destination and everyone was in flip lops! Seriously! Did I miss the memo that this was a beach party? I'm talking dirty-half-worn-out flip flops! If this does not bother you, then you probably live in the Midwest!

Hanging out with a group of women looking like a bunch of thirteen year old boys is not my idea of fun times. Some people seem to think that in order to put the effort into looking nice another human being has to be the object of that effort. That just absolutely bothers me. Can I just do things for me just because it feels great? Or is that too selfish? It physically drains me to see women looking frumpy all the time. Can you at least pretend to care? Come on, live a little!

Routinization of Disaster

Click cluck click cluck
Goes the sound of her shoes
In and out just like that
Sense of urgency about what she does

"Be right back"
Click Cluck; there she goes again

Back in the twinkling of an eye

Listens, prods, touches, a smile!

Click cluck click cluck

Eight lives all in her hands

Fast bouncy strides she makes

You couldn't tell she wants to cry again

Bladder quivering
Dry as parched land

Not a moment to sit through it all

Finally to sit and chart it all

Dedicated to all the Nurses who bend over backwards for the people they are entrusted with, who endure the abuse and misuse the system dishes out and still manage to make it look like a glorified profession. Click Cluck On!

What is in a name?

Usually when I meet people for the first time, the conversation goes something like this:

Stranger: Hi, I'm  -----, it's nice to meet you.

Me : Hi, I'm Maxine, very pleased to meet you.

Are you ever tempted to use a different name? After all, you might never meet this stranger again. As you have guessed already, my name is Maxine. Maxine is an english name of Latin origin and the feminine form of Max and it means "the greatest". Uhm, how awesome is that? Hello! I was named after a Baptist Missionary who's service in Ghana was so exceptional that my parents fell in love with her servant spirit! I still keep in touch with her and she's like another grandma to me. Guess what too? She is a Nurse! I had no idea what profession she was untill my second year in Nursing school! Coincidence?

Now seriously though if you're African like myself, you know the the meaning of your name has a bearing on the kind of person you are expected to be in life and you had better live up to it. It always buffles me when people tell me their names because I immediately wonder what it means. I love being a Maxine even though it is a really old name :) Hopefully the name will make a comeback soon. I already have about 3 Maxine's named after me! Have you ever wondered if you would act or live differently if your name had been different than what you have now?

What do you think is in a name? Has your name had any impact on your life?