WHAT'S FOR LUNCH?

By Vernalee

Recently, , a colleague asked me if I had ever eaten sardines. That question took me back about 45 years or so as I recalled the “chopping cotton” days in Mississippi. When the field hands broke for lunch, the delicacies that were sold were Vienna sausage, potted meat, and sardines (along with crackers, of course). Honey buns or cowboy cookies were dessert items. The field overseer would find a shady spot under a big tree to escape the 100 plus degree heat as the workers lined up to make their food purchases. The bare ground served as the luncheon table with the spreading of an outer garment as the tablecloth. Those sardines had a stinky smell, but they were needed nourishment and a way of life for many Black families in the 1960' and 70's who chopped cotton every day for a daily wage of $15.00 just to put food on their tables. Despite the torching heat, it was a job to make ends meet. Some memories never fade particularly when they were a part of your existence!

By the way, I love sardines ...stinky and all! Photo credit: www.livestrong.com

AROUND THE WORLD AND BACK

By Vernalee

Greetings ...Do you want to take a trip around the world? Before you answer, please know that my bags are packed! I'm ready!

Taking the journey is a lifelong dream!

With your eyes closed, here we go!

This adventure will supposedly take us around the world in six drinks:

America - Whiskey,

Mexico - Tequila,

France - Champagne,

Japan - Sake,

Russia - Vodka,

Caribbean - Rum.

Of course, after your Rum, you‘ll be returning to a strong shot of Whiskey in the USA!

That's great! If you are still sober.... there is one major drawback! If I'm your travel buddy, I don't drink alcoholic beverages. So, I will have to travel with you in person! Any takers? All reasonable offers will be accepted!

Photo credit: www.gardenstheatre.qut.edu

I DIDN'T MAKE THE LIST!

By Vernalee

It's official! My name is not on the list this year! Another year has come and gone and although the list has increased to a record number of 2,095, there is no mention of me; not even an honorable one! So as long as my name doesn't show up on the Forbes' Billionaire List, I have to continue to push my proverbial "Lickety Stick" and work on one of my consulting/writing/entrepreneurial gigs. Cautiously optimistic and being the dreamer that I am, hopefully, my pen will elevate me to produce a NY Times best seller. A couple of top selling books in tandem with a screenwriter's stroke of genius with Twentieth Century Fox endorsements might do the trick! Wouldn't that be grand? Landing there will not exactly place me on the billionaire row, but a respectable elevation it would be! I'll appreciatively take it! Until then, it's back to the grim in the land of work! So with Jeff Bezos of Amazon leading the list once again this year, thanks to my and your many Amazon purchases conveniently arriving at our door, I'll see you at the J.O.B. tomorrow! All said and done, even without the billions, I am truly blessed and thankful for all that The Lord has given and provided!

For the inquiring minds who want to know, here is the Forbes List - https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/

Photo credit: www.forbes.com