Still Grateful

I am the world's worst blogger. I'll have to devise some sort of incentive to encourage regular postings. The fact that few appear to have discovered my words of wisdom might have something to do with my failure to recognize this forum as a means to communicate my thoughts to the world. Well, if indeed only I am privy to my genius, I may as well make sure that some higher purpose is served...like once again proclaiming to the Universe my deep gratitude for the life I have lived to date.

I am fortunate, blessed, in fact. I have a warm hearth, a hot hot tub, sustaining friendships, a job (!), interesting hobbies and habits, a wide network of colleagues, a wonderful kid, an awesome boyfriend, and a family that constantly inspires. What more could a girl ask for?

How about cars that run! No sooner had I typed that last paragraph when the phone rings. It is my sweetheart, stranded half way to Columbus with a broken down vehicle. So much for counting blessings, though it certainly could have been a lot worse. I'll just consider myself fortunate to have the resources to make a quick rescue...

2010...and counting!

It's here again...census time. Every ten years the American people view with some mistrust that temporary government worker who shows up on our doorsteps, survey in hand.

Since I have become a formal student of identity, its development and manifestation, the census has loomed large in my ruminations. We may call ourselves whatever we choose on a day-to-day basis, but there's something about declaring ourselves to our government that makes it...official. For me, checking the race box is more than a statement about who I am; it's also a political statement, not as personal as it is an act I perform with the greater good in mind. Regardless of the complexity of my "racial" identity, I am officially "Black, African Am., or Negro."

I highly recommend checking out the census website: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/

Which box(es) will you check? And why?