A Decade of Memories...

To Those Devastating Divas of the Spring 1997 line of the Gamma Iota Chapter

I call You Friend. I call You A Blessing! I call you SOROR! copyright (c) 2007
by Yolonda "Einstein" Coleman
#38 Gamma Iota Spring '97

Dreams of Crimson and Cream were at the forefront of our minds
From Stacy to Courtney we learned how to bind a line in time.

Staying clear of "Peanuts," "Walnuts," "Cashews," and other issues that signals for tissue
We became Gray's Anatomy making sure each sister ate right
if her stomach went bump in the night.

They said it couldn't be done and we have proven time and time again
that there is strength in numbers
And together we'd win.

The days of justification are over
Let us put things on the line
We are women of resilience
And get better like fine wine.

We've prayed through Doctors galore
Doctors of Medicine
Doctors of Law
Doctors of Dentistry
but wait there's more

Our sisters stand in court rooms
Publishing books and poems
Make television debuts
And Sorors making the news
In Jet, in Ebony pick an online source
Managing and Directing companies
It's as simple as googling one of us

There's so much to our story, Sorors

I cannot tell it all,

but here's a little repetition

Of what we already know:

We're some soul stepping Sorors

Opening acts for music group Sorors

Singing with Vickie Winans Sorors

Coaching College Teams Sorors

Masters Degree Sorors

Teaching America Sorors

Taking Care of Home Sorors

Retired Early Sorors

Traveling around the World Sorors

We've seen the likes of France and Austrailia, Sorors

We personifying Violets, Sorors

With one of our very own who spent time in "Afrika! Afrika! Mother Afrika!"

Seeing dreams into Reality Sorors

And I'm glad you're on my team Sorors

Whew! Even an elephant can't walk a mile in our shoes.

They are just too big to fill.

Sky miles might distance us
Toll roads make keep us apart
But 10 years have been good to us
As we promised from the start
To know one another, truly
not because someone told us too
but because of our bond in Delta
continues to bring us through

When this day passes us by
And we look back on our days
Know that no matter what happens
Our love will always remain.

Take out your pictures, ladies
Look at all our smiles
Today is our day to celebrate
Our Delta Initiation with Pride.

I love you and Happy 10th Anniversary, Ladies of Dangerous Minds!

OOOO-OOOOP!

It Really was a Mane Attraction!

(New York, New York---March 16, 2007) FOR GET WHAT YOU HEARD! New Yorkers rank on my top list of people who are more welcoming than the media portrays. I said the same about folks in Detroit and I mirror it with New Yorkers, "Thank you for being so kind to A. Brown Girl."

I was able to convince the greatest assistant of all times, Marty Ma, to make the trip at 4:49am in the morning. We were headed to Coney Island to celebrate Women's History Month at PS288 Shirley Tanyhill. Now, prior to the departure, Marty Ma gave me a forecast of ice and snow falling over the Big Apple. I had a decision to cancel plans or continue knowing that God would take care of all troubles before me. I chose the latter.

By the time we hit the exit for the Verrazzano bridge, it was pouring ice like a Slush Puppy...vanilla flavored. No matter, "We've come to far to turn back now." If you know my driving, lol, I got lost. Thanks to Brian, one of the chefs at PS288, I was able to arrive at the school safely. Is there another word for excited? If so, that's how I was feeling and singing with joy...in my best Soprano voice (had to sneak that in there re: the Verrazano ... lol).

When I started the Sugar Rush: Love's Liberation book tour, I was asked when I was coming to New York. I didn't want to rush God's plan. I did know that when when it was time for me to head north, I had to respond immediately. With so many obstacles in my way, I knew, come rain, sleet or snow, there was a blessing waiting for me. In fact, when I arrived, there were a few hundred blessings waiting my arrival.

The eyes of the little children was the prize. "Dream! Dream On!" we shouted in unison after each child talked about their dreamz. "You can do anything! Even in the face of death, follow your dreamz!" They were amped! They were smiling. They were so energized when I gave them the cue to draw out their wildest dreamz.

We had several teachers (Oh My!), a student who plans to rescue lost animals from the street (My God!), doctors and lawyers (Yes, sir! They're planning now), and even a little darling who plans to be a "Real Ice Cream" bar some day. "Dream! Dream On!" Sounds impossible? Let's see what happens in a few years when there's a chocolate ice cream bar with her name on it! I'm excited.

I received hug after hug from 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders. The middle school students showered me with their positive energy. Instead of drawing pictures of their dreamz, I gave them a writing assignment after my pep talk about following dreamz even when the people closets to you tell you that "You can't do that!" They were shown random pictures and were asked to write stories based on what they saw. Story after story depicted a moral. "Bobby swam anyway even though his friend told him he couldn't," a milddle school wrote in reference to a picture with two boys at the water's edge. POWERFUL! The beauty in this story, I never gave them guidelines, I simply asked them to be open to the picture and write the untold stories. They met the challenged and exceeded their own expectations. "Dream! Dream on!"

Despite the ice falling over the New York asphal along Neptune and 25th, I was warmed with the spirit of children and their dreamz. Since the weather was inclimate, I was unable to meet with a book store owner. But God! Whew! Photographer and head chef at PS288 made a call to his stylist and invited me to meet her and the rest of the staff! Though I have a driving IEP (for the educators out there), I found a parking space near the Mane Attraction. Four women with accents were there to greet me along with Larry. I remembered the text I received earlier from my favorite Alpha Pharoah. He said my conversation should be based on "insight and discernment. Your credibility is your character..." I took his advice to the hill, and pretty...gave them me.

The secret to New Yorkers or anyone for that matter is simply, be yourself. It gets no clearer than that. That's the best way to earn the respect of anyone. Me was enough for the ladies at Mane Attraction. They blessed me and I climbed into my car three books lighter.

Mane Attraction, thank you for welcoming me with open arms. PS288, thank you for helping me reach my dreamz. To all of you, I only ask of you to DREAM! DREAM ON! and make all your heart's desires come true.

I did leave with a challenge, someone asked if I wrote children's books. Sister Michelle (see caption and pic) and both responded "not yet." I guess I'd better get to work. New York put out the call for me to do so and so, I too must DREAM! DREAM ON!

I love New York!

A. Brown Girl

Picture A Caption: Sister Yvette and Sister(c) Michelle (r) take a Coffeedreamz Break with me.

Picture B Caption: Owner Shellie pose with me and the rest of the very cool staff of Mane Attraction in Coney Island. Stop by to get your coif done. Mane Attraction is located at 2408 Mermaid AveBrooklyn, NY 11224 (718) 373-9795.

Life is truly Better at 30...

Dear Coffeedreamz Family,

Last year, I celebrated new life for my 30th. This year, I'm celebrating new love. I declared 2007 as a By Any Means Necessary and Take Out the Trash Year. So far, my two favorite highlights involve dreamz I have: I asked God to see the dreamz of my outreach ministry of love through and I asked God to prepare me to receive love. God gve me a glimpse of both. Jumping out on Faith while praying for Grace and Mercy...is a wonderful thing. To those who don't believe in the power of prayer...for those who don't believe in love...for those who don't believe in God...Look in my eyes. Look at my smile. You'll see all of them at once.

NEW YORK welcomed me with open arms as I conducted two workshops in Coney Island (Brooklyn is the best!). I was able to foster the beginnig of dreamz with elementary and middle school children at PS288 Shirley Taneyhill (thanks for the referral). My favorite moment: I told the students to dream and dream big. "Dream! Dream On!" No matter what anyone says, all dreams are possible. One of the babies said she wants to be ice cream. Since nothing is impossible, I encouraged her to have an ice cream bar made in her image and GO FOR IT!

While I was in Coney Island, I was able to sell 15 books, making that the most books sold at one time this year...now get this...IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ICE STORM. My love to PS288 and Mane Attraction Hair Salon. Thank you for making me successful during my first NYC tour.

While scooting our way along icy roads, my sister, Matice and I, prayed for a safe journey. Things were getting rough. If you know my driving, it was best that we get off the road. We found a Holiday Inn off the Turnpike (exit 8, I believe). While on this trip, I was comforted with text messages and phone calls from the one who claims my heart's desire. With God's grace, I heard the message in the storm.

Prayer and speaking things as though they were not...WHEW! actually works. The trick is, being ready when God presents it to you.

Anywho, on a sunny Saturday, I met a gentlemen who spoke to me about the Lord and every conversation thereafter we acknowledge Him. Following the candid converstations about WHATEVER were nightly prayers together, daily emails, daily text messges, daily pictures and confirmation of thoughts flowing from his lips without me ever saying a word to him. Be equally yoked is nothing to play with. It is not just a saying, it is a lifestyle.

Ordinarily, I'd include this in a private journal. However, I am noble and for the first time EVER, I wear my heart online and give God the Glory for Love's Renaiassance. It has to start somewhere, so, I am starting here and now. May God richly bless you all in love and life. This is the beginning of a non-fiction love story. "

To the one who keeps me smiling daily...
A . Brown Girl Exclusive
by Yolonda D. Coleman

You are my Romeo, my black knight, my Tea Cake
As my eyes were watching God, you captured me from the enemy,

you love me without fearing death

And in doing so,
The Son shines brightly on us whispering untold stories
of what our love will become...

The earth is our stage
and we stand in the spotlight of the stars
as God reveals to us each moment
where we'll stand at curtain's call.

We've spent many years rehearsing with actors
preparing for dress rehearsals and making sure our
lines were flawless...
When it's time to take center stage, will we remember
all that we've learned?

Or
Will we write a new script tailored just for our moment
with no cuts, no do overs, no understudies to take our place
no set
Just the bareness of our souls meeting for the first time
speaking only truth of what we've always known but never
had a chance to realize?

You are my Romeo, my black knight, my Tea Cake As my eyes were watching God, you captured me from the enemy, you love me without fearing death
And in doing so, The Son shines brightly on us whispering untold stories of what our love will become...

I am a City Girl with Southern Roots. I am waiting in God's hand while you prepare to bring me home...it gets no deeper south than you.

www.coffeedreamz.com