unfinished SHORT STORY (open for commentary and review)

I was born a nobody and I had no expectations for my life. Few girls born in the countryside did in those years. My parents were quiet and hardworking. Married nearly 30 years before I was conceived, I was considered by some to be a miracle; at least that’s what some village people told me. My life might have remained the same endless routine of spring planting, summer harvest, autumn slaughter, and enduring winter cold. Truly, I did not mind because I knew nothing else and had no desire to know. There was nothing in me that even wanted to acquire knowledge of anything beyond my basic needs for simple food, shelter, and the cordial companionship my parents provided. Nineteen years of this passed and I fully expected to end my days as my father had the year before, laying on a simple cot with a priest reading the Bible to me as my soul slipped quietly out of the world.

I often think of how strange it was that I ended up working in Madame Marchand’s  kitchen. Of all the chores required of and faithfully performed by rural people, cooking and cleaning alluded me.  I often grimaced at the dishes I prepared. My father was the true cook. My mother could clean anything and even the wealthier people of the town would have her come and clean expensive things once in a while. That’s how good she was. I never went with her on those trips that often lasted 2 days. I never wanted to. I was much more at home in the barn. Something about the hard, backbreaking work invigorated me in a way. The smell of horse manure didn’t bother me because I was used to smelling it in the fields. Was it the darkened privacy? The hot, humid atmosphere even in winter? But that summer, the summer after my father died, the barn was no longer my domain. It now belonged to Vincent.

Vincent was a wayfarer. He was young, though he never told me his age. He was not the usual vagabond. For one, he preferred the countryside he said, though I learned to doubt the things Vincent said. For when he spoke of the city, his eyes grew round with a wild excitement and he spoke almost too quickly for anyone to understand him. He could read quite well, which was useful because my mother liked to hear the Scriptures read and I was not such a good reader, nor did I like having to sit inside.  So the first year after my father died was a bit harder on me because I was indoors so much more. So Vincent would read the Scriptures and then he would sometimes slip in some poems. My mother would rebuke him for his worldly interest. But I could hear the smile in her voice when she did...

HOW I CAN SAVE SAAB

Bankruptcy proceedings continue for the least understood luxury automaker in the U.S. as it gets ready to take its final bow. In the 20 years that I’ve been interested in cars, I’ve known exactly 2 people who owned Saab’s. Most of the people I know of a certain income range prefer BMW’s, souped up Honda’s, or Mustangs. One twentysomething I questioned about his Saab 9-5 floored me by stating his gas mileage was over 28 mpg. If the gas mileage is so great, then why don’t I see more people driving them? I demanded to know. He quipped, with a wry smile, that “Saab’s are for people who are kind of weird, like me”. So if Saab vehicles have such great gas mileage and a niche audience, why the trouble?

WHAT IS IT? Unlike BMW or Lexus, Saab has never quite distinguished itself as a major luxury contender.  Americans identify Yuppies with German vehicles, the way peanut butter goes with jelly. When the yuppie becomes a daddy, then he opts for the ultra-safe Volkswagen. When the daddy becomes an empty nester, he finally buys his dream muscle car, usually a Mustang. Where does Saab fit into this. No one quite knows. It’s not quite a young man’s brand or a middle-aged woman’s brand or a family brand. It doesn’t have a “prius-like” Hybrid to appeal to the "Green" trend or college kids. For Saab to come back 10x stronger, it must identify a clear audience or lifestyle and actively pull them in.

SAAB VS... ? As a leading Scandinavian company, it is criminal that Saab’s U.S. market should have been allowed to fail. But by ignoring key marketing strategies and failing to employ innovative ones, Saab’s demise was an accident waiting to happen. The ultra-cool “We Are Detroit” car commercials are an excellent example of brash re-branding and marketing. For over a decade, American-made cars from Detroit were anathema, but now even I, a bonafide European car lover, give Chryslers more than a passing glance. BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus outdo themselves with ever more aggressive commercials showcasing handling, styling lifestyle, and most importantly, competitiveness. Even the lowly Hyundai has flexed its muscles in a clear bid to steal away some luxury car customers or at least make them think twice. I can’t even remember the last time I saw a Saab commercial. Saab has to show where they fit on the sliding scale of luxury autos.

CONNEXIONS. Celebrities and cars make a wonderful “comfort”combination like salmon and white wine or soda and pizza. Attaching lovable and preferably well-recognized celebrities to cars is an attention grabber and adds legitimacy, which is more important than ever for Saab. Go after 1 or 2 viable Scandinavian celebrities Saab can attach to their product. If you want the family angle, go after Elin Nordegren. If you can’t find a celebrity, create one instead, the way Geico used a gecko. Just make sure the frontman (or woman) is truly emphasizing what the brand is about and appealing to the target market.

CROSS POLLINATION. Saab missed a great opportunity to piggyback on the movie “Thor.” What other symbols and/or products go with Saab? Introducing and promoting other aspects of Scandinavian culture can and will enhance the brand. Cars are now marketed in malls, allowing buyers who are sensitive (or allergic) to car dealers a low pressure browsing experience in a pleasant atmosphere filled with food and new clothes. Think Saab Think! Can the designer Elie Saab be a part of this? Like Eddie Bauer enhanced Ford Explorer's. How about including Nordstrom's? Or Popular chefs Tina Nordstrom and Andreas Viestad? Put a Saab in an Ikea store. Cross-pollination of the car brand with other items will make some new and positive connections, leading to a revived brand and a new luxury sales market, that is in danger of being defined by only a few heavyweights.

In order to be truly successful into the 21^st century, Saab’s reliance on producing efficient cars is clearly not enough. It must display a ruthless precision in its marketing and diffuse its saturation with creative marketing and innovative new products appealing to specific markets. It doesn’t have the standalone power of other luxury makers with a U.S. market and must synergize with other culturally relevant lifestyle brands. It can become the brand to buy, just as Chrysler, Hyundai, and Toyota struggled through the recession doldrums to make a major impact. But it must do a turnaround around soon and put some “BaaS” into Saab.

Book Review: Extraordinary, Ordinary People by Condoleeza Rice

No more excuses. And no more nonsense either. This is the central theme of Condi Rice’s highly personal, often humorous memoir, “Extraordinary, Ordinary People”.  In an apparent tribute to her loving and devoted parents, Rice focuses on her incredible, yet matter of fact upbringing.

Rice leads us (of course) back to Birmingham, Alabama circa early 1960’s-a city that refused to enact federally mandated civil rights legislation for years. From the perspective of a teenager living on the “black”  (albeit middle class) side of town, Rice explains with dignity and mirth the limitations and the advantages of her upbringing, even in the most overly racist government in the United States at that time.

Including many funny anecdotes and memories, Rice takes the reader by surprise. She reflects on her formative years with candor and honesty without any heavy social or political analysis. You will be shocked by Rice’s many crushes, her affinity for acid rock, and be warmed by her love for her parents.

Writing in a warm and emotionally engaging style, Rice graciously opens the door to a time that people my age only know about from history books. But she does not demonize or blame even the most virulent personages such as the notorious George Wallace. Even with her parents, Rice willingly acknowledges the tremendous toll their sacrifices for her took on them both personally and professionally.

You really get to know Condi through this book- both the woman and the achiever. If I could ask Ms. Rice a question, I would wonder why she chose to share such personal revelations now? Although there are some opaque areas regarding her personal life, I don’t feel as if she is deliberately hiding something, but is exercising her right to keep some things sacred. The only area where this book falls short is regarding Rice’s decision to address personal disappointments and career failings in a detached, almost impassive style as if such things are not worthy of reflection. Or perhaps she inherited the stoicism of generations long past to simply “get on with it.”

However, Rice does not hold back describing her many achievements, not the least of which is her impressive skill with the piano. She seems to throw herself into any vocation requiring only the most difficult work, including studying the Soviet Union despite its unpopularity at the time, becoming a professor and Provost of Stanford University, working as National Security Advisor and ultimately becoming the first African-American female Secretary of the State.

But Rice is not touting or bragging. She attributes all of these amazing and seemingly impossible achievements to the dedication of two loving, yet imperfect parents. Parents who sacrificed much for their only child.  Parents who didn’t and couldn’t look to the government for succor, but to God.

Without pointing her finger, she gently prods today’s generations to do better, work harder, think differently, and be truly courageous.

I was immediately engaged by this book and flew through it in a few days, far more quickly than I had planned and intend to re-read it again more thoroughly. But perhaps Rice intended it so. She does not strike me as one who wallows in sad memories or welcomes pity, but a true achiever who presses forth to the next high mountain and prefers that others do the same.

In a recent online interview with Time Magazine, Rice was all smiles, looking relaxed and content- a far different image than the often solemn bureaucrat from the Bush Administration. Rice has said in interviews that her political days are behind her.  Hmm. It is difficult to imagine Rice, with her intellectual prowess, resiliency, dedication, and political connections simply retiring to the mountains of her beloved Colorado for the next 30 years. I daresay, she has mountains yet to climb. An extraordinary feat for some, yes, but quite ordinary for one who does it all the time.

Natural Hair Care Reverts!

Recently, I attended an event celebrating the natural beauty of Black hair. The event was sponsored by a major purveyor of relaxers and other "natural hair care" products for Black hair, primarily Black women's hair. Most of the numerous attendees sported their natural hair, loud and proud. One of the main highlights of the evening were "easy" natural hair care styles, that only required just a few short hours of preparation and styling. Hmmm....

When I think of natural hair, particularly for African-Americans, I think of the proud and tall Afros of the 1970's, complete with a pick sticking out of the middle. What does not come to mind is curlers and multiple bottles and jars with ingredients too complicated to pronounce without an English teacher present.

So just how natural is natural? Well, that depends on what your definition of natural is. Mine apparently does not jibe with the ideas of well-known hair care companies. Coiffed natural hair is an oxymoron to my mind. After all, if the point of being natural is to wear your hair as God intended, where does all the styling come in?

Several of the participants reasoned that they wanted people to accept them as they are vis-a-vis accepting "our hair" as it is. Again, I take issue. Deciding to stop putting chemicals in your hair is completely reasonable, but if your hair-do's still imitate those with straight or non-natural hair, then what point has been proved.

Celebration is premature in my mind. Hair has never been a good indicator of self-worth, or any other marker of value. However, hair has always been a marker of social status (or lack thereof) and personal self-expression. How telling that in 2011, hair rules our self-perception as much as in the days of the conk and pressing comb.

So don't throw away your weaves and lace wigs just yet, hairstory may repeat itself sooner than you think.

The Christian Politician Rises Again

You can tell that Republican presidential hopefuls are getting desperate when the “R” card raises its ugly head.  Religion and Republicans are always a dangerous mix.

Governor Rick Perry was recently quoted by a Christian radio station confidently saying that he will “practice his faith” if elected to the presidential office, by some miracle. I was puzzled by his quixotic statement. I later learned that this was a sly dig against President Obama, who sometimes plays golf on Sundays instead of “practicing his faith.”

I wonder if sly insults count as “practicing ones faith.” Politicians rarely practice what they preach and I doubt that practicing faith would be the first area that they actually kept a promise in.

And what does that remark mean anyway? Is he saying that we will see him at church service every Sunday? Should that give the nation courage? Should I be reassured or terrified by that prospect?

So it seems Governor Perry’s confusing soundbyte has raised more questions than it answered.  Personally, I am not comforted by a remark that reminds me of an arrogant superhero bellowing from the skies, “Here I am to save the day!”

Who says we need a politician to “practice his faith”? It seems to me that we need a politician to keep his word and effect change, particularly for the indigent. We need a politician who loves God and humanity more than the sound of his own cognac-smooth voice. We need a politician who stutters a little bit when he talks to remind us that he is, after all, just a man (in a funny red sheet).

Practicing faith (if such a thing exists) is not a matter of political duty or polarization. It shouldn’t be a sudden outburst amid a lucrative political campaign nor a convenient genie that is summoned to rescue us when things get tough or make us look good.

It’s no wonder religion has such a hard time finding a place in politics when it’s spirit is continually invoked by the down and desperate.

Before You Move

The location is perfect. Twice the square footage. Affordable monthly payments. These are the usual concerns when moving to a new place. But what is the spiritual climate of your new town and just how close is your new house to your new church?

Most of us just assume we'll "find someplace" to go to church in a new city, as if selecting a new church is just the same as finding the nearest Walmart. But what if the nearest church is Roman Catholic and you are non-denominational. Will you really attend a conservative Mass week after week?

With the availability of the internet, there is no reason not to Google 3-6 churches within a reasonable proximity of your new house that you can research and visit. Many churches have Facebook and Twitter pages that you can link to and see what kinds of ministries and events are going on. You can download or stream services to your Smartphone or Tablet to get a feel for the style of sermonizing. Don't assume that you'll be able to drive to the nearest Baptist church; it could be 50 miles away.

Moving provides a great opportunity to start fresh and this carries to your spirituality as well. If you have a lackluster church attendance record, rarely volunteer at your current church, and hardly know anyone, this could be a great chance to change that. Pick a church that has ministries that cater to your specific needs. If you are Single, look for a church that has an active Singles Ministry and lots of events going on during the week. For couples and people with kids, I suggest looking for churches that have couples or kids' oriented ministries.

Your spiritual well being is just as, if not more, important than the quality of the school district or your granite countertops. Make it a high priority so that you don't succomb to feelings of loneliness or detachment that can lead to spiritual disillusionment, altogether.

If, for some reason, there are no churches within the distance you are willing or able to drive, then you might need to look at some other place to live. I know it sounds drastic, but what is more important, where you live or how you live?

God has a way of working things out for people who are willing to make a small sacrifice for Him. So yes your new house should be the center of your home search, just make sure it's His House.

Lessons From The Storm

Kirk Franklin’s aptly worded intro says it all, “The myth is that storms have to do with punishment; that they are God’s response to sin or his disappointment in us as His children…”

Over the past three days, every news reporter with access to a green screen and storm tracker has unnecessarily set the teeth of the sturdy Eastern Seaboard on edge by declaring a virtual weather Armageddon in the form of Hurricane Irene. What’s worse is how many Christians have responded to the numerous doomsday reports with fear and a level of national preparedness unheard of since stop, drop, roll.

Like mynahs, we mimick the fears and panic of a lost and dying world, desperately trying to prepare for the worst. A few days ago, an earthquake struck the same stalwart East Coast. There was no warning, no indication. Simply uncontrolled tremors rocking even to the very heart of New York City. If the Richter had registered just 1 or 2 points above the 5.8 rating, millions of lives would have been lost in just a few seconds. How’s that for being prepared?

The saying goes “Prepare for the worst…” but that sounds contrary to the teachings of Christ who says “Ask and it shall be…” So you stocked up on water, so that you can live survive underground like a mole for 20 years?

So we’ve taught ourselves, or been trained, to prepare for the worst and as Christians we have done just that in every aspect of our lives. We expect the worst job, the worst outcome in all circumstances, we expect trouble and disappointment at every turn. Why hope for an ideal mate? Just marry the first person who shows any interest in you. Why try for a better apartment? You’re probably not going to get approved due to your bad credit anyway. Christians emulate the example of Eeyor more than Jesus and it is sad.

Apparently, the thought of a storm sends the holy terrors up our spines even more than living an unfulfilled life. I don't fear natural storms because they bring cleansing and awareness. Wind and rain force mortals to recognize their awesome unquenchable power to destroy. They force us to slow down and stay put.  They force us to...prepare. But instead of hording supplies that are bound to spoil or run out, why don't you prepare for a better life? Why don't you get ready for the shake up of your life an expect the miraculous instead of the mundane?

By now, you can tell that I didn’t rush to any store to stock up on anything in particular. I figured that if worse comes to worse, I’ll just join a zombie mob and munch on my well prepared former friends.

So the storm is passing over now. Whew. Aren’t you glad you were prepared?