Planning ahead makes for a rewarding outcome. But what I've learned through experience
is that it's the spontaneous moments that can sometimes be surprisingly more rewarding.
A couple of weeks ago, on a low key Friday evening, I had a random intuition that
a friend of mine may be interested in partaking in some "thank God the week is over"
festivities. So I called her, only to learn that
she was already out having cocktails and had plans to see a movie when her martini
glass ran empty. Her current plans, however,
were set for a party of one.
I for one am all for the notion that we must take time alone to enjoy ourselves,
by ourselves, but in this particular case, I could detect that there was a need for good
company and a lending ear for a dame in distress.
So, I crashed on her solo agenda.
The cocktails were great, the venting was therapeutic, and the movie, surprisingly
superb. Another example of the benefits of spontaneity—the movie was randomly selected,
with us having no idea of the plot or the starring roles. Nonetheless, the movie
was quite enjoyable and befitting for the theme of the evening.
In the movie, The Secret Life of Bees, August Boatwright, played by Queen Latifah, was a very
successful and well respected African American business owner, which was very rare
in the 60's. She also played the role of a mother figure to her younger sisters. One of her
sisters, June Boatwright, played by Alicia Keys, was an intellectual, and a talented
musician and adamant supporter of the Civil Rights Movement. The youngest sister,
May Boatwright, a woman with emotional challenges stemming from the separation between
her and a deceased twin sister, showed in so many ways that love was life. Rosaleen
Daise, a non-related sister, but a sister no less, was played by Jennifer
Hudson. She was a nanny determined to have her voice heard by casting in her very
first ballot as a U.S. registered voter. Rosaleen was the nanny to a young girl named Lily Owens, played by
Dakota Fanning, who was drawn to the Boatwright home in search of her mother's spirit.
The Secret Life of Bees, produced and executive produced by Will and Jada Pinkett
Smith among others, depicted women who were ambitious, progressive, creative natural
beauties in their own unique ways. But one thing that they all had in common just
the same, was the need for each other. Blood or distant, being there for one another
through the challenging and happy moments in life is proven
to be priceless.
This Thanksgiving season, let's be thankful for the sisters we have in our lives.
Moms, siblings, friends and distant others. Check up on one another spontaneously
from time to time. You never know when you’ll be needed, or when you will be the one in
need.
*This letter is dedicated to Jennifer Hudson and her family. May they
be blessed through this difficult time.*
