In Between

Old News New Me

Opening my eyes to a beautiful sunrise above the ocean water, listening to the birds give me a blissful feeling. Usually I'll sleep with my patio doors open, living up high you have that advantage. I slide the wine red covers off of me and stretch on the side of the bed, picking up my phone I have three missed calls and one text. Opening up the text of course its Taylor telling me to call her, and the rest are from my mom. She's very anxious to see me in the next couple of weeks and I don't blame her. Its been four years since ive been home and I have my reasons. I just grew tired of that lifestyle in Chicago. Born and raised on the southside, coming straight out of Englewood, who wouldn't want to change for a better future. Don't get me wrong, I love where I come from, those streets taught me a lot. Even though I am successful like I am now, believe me, im about that life, I was just smart enough to change my ways. The streets aren't good for anyone if your mentality is way beyond sex, drugs, and money. Ill say me and those streets have a bitter sweet relationship. Bitter from being out there hustling, selling whatever that made money, fighting because the little you did have made you territorial. The sweet though, them streets made me strong, wise from the wise ones, and most of all noticing a lot of snakes. Overall, being able to handle my own when no one else had me. I was with book sense from my mother and dad. They both had college degrees, maybe not from universities but where im from a two year college is just as good. What caught us living wild was the fact they had me and my brother at a young age. Starting a family at the age of sixteen luckily my granny helped her out through college, thank God. So whats a young in love couple to do, easy, they did what they had to in order to survive. If it was foodstamps and section eight, WIC lines even county doctors then so be it, as long as home was taken care of. I was told you have to do what you have to do until you get to where you wanna be in life. My dad was huge in the dope game he was heavy on the southside of Chicago. He was so big that when me and my brother would get in trouble on the block I had a officer ask me my name and told us to get home cause he knew who my dad was. Crazy right. My mom was no joke either, she based everything off of survival and til this day right now I fully understand. Unfortunately while mom was taking care of home trying to come up somewhat the right way, my dad was caught up in the street life and she wasn't having that around us. The reason why I say somewhat the right way, is because she was on the level with my dad until it start getting outrageous, she use to tell him we cant do this forever. That is true, my uncle told me you get in the game, get enough, and get out, unless you want the casket or them boys in blue to take you. So my and dad split after six years. I was only four my brother barely two and that's the story ive been told. Its been a great move for me coming to Biloxi Mississippi, this my kind of living that relaxes my mind body and soul. The palm trees, tan sand, and ocean water just warms me all over, I call it my meditation place. After searching for a good six months for a place to live, and a spot for my book store, this became the ultimate place for me. As a kid I liked the city that's all I knew, but when it was family reunion time in the south, I fell in love with the peace and quiet. The landscapes and the hospitality of other people it was like another world. Where im from we don't speak, we look at you crazy if you say hello how are you. Its like you're a alien or something, trying to get to know someone that's not your family or live in your neighborhood. So basically I feel like I have the best of both worlds and can adapt to either city or south and im happy. Finding me a two bedroom one in a half bathroom condo on beach boulevard, which is directly across the street from the beach fitted me well. My condo is on a strip full of hotels and casinos luckily they are like two miles down from me. My store is located about five miles down, surrounded by a mall and some outlet stores, plenty of restaurants so I lucked up on that spot, and it wasn't cheap. I had to learn one thing about buying a business even buying a home, its not what you buy, its where you buy it. My building is approximately twelve hundred square feet, with ceilings at about ten feet high. Entering my work place you have straight ahead the front desk. To your left one big ocean front view window, I thought that brought some type of style to the place when I bought it. Also to your left ahead a small Starbucks which is small and comfortable enough for two employees to maintain. To your right in the center sits four burnt orange leather love seats. Brown and tan trimmed pillows, two on each couch. Adding my alexander home rawhide camel beige rug. Sitting on top of that would be my gift from my brother, a Belham living Bartlett square coffee table. The main wall in that section holds a sixty inch LG smart tv, with one four foot ivory mother of pearl floor vase on each side. Located down the only hallway is a restroom to your right, then on the left side of the hall are my VIP rooms. The VIP rooms are my favorite addition to the store. Each room has a tan leather recliner, with a fourty two-inch LG. A two-tier cherry wood round table that sits scented candles. Also, a very soft natural sheepskin rug. Last but not least a seven-inch Samsung tablet to control your Netflix or to read. The VIP rooms are mainly for bestselling authors who have movies about their books, you can watch them. So, either watch your favorite author, or simply relax in private with the choice of a five wine collection list. I almost forgot about that, we added that last week. My office is home, because Taylor is the receptionist, I'll do what I need to do at her desk if I have to. My store has been up and running for a good three months now, so I'm still adding to the place. Walking over to the patio I step outside and take a deep breath. Taking in this beautiful early morning weather and the feeling of good morning run comes over me. Usually on weekends I have enough time to run, unlike weekdays an hour session of cardio before work suites me just fine. Walking back in, I prepare myself going back inside the bathroom to freshen up. Brushing my teeth, then washing my face, before I leave out, I smile checking out this new Colgate I'm using and it hooking me up. After some mouth wash, I go pick out some work out gear. A feeling of emptiness over comes my stomach so it's a must I snack on something before I run. I put two raisin bagels in the toaster while I fry me two eggs. Opening the frig looking for my strawberry cream cheese I have to have, and some orange juice. While preparing my meal my phone rings so my silly self-slides to my bed like a surfer to check out who's calling. Hello mommy, how are you? Good morning. Good morning Raina how are you feeling this morning? I'm pretty good, just fixing me some breakfast before I run my usual Saturday morning. How's the weather up there? Oh, it's a good fifty degrees right now and that's good for April, so I won't complain. I'm excited to have that. I know you are. So, you and Taylor will be here for memorial weekend correct? Yes ma'am, of course, I wouldn't miss your huge gathering for nothing. Its not that huge Raina honey, one hundred and twenty five people on a reserved guest list is far from huge. Ma! Seriously! I'm not about to get into that, we don't even have enough time to talk about it. You just tickle me Ms. Mae but I love you to death. Don't forget you have ways like your mother so you're a lot like me. Believe me I know. So, how's my little sis, is she coming? Well, she's working on her first presentation for her first case. She said it's the whole set up. From the judge, the jury, court house and all. Casey has to dress the part, so if she not fully prepared with that, she won't make it. At least Casey has her priorities in order, and I know law school including a scholarship isn't easy, so I'm proud of her. Mutual feeling baby, I am proud of all my babies, I couldn't ask for more. So how's your brother? I haven't talked to him lately. He's great actually, we spoke this past Wednesday. He's about to get started on opening up his restaurant in Dallas. Yes, he mentioned it to me, we were discussing the location. Okay, well so far he told me the contractors are working on the blueprint. Now that's a start, I still don't understand why Texas, and not Chicago. You need a well-known big city for a good start, I think. Keep your opinion ma you and Cole discuss that, and Texas is  very popular and steady growing, not to mention it's the biggest state ma. All you think about is it being the south. That's true but me and him will talk. Ill catch up with you later this evening honey, you enjoy your exercise, I have a spa appointment at ten. Well go ahead with your bad self, enjoy enough for me too. I sure will honey, and before I let you go, how's your store and your book coming along? LuxeBooks is coming along just fine. Waiting on the electrician I hired to install my lily pad ceiling lights. I'll send you a picture, they are gorgeous. Please do but Google has everything. Okay smarty pants, also my book should be finished by early fall, so I'm hanging in their ma. Very happy to hear all of that, and you keep me updated please. Don't forget to tell Taylor I said hello. I sure will love you. Muah! Love you more.