Zipping Up My Boots

   As I entered the closest doorway on a cold February morning in 2005, the pondering of a wardrobe fashion dilemma would be the first decision of the day. I woke up for work to what I refer to as complete "Debbie Downer" moment with a wave of depression felt from the removal of my thyroid. I was starting to question my emotional sanity, as the short-term sadness would linger on. When suddenly a sighting occurred as my eyes focused on a pair of pointed boots located on the top shelf.

  There they were a “Cinderella” pair waiting to be worn with a sudden burst of energy and a new attitude. The black boots had never been strutted before and looking back on that moment there was a reason no one had never walked in this pair. Now that I think I about it; I am still not sure why I purchased this over confident foot accessory. The pair resembled something a girl wore in the oldest profession. Within seconds: I felt a sudden wave of confidence through my body as I slipped a boot over my knee. I enthusiastically closed each zipper… “Zipping Up My Boots,” I could hear Lamont Dozier singing in my head.

  An energy rush raced throughout my body with a feeling compared to a child on Christmas morning. Why is it as a child, we want to grow up so fast and as an adult we want to stay forever young? Our early years were a short-lived time, one that would replay in our minds throughout our entire adult life. The world was much more glamorous beyond our bedroom window and past the city limits. As a child, we spent many waking hours dreaming on escaping and much of our adult life trying to return. The teenage house often bored us and we considered it a place of refuge only to eat and sleep. Many times we convince ourselves the world is a better place outside our own front door, only to later to discover the world was a wonderful place within our childhood walls.

 The bond of your first grade friends or your lower school reading group is a memory one rarely forgets. It is a comfortable feeling returning to your high school reunion in your fifties. What you see is what you get! Our lives are what they are: as a true friend sees each other through love and acceptance. “Old friends are the best.” For a real friend is a person with a pure heart who unconditionally accepts you for whom you are without any changes or suggestions. As with us all: a person can make a bad decision during their lifetime but a true friend places those mistakes in the past. Our individual growth includes successes and failures. A true friend encourages a friend in their dreams not on the mistakes within their accomplishment. For jealousy and spite have no room within a friendship only laughter and tears.

  “Our friends are our family” and I have discovered this to be true. Life is about embracing those friendships with a commitment to love, encourage but most of all pray for our friends. Our friends lift us up in low moments and celebrate with us during the highs. After all my friends need to make me laugh. Zip up your boots and continue to strut forward. Over the last fifty-one years I have been blessed to call the many special people in my life … my true friends.

Zipping up my boots

Going back to my roots

To the place of my birth

Back down to the earth

Recorded by Lamont Dozier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdEwRm-kSJ0

  It is not easy to push yourself emotionally, spiritually, academically or physically but the rewards can be so satisfying. The phrase "Open Highways" has followed me through the age of 5. I was a 1st grade student when a group of seven classmates were placed together in the “lowest” level reading group. Many jokes were made and feelings hurt because of the labeling placed on us. At the time the group was established we were embarrassed to be placed in this academic circle. However: we seven students formed a unique bond and today we still refer to ourselves as the "Open Highways" reading group.

  I started journaling for the first time after my cancer surgery seven years ago. It was a secure place to put my feelings and fears for my emotional sanity. The fear of the classroom followed me throughout my adult life, as it was a secret I had carried around for years. When out of the blue, I was told by my employer, I must return to the college classroom and finish my undergraduate degree to keep my employment. After dealing with thyroid cancer I decided I had to face my classroom demons head on. So many obstacles were occurring during those three adult "college" years that I found emotional peace through writing. It was my safe place. Then one day I learned I needed six hours of writing to complete my undergraduate degree. My little journal slowly took on a life of it's own. My simple words with grammatical mistakes combined with an unpolished writing style slowly developed into a non-fiction memoir as the book displayed to the reader my twisted sense of humor and determination.

 There I was self-publishing my story from the heart for all to see. When a few people surprisingly took me back to the struggling years of my lower school days. Since the self-publication of my journal "Hurdles" in 2010, I am often amazed at the comments I received from the many critics. I found it interesting of a "friend" who immediately pointed out the 31 mistakes throughout the book. Or another friend who constantly reminded me and shared with others the many errors they found throughout the manuscript.

 It was heartbreaking to hear them continually focus on the uncaught slip-ups instead of the message of the book. The harsh remarks immediately brought me back to the circle of seven chairs, as I felt compelled to reveal to others of the embarrassing errors.

 This blog is titled Open Highways because of two reasons. It reminds me of my childhood reading group and what we can overcome with hard work and determination. The second reason for this title is because the sky is the limit and the road is endless. We can do it all with God’s grace and self-determination. I challenge you to be a better person than yesterday with a loving heart for yourself and for others.

  I tell people all the time "my book has thirty-one mistakes in it and if you are an academic snob then don’t read it." My writing is from the heart. My style is simple which makes the reading experience easy to follow. I love to write and explore my feelings on paper. What you read is what you get.