My Brother Would Have Been 57 Today

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Alfred! (July 13, 1961 – June 19, 1980)

I always think about him more so in the summer time.  He never made to 19 years old because of the car accident he was in with his blue Camero.  All we know is that he lost control of the car and it crashed into a tree.  Alfred suffered a severe head injury.  He was unconscious the few days before he died.

I wonder so many times about if he hadn’t been in a terrible car accident.  I was amazed that he was able to make friends with people so easily while I couldn’t because I was an undiagnosed autistic Black girl.  Some of the children we grew up with were very mean to me but extremely friendly with him.  They didn’t give a damn that I was his younger sister while their older siblings were buddies with Alfred.  Such an unfair situation.

Obviously, Alfred wasn’t autistic at all like me.

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13 Years Ago…

Happy 13th Birthday, Outside In!

This blog started 13 years ago.  What a long trip it’s been! Still at it after all this time!

True that I don’t post as often of late, but that’s because I sometimes get busy offline with my art and other personal stuff that I don’t have time to get to this blog.

Last week, I had to deal with a heatwave, the 4th of July celebration, work, going to the movies (Head and Ant-Man and The Wasp), and attending to a comic book convention out in Boxborough, Massachusetts.  It was a tough drive because I am not familiar with that part of the state.

I am busy on what changes I want to make in my life and for this blog and the other blog called Uncommon Bostonian.  I also wonder about where I want to go with my art.

Also, last month, my cousin Chloe rom Texas visited me here in Boston and we went to see U2 at the Boston Garden.  I am a big fan of them as well as my cousin.  I am planning to see more concerts this month and next month.  I am heading off to Old Orchard Beach up in Maine next month for my summer vacation.

This is my new piece of art.  Haven’t come up with a name for it yet.

Now, let’s move into year 13 for this blog.

Too Busy to Blog in Early May

Here I am in May just being too busy to blog.  I did go to the annual Watch City Steampunk Festival in the rain today in Waltham, Massachusetts.  It was pouring, but people came for the event.  I sure wish the weather was better, but nobody controls the weather.  When I got home, I fell asleep in front of the TV set for most of the evening.

I have been having issues with my back again.  It really sucks that I have a herniated disk in my lower back.  I’ve been dealing with this type of back pain for more than a decade because I was in a terrible car accident way back in December 2004.  The older I get the worse it bothers me, even after all the physical therapy and regular exercising I’ve done.

I still love to write, but thinking about other things I want to do like using my artwork in fashion design and finding writing jobs as a freelancing has occupied my thoughts lately.  I just haven’t come up with the right business plan to make those things a reality.  Also, I would love to write a murder mystery novel because Agatha Christie always inspired me to be a writer.

Still feel the lingering effects of my last cold.  Just trying to clear my throat of mucus seems like a daily task.  Sinuses are also a problem too, but I don’t think it’s all about allergies.  It’s just the weather.

Some pop culture news: How to Get Away with Murder is coming back for a 5th season, but Scorpion has been cancelled.  I saw Avengers: Infinity War last weekend and enjoyed it immensely.  Can’t wait for the next movie that is coming next year.  First, we have to see Captain Marvel movie before that happens.  2019 is still far away.

 

Sucks That I Have A Cold!

What happened to Spring?  It’s been too cold and snowy around Boston.  It hasn’t gotten really warm in such a long time.  Worse of all, I got a cold.

I don’t enjoy getting a cold because it makes things for me harder to do.  It’s hard to enjoy going through the day when my nose is stuffed up and I’m coughing.  At least, I don’t feel feverish.  My throat feels a bit sore.

Earlier this afternoon, I was driving my car when I sneezed and coughed like crazy.  Luckily, I didn’t get into any accidents while doing that.

I was able to do a few things today like going to a reception earlier this evening at the John O. and Olivia Parker Gallery at Lesley University where my friend, Anastasia, has her artwork on display this month.

Details here: https://lesley.edu/events/3-artists-celebrating-autism

The art display started on March 21 and will end on April 20.

I had a good time at the reception.  I had some red wine and cheese.  Also, the band there played a lot of Beatles music.

Spending My Birthday In Maine, Instead Of Florida

Happy Birthday to me!

It’s my day!  Although I couldn’t make it down to Key West, Florida, I did travel to York, Maine, to spend my birthday vacation.  As you are aware, Hurricane Irma wrecked Key West back in September.  I did consider going somewhere more tropical than Maine, but I had unexpected expenses like paying veterinarian bills for one of my cats who was having a health issue.  She is doing fine, but the bills put a dent in my savings.

So, I settled in driving up to York, Maine, instead of going to Old Orchard Beach, Maine, which is like a ghost town around this time of year.  I was able to drive around York, Kittery, and Ogunquit.  Even drove around Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as well.

The downside was that I came down with a cold. It’s been a freezing time here in Maine and the rest of New England.  It was freezing cold in Boston when I drove up to Maine.

Vacationing at Old Orchard Beach

I am glad to be on vacation.  Once again, I have journeyed up to Old Orchard Beach, Maine, to get some relaxation.  Not a moment too soon!  I was hoping to write in this blog last week, but I was so preoccupied with other things.

On the bright side, I went to see Earth, Wind, & Fire with Chic featuring Nile Rodgers at the Boston Garden last Saturday night.  I loved it because it was the second time I have seen Earth, Wind, & Fire and the very first time I have seen Chic.  Great music.

I drove up to Maine using my new Mustang that I got last Fall.  It did well going beyond 70 mile speed limit on the Maine Turnpike! Glad that no cop pulled me over for going at 80!!!

Time for some relaxation now.

 

A Slightly Belated Birthday to My Late Brother Alfred!

Happy Birthday, Alfred! (July 13, 1961 – June 19, 1980)

I had such a busy day on what would have been Alfred’s 56th birthday.  I went to the Boston/Joan Jett and the Blackhearts concert at the TD Garden in Boston and just got back after midnight.

It’s sad that my older brother died at a young age because of a car accident he was in.  He lost control of his Camero and crashed into a tree on Father’s Day (June 15, 1980) and died a few days later from his head injury.  Very devastating for me and my family.  At the time, I did not know (and well as others) that I was an autistic teenager of 15.  The emotional turmoil tore me apart.

Tragedies happen, and all we have to do is figure out how to cope with the sorrow.