Optimism Can Save Us

I like the way Quincy Jones said it, “All my life I’ve had this almost criminal optimism. I didn’t care what happened, the glass was always going to be half full.” That’s the way I feel about 2021. As a matter of fact, it’s how I felt about 2020. Despite the self assurance of the-donald, and the death toll of Covid-19, the majority of us were blessed to maintain our habits of living.

 So this year, just like the-Q, I am maintaining my own portion of criminal optimism.  While I do have my antidepressants set to auto-refill, I feel innately empowered  by any fears that creep up, to only look forward. As bleak as times may forever be, it behooves us to behave as if we want to have things more better and more lovely- more excellent for our progeny. Their future is not an impossibility, you know. Most broken things are fixable, and we are adaptable.  #justthemessenger

Which is why I feel that if you have a lawn and young children, you should  plant a tree for them. This 30’+ Magnolia  evergreen was planted by my step granddad when I was 7 or 8. I love this tree! As shown here in a video I made for Earth Day 2020.

Over the years as Maggie outgrew me and outlived my grandparents, habitually withstanding the hellacious Texas summers and neurotic winters, I never really gave her any thought- because... she was- there. After my grandmother left us in 2016, the tree, among other things attached to her house, took on a prestigious new purpose, in my view: Heirloom.

And envy! .. because she’s got enough room to grow another 40-50 feet where she is and will likely live up to a century and a half in these obviously perfect growing conditions. This Magnolia has been thriving five decades. I never imagined I’d be writing about this when I was a little girl watching the gentle nestling of the seedling into a hole twenty five feet or so from the front door. Then came the constant attention and nurturing over the years to ensure her long term survival. I’m feeling this old neighborhood, let alone the planet, can survive hundreds more years. 

And so it is, the optimism I feel for the future of planet earth, our humanity, for my only child and her offspring are based on my love for a tree. For they deserve to see her 50 years from now, and bless this planet with their lives and the trees they will plant.

 Anyone can teach you about love. I can make you good at it!

| Photo & prose by Jackie D. Rockwell |All Rights Reserved © 2008-2021 |

#WomenVoteChallenge | A Woman Empowered

I VOTE: because she wouldn’t have it any other way.

It was one hundred years ago today, August 18, 1920, that the 19th Amendment was ratified giving most American women the right to vote, and Mama was soon to be the last twinkle in her daddy’s eye. She was born August 19, 1921 with 12ish siblings before her. She didn’t likely vote all of 77 years, but at the very least 27 years, making choices and adjustments and strides to pass on to me and my future grandchildren. I am proud to possess and pass on, all she’s done on the path as a Black Texas mother, business woman, servant of God, descendant of slaves, and advocate and doer of good deeds in the forward movements for all women.  Oh and she was the queen B lady #masterbarber in Dallas! #HappyBirthdayMama 

I was nominated my Jeanine Michna-Bales and challenged to invite 19 women to take a photo if yourself and write why it’s important to vote this year... Find us over on FB or hashtag #womenvotechallenge on the IG.

Update: January 2021

This year, I am inspired to curate a collection of memories in photograph of what I refer to as the Spirit Jewels of Mama's House.  #spiritjewelsofmamahouse 

 Anyone can teach you about love. I can make you good at it.

| Photo  & prose by Jackie D.Rockwell |All Rights Reserved © 2008-2021 |