May 18, 2021 HAPPY TRAILS...................

Went to a funeral today. It was a tough one. Lost one of the good ones. Seriously. They broke the mold after him.  He taught us all  how to live a  more meaningful life just by setting a good example. I'm going to do my best to be a little more like him. I heard the same words over and over today when describing him. He was kind, humble, empathetic, helpful and fully present.  He was also a good listener who never criticized others. Let's all choose to be a little more like our beloved friend. If we all work together--the world WILL be a better place. Happy Trails. 

If you're looking for an interesting book to take your mind off your troubles, check out What's Mine And Yours by Naima Coster. As the story unfolds, It is 1992, and young Gee's father, Ray, is killed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The impact of his death on two families is central to this story set in Piedmont North Carolina. Told from alternating perspectives, the story jumps between 2002-2018. The  main characters are  Gee and Noelle. Gee and Noelle actually meet in 2002 when Gee, a black student, is bused to Noelle's mostly white high school in an effort to integrate the schools. Noelle's mother, Lacey May,  actively protests the integration as her daughter befriends Gee and the two star in the school play. Lacey May another important character in the story,  has also had a hard life as her husband, Robbie has been in and out of prison and has a drug problem. The story then flips to 2018 as Noelle finds out her mother is ill and she returns home to repair relationships and come to terms with her life. This is ultimately a family saga about race, class, hardship, poverty, addition,  and  two families whose lives are forever linked by tragedy. This novel is about 350 pages or a 4 mile run that I found interesting and enjoyed.