Good morning and happy Friday! It is October 16, 2020 and looking forward to this weekend. We are almost at the end, I can feel it. Less than three weeks away from all the madness. However, because of all this madness, I have heard voices that I may have never heard or ever known about. Again, my imaginary friend, India, I’ll just leave it at that, posted the following IG post a week ago and I finally went to listen as I need to be ready to hear what she had to say. Anyhow, I listened and then I clicked on the link in the bio and was blown away. I listened to the stories of why these women vote and why they are voting in this election. Here is one of the beautiful stories I got to hear this morning. Goosebumps formed on my arms as I replayed a few times. Again, another women entertainer I am ashamed that I did not know, Dee Dee Bridgewater. I love the spoken word vibe.

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Dee Dee Bridgewater has ascended to the upper echelon of vocalists, putting her unique spin on standards, as well as taking intrepid leaps of faith in re-envisioning jazz classics. Over the course of a multifaceted career spanning four decades, Dee Dee has won 3 Grammys, a Tony Award for her role as Glinda, the Good Witch in THE WIZ, received the 2017 NEA Jazz Masters Award, is a 2018 Doris Duke Artist, and in 2019 was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions to Memphis music and in celebration of her latest CD, "Memphis, Yes…I'm Ready." Dee Dee is at heart a fearless voyager, explorer and pioneer not only as an artist but as a humanitarian. As a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Bridgewater continues to appeal for international solidarity to finance global grassroots projects in the fight against world hunger. In April 2017, was the recipient of an In December 2017, Bridgewater was presented with the ASCAP Foundation Champions award acknowledging her many charitable contributions. All “THIS IS WHY I VOTE” videos are underscored by @sheilaedrummer and @terrilynecarrington. Who has inspired you to vote? We’d love to know. The Artists @drmayaangelou @terrilynecarrington @siedahgarrett @sheilaedrummer @pattiaustinofficial @l.i.s.a.f.i.s.c.h.e.r @ledisi @lalahhathaway @indiaarie @deedeebridgewater @chakaikhan @brendarussellmusic @artistologyco Website link: www.TWIST2020.com #TWIST2020 #thisiswhyivote #mayaangelou #angeladavis #brendarussell #chakakhan #deedeebridgewater #indiaarie #lalahhathaway #ledisi #lisafischer #pattiaustin #sheilae #siedahgarrett #terrilynecarrington #donateyourvoice #registertovote #artistology #vote2020 #planyourvote #inspiredtovote

A post shared by TWIST2020 (@wearetwist2020) on Oct 13, 2020 at 5:00am PDT

I listened to all of their stories and they all touched me as a woman and a human being and American. I have not voted in the last two elections and pissed away my civic duty, but not this year and not ever. Here is one more and this one gave me goosebumps all the way down to my toes. Do check it out.

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Maya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. Only the second American poet in history to be invited to recite at a presidential inauguration, she read her powerful poem "On The Pulse of Morning" at the 1993 inauguration of President Bill Clinton. Ms. Angelou has published a total of seven autobiographies, including her most famous, 1969's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," as well as three books of essays and several books of poetry. Ms. Angelou also authored numerous plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. Ms. Angelou passed away in 2014 at the age of 86, leaving a legacy that has inspired a new generation of artists, activists, and writers. Who has inspired you to vote? We’d love to know! Visit www.twist2020.com @wearetwist2020 @brendarussellmusic @ChakaiKhan @deedeebridgewater @indiaarie @lalahhathaway @ledisi @l.i.s.a.f.i.s.c.h.e.r @pattiaustinofficial @sheilaedrummer @siedahgarrett @terrilynecarrington @drmayaangelou @artistologyco #TWIST2020 #thisiswhyivote #mayaangelou #angeladavis #brendarussell #chakakhan #deedeebridgewater #indiaarie #lalahhathaway #ledisi #lisafischer #pattiaustin #sheilae #siedahgarrett #terrilynecarrington #donateyourvoice #registertovote #artistology #vote2020 #planyourvote #inspiredtovote

A post shared by TWIST2020 (@wearetwist2020) on Oct 6, 2020 at 5:01am PDT

Maya’s words recorded long before her death, before she knew what story was about to unfold, or did she? Could she feel what coming in how she spoke to us all. Thank you again for this gift. With out this election, just being honest, I probably would never have learned about these women.

If you have been following along with my posts, you know that I have been a bit cranky and such. Happy to report that I am feeling a bit better. Sometimes, I forget and push myself to the point of exhaustion. For normal people, this might mean running a marathon or doing a triathlon. However, sometimes, mopping the floor or making the bed can be too much and I am the worst at beating myself up. That is something that is definitely that I need to work on. I did notice that today, I feel not as tight and my muscles are not screaming. Yay!

The above video is made up of photos I shot while Hubby and I were traveling through Kingman, AZ on March 8, 2020. When we returned home, California and most of the USA had started shutting down. Two days after we returned, it was reported on the news that contact tracing put a Covid-19 case in the Kingman Historical Museum the day after we were there. I never looked at the SD card after I pulled the Laughlin photos and videos. Currently, I am forcing myself to open a card a day and see what I can create with what ever is on the card. The above video was on a card I pulled on Wednesday. Yesterday I pulled a card that had city and beach and music it was all over the place.

The thing is, I have thousands and thousands of photos that I have taken because of a scene that was playing out before me and now it is time to go back and revisit and see what story or art I can pull from those cards. I think I may have to treat it like my walking chart as I really do need structure. Sad. Funny but I really should use all those tips the educational therapist gave me to use for my daughter back in the late 80s as I really do lack focus even as a self-proclaimed photographer! (Laughing manically, not really). Also, I am still trying to perfect the artist thing, see below.

That is it for me and time to get steppin’. Rumor has it that the temperature is going to be below 100 degrees soon! Time to get outside and enjoy the cool morning air.

Thank you dear reader for the visit. Where ever your journey is may you get there safely. Hugs.