BFly Presents 'Way Back When's Days' Family Vacations

Remember, back in the day, when families actually took family vacations every year?  The family vacation wasn’t likely to take place in some faraway, tropical locale or require flight tickets. Usually, the family vacation was a week-long visit to an auntie/uncle’s house a few hours away, a weekend holiday spent with friends or relatives or a series of day trips taken over summer vacation. Wherever the destination was, it was some place you looked forward to going with your siblings and parents.

Some of my favorite childhood memories are from family outings and vacations: namely the trips to the beach we used to take with my maternal grandparents and the movie dates, park outings and overnight visits to relatives my mother & stepfather took us on.  I’m glad my mother was like the paparazzi back then: she has hundreds of photos that instantly transport one back to a specific time & experience and provides a healthy dose of uplifting nostalgia.  Nowadays, I don’t hear many people talking about family vacations.  People are usually taking ‘Girls Gone Wild’ vacations with their girlfriends or ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ trips with their homies.  Personally, I’ve been on many (long & short) vacations with my sisters and friends but only a few that I would classify as a ‘family vacation.’ I’ve planned many family vacays in my head only to be superseded by some jaunt or adventure presented by one of the ladies. Now that my daughter is almost 22 years old, she is less likely to want to vacation with Mommy so I am now planning for trips with the gran’diva. She and I will be sure to make some grand memories to last a lifetime.

What are some of your fondest memories of family vacations, either as a child or with your own children?  Do you have any suggestions for family vacation destinations?

BFly Presents: Way Back When's Days: 'Sweets & Sweethearts'

Remember, way back in elementary school, when you used to make a list and pass out Valentine’s Day cards and candy?  There was always one, two or a few classmates you didn’t want to give a card to but you had to give them one anyway?  Then there was that one…..that one special classmate for whom you wanted to make the little card extra special. You wanted to give them extra pieces…..or bigger pieces……of candy.  Sometimes you gave them 2 cards that had different Valentine’s Day messages on them.  Ahhhhhh, those were the days of innocence……..

This Valentine’s Day, I’m thinking about taking it back to the days of innocence, when every person you liked (as a friend or more than a friend) received a valentine from you.  I have to make a list so I don’t forget anyone and my extra special people will get a personalized message so I need to get started on those soon.  Oooohhhh, I’m getting excited just thinking about it!  It’s gonna be so much fun………..I love spreading love!

What are your special plans for Valentine’s Day??  Will you spend it with a sweetheart, your children, parents…??

BFly Presents: Way Back When's Days........'Remember When You Used To Love Him/Her?'

We all have that person we thought was 'The One.' About that special someone, nobody could tell us a damn thing (uhm uhm uhm)! Usually, when I'm feeling a person 'like that,' I'm inspired to talk about them, think about them and, of course, write about them. The following poem is about the one I thought was 'The One.' Although I've since gotten over he and I 'becoming one,' he will be The One special man I will always hold dear in my heart......

He is the one
whose eyes light up
like a Christmas tree
at the mere sight of me
whose taste buds
are never satisfied
with just one bite of me
He wants to hold me
savor me, breathe me in
'til my air caresses his lungs
I am his oxygen
He wants to touch me, kiss me
make love to my soul
in private, in public
let the world know
this love is for real
our spirits sealed the deal
no need for pomp nor circumstance
fancy diamonds, shiny gold bands
to know that I am forever his
and he will always be mine
hearts and lives intertwined
'til the end of our time
He is The One
whose eyes light up
like a Christmas tree
at the mere sight of me
and I stand basking, glowing
in the light of he
steadfastly knowing
He is The One
for me

©Sameialika Tarver

BFly PRESENTS: 'WAY BACK WHEN'S DAYS,' where, every Wednesday, we'll take a trip down memory lane and discuss people, places and things from 'way back when.'

Today, let's talk about WAY BACK WHEN people 'had the red and black lumberjack with the hat to match' (rip Biggie). The year was 1984 and I was 11, 12 years old. Everybody who was anybody had a lumberjack coat. The colors varied from a plain black & white combination to pretty pinks, poppin purples, sunny yellows and bright oranges....with black, of course. If you didn't have one of these coats, you were not cool, couldn't be fly and definitely not hot.

My mother, the fashionista that she was, kept me and my sisters well-dressed, hair done (by her mostly) and hygiene up to par. She was always complimented on how well she took care of her girls....and she took pride in doing so. It was all fine and dandy until middle school....where most kids first experience the pressure of their peers. In '84, '85, a lot of kids my age were sporting lumberjacks, Goose downs, gold bangles, bamboo earrings, rope chains, Puma or Adidas sneakers, Salt 'n Pepa haircuts, spandex and leather jackets. My sister and I? Not so much.

You see, Ms. Mary (my mother) wasn't into the 'hip hop' or 'urban' scene. She was a conservative woman whose fashion style was mostly classic with not much trend sprinkled in. When we begged asked for stonewashed or two-toned jeans, sneakers and a purple or pink Goose, we were answered with a 'Yeah right!' look. Eventually, she did compromise and bought us the jeans we wanted (oh, how I loved my Sergio Valente and blue/gray two-toned jeans) but coats, sneaks and jewelry....noooooooooo can do!  Eventually, my sister and I did get some of the things we wanted....but not enough to be comsidered 'Fly Girls.' We were 'fly,' in our own right, and definitely part of the 'in' crowd. But 'round the way girls' we were not (and I sooooo wanted to be one)!

Were you a 'Fly Girl/Guy?' What trendy fashions did you rock back in the day?  Did your parents finance your fashion or did you find other ways to get what you wanted?