Uncategorized – Spicy…

June 18, 2026

Memorable Birthday Travels: From Delicious Eats to Jazz Concert

First Leg

It’s been a month since my Birthday travels to the Carolinas, Maryland, and DC, and I’m still flying high! Here’s the thing. I must say that Mr. K. does not let dust settle. I was on the move the moment I set foot on Charlotte, NC’s ground. What?!

Let’s begin with an FYI. Did you know that Contour Airlines flies from Muscle Shoals,AL Airport directly to Charlotte, NC, round-trip for a little over $200!? I do believe they designed this flight just so Mr. K. could come visit ~~me and his family~~ his family and me, without a six-hour drive. Of course, this means I can fly into Charlotte to see him or to connect to travel internationally with him. The plane is small, but this gift is mighty and has served us well.

I digress. I hit Charlotte with Mr. K. waiting, and I immediately requested a Cuban lunch. I’m gon’ tell y’all right now; if I find some good eatin’ and service in a place, I’m hooked, and Azucar Cuban Restaurant has both. It’s quaint with people-watching windows, the service and food are delicious, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. What?!

Interior of Azucan and the beef strips, plaintain, and veggies Mr. K. ordered. Of course, in usual fashion, no image of my Pollo dish which had veggies and rice to share.

On to Columbia!

We rested for a day before we picked up Mr. K.’s pal, Rufus, who uses a wheelchair. Rufus used to live in Chicago, and we were jamming to Smokey’s station in the car and on our way to see…guess what? Michael! Mr. K. had to drive through a downpour, but our knight lifted Rufus to. his wheelchair, and me to my umbrella as he ushered us into the theater.

If you’ve seen it, then you already know. Michael was wonderful, the lady next to me and I were dancing in our seats. Rufus is wonderful too. He has a great sense of humor and told me Mr. K. is part of his family. When we delivered Rufus home to his sister, Linda. She concurred that Mr. K. was part of their family, and by the time we both applauded the film, Michael, I felt like family too. What?!

I asked Mr. K. to find a good deli in Columbia, and he took us to Groucho’s Deli, the Columbia location. You already know I had to have corned beef to Mr. K.’s pastrami. I also tasted Groucho’s Original Style Potato Chips, all were right what the doctor ordered.

Mr. Friendly’s with Cedar

We went to a festival outside of Columbia – great ride, great food, music, and Saturday fun. Sunday brought our Cedar-time! You guys have met my sister friend, Cedar Lawrence, during my visits to see Mr. K. She was in town visiting her cousin, so rather than us traveling to Augusta to see her, we took Cedar to dinner at Mr. K.’s favorite restaurant, Mr. Friendly’s. Little did we realize it was a graduation weekend. Y’all, we had to sit and eat at a bar. I can’t stand sitting at a bar to eat, but I must say that even at the bar, the food was delicious and the service was on point.

Mr. Friendly’s New Southern Cafe boasts a diverse menu, including grits and delicious greens! Cedar invited a male friend, but she was so cute that she ended up making friends with the guy sitting beside her. We enjoyed our dining experience and had to take a short walk afterward. We were thrilled to spend time with Cedar.

After the weekend, we rested on Monday to hit Greenville on Tuesday.

Green Light to Herbie Hancock

Y’all. I heard from my Chicago, now Charlotte, friend, Lugenia, that Herbie Hancock was in town. I missed his tour date for Charlotte, but he was also appearing in Greenville, SC. Tuesday, May 12, we were where? There!!! Herbie is my favorite jazz artist, and I had to see him in concert.

I have never seen so many happy fans. Most folks were our contemporaries, and we were really spry as we walked a block from the parking lot to the venue. We were not disappointed. This iconic musician is 86 years young. He looked great, and his band, including the great Terence Blanchard , James Genus, from SNL, Lionel Loueke, and a drummer who is only 27, Jaylen Petinaud rocked the house. They were killing works by Wayne Shorter and other greats, and of course, ended with Head Hunters. Hancock had his recorder on his shoulder and was literally jumping!!! The show was incredible.

**Yes…Herbie Hancock was jumping up and down with his instrument**

Herbie ended the first leg of my trip, but not without some Spicy drama. Well…we parked on the fourth floor of a lot. Mr. K. remembered where we parked, but when we got to the lot, the elevator was out. I HAD TO WALK UP FOUR FLIGHTS only to find our car was not there. We walked down and asked about the other lots. On our way to find one, I noticed there was another entry to the one we tried. Yes. The elevator worked, and yes, our baby was parked where we left her. (He drives a Hyundai Kona).

The thing is, I almost made it without my knees cutting up, but the stairs… the stairs…the dreaded stairs. They shut me down for a day, in fact, on my Birthday. But after I rested…

STAY TUNED FOR OUR LAST LEG.

Joy Juice

I was looking back at my Birthday celebrations. I’ve been sharing them with y’all at least since 2020, my 70th year during COVID. Hallelujah, I’m still here, healthy, whole, and still traveling. What thrills me is to see us, all of us in every hue, faith, culture, and physical condition, doing what we can to affirm our vitality. It may not be traveling, but we find our way to express gratitude for still being here in the world, and I’ll listen to your stories too, ’cause that’s how we do.’

“When death finds you, may it find you alive.” – African Proverb

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. – 2 Timothy 1:7

“It’s all good/love/God” – Victorine

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Victorine, Bio

Author of Be S.A.F.E., StillAware, Faithful, Excellent, now available on Kindle Amazon as an e-book.CategoriesUncategorizedTagsceremony, spiritual, teaching, tribute

June 2, 2026June 14, 2026

Our Nest (In tribute to Mama C.)

Our Nest

Woven by

children who clung to her words, taught and given;

by family treasures that invoked lifelong practices of understanding the power of stillness;

by healing hands that touched the cells of our souls;

and by Ancient voices and whispers that captured our spirits,

Sheltering us

through the countenance of her presence;

in worldwide ceremonies conjuring strength, healing, peace, and love;

by answering the call to share the wisdom given to her;

and by infusing us with spiritual guidance that encouraged us to fly.

Our nest, our refuge, our Ancestor.

Your birds thank you.

Written, with love by Victorine, Jun2, 2026

“It’s all good/love/God” – Victorine

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Author of Be S.A.F.E., StillAware, Faithful, Excellent, now available on Kindle Amazon as an e-book.

April 28, 2026April 28, 2026

Practice Makes Perfect…but not yet!

Frustration from trying to create a video!

Yes. I am sinking into the abyss of creating videos/reels/lives… whatever you call them. I have been emoting over these creatives and their projects for quite some time, so I figured it’s time for spicy to join in on the fun. Of course, ChatGPT is directing me, but I ain’t feelin’ all they want me to do. What?!

What amazes me is that folks like me get to express what we feel by creating for the world to see. We are all stars in our own universe, and you can love us or leave us. My friend told me I need to jump into the podcast world, but I’m just getting my feet wet with letting spicy speak/rant/rave/create/be grateful. What?

FRUSTRATION TO THE MAX!!!

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT…

THAT’S ALL FOLKS!!

Joy Juice

What is life without a little levity, especially these days? Seniors have been flexing their creative muscles in a myriad of ways. I must say it is life-affirming, this creative initiative. Don’t knock it till you try it OR if you have a gripe you want spicy to tackle, bring it on…”I’m your Huckleberry.“

A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs:17-22

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything”. – Buddha

“If a donkey kicks you and you kick back, you are both donkeys.” African Proverb

“It’s all good/love/God” – Victorine

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Victorine, Bio

Author of Be S.A.F.E., StillAware, Faithful, Excellent, now available on Kindle Amazon as an e-book.

“…the book title and its content are intended to be a whisper, reminding us that by connecting with our spiritual self, we can center through anything and that we are forever within the bubble of God’s protection.”

Don’t forget to check out Garden Spices Magazine.

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February 10, 2026February 10, 2026

Creating Lasting Memories: Our Jubilee Celebration Cruise

Part 3

Jerry Malone took so many photos of us (Pat Kline photo-bombing), Oretha was our guiding star for the Chicago crew.

The Princess Cruise ship set sail with some precious cargo, a group of Golden Age Seniors who don’t know how to act or look their age. Every person we met on the cruise couldn’t believe we were celebrating 75 years of life, especially on the dance floor. But you already heard about those shenanigans in Part 2. Now we’ve got to talk about our island adventures, (Don’t expect any zip lining, hiking, or anything requiring copious exertion). What?!

Sint Maarten/St. Martin

Our first stop was Sint Maarten/St. Martin. Most of you know I lived there for four (4) years, so rather than touring, I went to connect with old friends. I had my own adventure while living there—a four-year separation from my husband. I wanted to connect with my sister friends who embraced and nurtured me during that period.

My quest began when I met my bestie, Karina Castillo, at the dock, and she chauffeured me to where I used to work, Divi Little Bay Resort, then to my daughter’s other mother, Barbara Cannigieter. Afterward, we were off to the French side (Marigot, St. Martin) to meet sisters Alyce and Rosalind Charville at the boulangerie. We reminisced about our ventures too quickly until I finally had to go back to the Dutch side for a late lunch with Dianna Johnson. No tourist sites for me. Funny, Karina, Barbara, Dianna, and I all lived on Sugar Hill Drive, an uphill climb for the kids and me, before we had a car. And they seldom connected with each other. Our goodbye was with a promise that they would at least meet for coffee from time to time.

**Barb, to the right, and her loving daughter, Erika, and husband, Diederick, both now gone. The Cannegieters were my daughter’s surrogate family. on the Island.**

**Alyce, Karina, and Rosalind, with. me at the forefront**

In the meantime, my Golden girlfriends were on a crowded van tour that took them to the Ace Hardware store and pointed out the sites on both the Dutch and French sides. They also shopped in Marigot before returning to the cruise port to board the ship. Here’s the thing: the walk from the port to the boat was treacherous for tired knees. Me? As soon as I was driven to the Port of Entry, I begged the guard, “Please, please…may I have a cart to ride back to the boat?” I plopped my behind on a bench until my prince arrived. However, my friends had to walk a country mile until they got a cart. What?! #hurtknees,backs

Barbados

I love Rihanna, but I swore I would never go back to Barbados. I didn’t care for the way folks treated Black Americans. Y’all know I’m all about the people, and I vowed not to tour the island. After our walk in Sint Maarten, Indria and I decided to leisurely stroll to the Port Mall. Thank God, there was a bus that was packed to the hilt, but we squeezed in and rode on. What?!

As soon as we entered the mall, we came across a kiosk featuring an artist who redeemed my feelings about Barbados: Azizah Onifa of Aziphos Creations. Azizah was so warm and welcoming. She was so engaging, and her jewelry was so lovely that I asked to feature her in an article for Garden Spices Magazine.

We also met Dale Montague, an activist, model, and warm spirit, and the Sales Assistant at Grudge Mode Boutique. Beyond the stunning clothes, this beauty gave us the full lowdown on the island and the Caribbean in general. My positive sentiments about Barbados were restored.

The Truth About Islands

“All islands are the same.” The truth is that each island has its own flavor.

Antigua – known for its shipyards, which Indria and I didn’t want to visit- also has a fine arts gallery that collaborates with artists throughout the Caribbean. Beautiful fashions too.

**Indria, Donna, Pat, and moi in Antigua**

Dominica – Waterfalls, Sulfur ponds, an Ancient Tree, Beautiful panoramas, and a tour guide who needed Indria to interpret him. We met a lovely African couple, Ibou and Jeelan Falls, who looked after us as we got on and off the bus at each stop. By the time the trip was over, I had adopted them.

St. Thomas – America personified in an island. This was said to be the island for shopping. Why did we end up in a mall that had a Marianne’s and a Kmart?! What?! After three tour guides, we never did find the quaint area we were searching for, but the bus ride had us clinging to our seats for dear life. What?! We ended up buying ice cream and went back to the ship.

Events

Our Guide Maggie and her team planned several events for us Jubilee celebrants. We wore a different dress attire for each day, including African attire. On our “all-white” day, we gathered for a lively game of Guess Who? We all submitted baby pictures, and those who weren’t 1950 babies had to guess who each one belonged to. We also had a T-shirt event with everyone wearing an identifying T-shirt. Of course, I had on my Project Say Something shirt, but, as usual, I couldn’t find where the event was held. (Indria wasn’t with me). What?!

Memories

With a penchant for exploring during my travels, I’m not much for cruises, but I was thrilled to spend time with this fabulous group and ended up on a never-to-forget, memorable trip.

See for yourself:

The Jubilee Celebration Cruise

You will meet the young sommelier, J’nai Gaither in Garden Spices Magazine.She and her mom were an active part of our cruise.

ONE LAST THING…

In Dominica, we were walking to the ship when a group of women rushed up to us, saying they could twist our hair in 10 minutes for $20. Pat and I said yes, and 15 minutes later, this is what my hair looked like:

Joy Juice

Guess what? We took this trip in November, and now it’s February 9th. My memory takes me right back to the joy of our wonderful celebration. That’s what we cherish, our memories, but isn’t it wonderful that no matter what the world looks like, we are creating new ones.

These years are valuable. We should love ourselves enough to pursue our passions in our own ways. On that cruise, some of us used wheelchairs or canes, but we were still living our lives! I am grateful to be here, and I express my gratitude daily. Thank you for traveling along with me and my shenanigans.

“It’s all good/love/God” – Victorine

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Author of Be S.A.F.E., StillAware, Faithful, Excellent, now available on Kindle Amazon as an e-book.

Don’t forget to check out Garden Spices Magazine.

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January 13, 2026January 19, 2026

Dancing Through Life: Cruise Adventures with Old and New Friends

This morning, I browsed a travel video by SugarPearl’s Carla Renae, a contributor to Garden Spices Magazine. Her video was resplendent with vibrant images of Morocco and Abuja, Nigeria– the food, sites, and an African wedding – all punctuated by her beauty. Through browsing these images, I realized…y’all, I’m not too good at travel blogging about places and things. It’s the people who leave me reeling. What?!

Part 2

Get on the Boat!

Last we met in Part 1, my girls and I were ready to board the Grand Princess Cruise Ship. Y’all know we wheelchaired from where we boarded all the way to our cabins, tipping all the way. (An aside: You gon’ do plenty of tipping, so bring fives and ones. )I tell you, wheeling is worth it. No stops at Customs, just traveling straight through. What?!

The ship was neither the most contemporary nor the largest, but it was comfortable for this venture. My roommate, Indria, and I were pleased with our cabin. We were upgraded and had a nice balcony. We barely deposited our luggage before we hit the ship’s dining room. We were famished. In cruise style, the dining room buffet offered traditional and vegetarian fare, but their vegan menu was limited, and Indria is vegan. We greeted a few of our group, but we were so tired; we filled up and were ready to pass out, especially after our night in Puerto Rico. (Read Part 1). We knew we would see the group in its entirety at dinner.

Dining, Dancing, and Declining

It’s amazing how many people I had never come across during my tenure in Chicago. Yes, Chicago is a large city, but you gotta know how we socialized as teens. We had clubs; the clubs had parties, and we were bound to run into many folks at the many gatherings.

This gathering allowed me to meet folks I missed during my teens. We discovered we all belonged to teen clubs; we all went to downtown parties and events, and we all recounted adventures from when we were wild and crazy. What?!

Funny Stories: One person was at a concert at Grant Park in Chicago with her friends, and she had a drink that must have been potent, because when she woke up, she was the only one left in Grant Park! (Some friends, huh.) Another friend knew folks driving back to California who ended up circling Washington Park for three days.

Is it something about Chi Town’s parks? What?!

Of course, I’m telling y’all the benign stories, but it was so nice to meet and dine with various attendees. Most of us were from Chicago, but we lived all over the country. We had a standing reservation at Botticelli’s and enjoyed the conversation more than the food. And we loved getting on the waiters’ nerves. “May I have soft rolls instead of hard? Do you have vanilla vegan ice cream instead of chocolate? Where’s my salad?” After dining, we convened for shows and events, both collectively and individually.

Our first show featured the amazing Terran Brooks. He could really sing and provided great entertainment. Once Eddie Kendricks in the Temptations biopic and Simba in The Lion King, Brooks truly has star quality, and we got to see it.

As a group, we also saw the Grand Princess Dancers perform a tribute to R&B. Now, I don’t want to offend anyone, but we were like, “Y’all couldn’t find one Black dancer or singer?” Let’s just say that Rollin’ on the River waters were rough. What?!

Dancing

Y’all, at least a few nights found us dancing to a DJ spinning music. We had to get him straight, too. He was playing Motown, but not the dance music. Once we put a bug in his ear, we got that floor jumping. On one song, a girl in a wheelchair was rolled by her husband down the middle of the floor jammin’! Some of us didn’t want to dance, but by the time We Are Family started, everyone was on the floor. But there was one or two of us who danced every song, but only one of the two was limping with bad knees the next morning. Guess who?

Here’s the thing. A word to the wise senior… You gotta know when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em. Ain’t no way I should’ve been up every single song. Lesson learned.

Stay tuned for Part III

By the time this song played, I was tired, but still jamming. We Are Family!

Terron Brooks singing The Impossible Dream

January 10, 2026January 10, 2026

My Comfort Zone

I got up this morning with the intention of giving my two cents on our topic, Comfort, and I found that two thoughts crossed my mind:

1)Two articles I formatted yesterday for Garden Spices (GS) and

2)My spicy…a garden spices blog.

The two articles in this current issue of GS, Comfort vs. Complacency, by Dr. Robert V. Gerard, and Comfort and the Cost of Staying Still, by Professor RJ Starr, hit me upside my head to the degree where this morning I found myself reading Iyanla Vanzant’s new book, Spiritual Hygiene, in hopes of discovering when and where my newfound level of complacency vs. comfort started. (Was this sentence long enough?) I realize that I bought my own advice – that because of the impact of Project 2025, I needed to settle in and reset, a comfort zone just for me.

Not that the advice was so bad, but it’s my zone that makes me question my intentions. Sitting on my behind browsing Social Media and watching TV are both comfortable activities for me, but if that’s all I do, what does my life look like? Certainly, not my Truth. And I’m telling you I did too much of that in ’25.

I still traveled, started line dancing, attended events, and Garden Spices met all its publishing deadlines, but there was a spiritual void in me that entertainment could not fill. I am a minister, and although my knees and feet act up, I can still show out in doing service, other than posting and writing. Iyanla mentioned in her book a declaration about her “throne.”

Beyond the Christian tradition, I learned of the throne through Huna Hawaiian spirituality. Coming into alignment through the conscious, unconscious, and subconscious mind, the throne represents spiritual awareness. The two articles and Iyanla brought me to a place of mindfulness about my throne. Y’all, that’s where I’m sitting right now with TV off, and spirit-guided hands, I’m in a new zone declaring my spirit needs more to soar.

Spicy…, my blog is a part of my new zone. Rifling through my archives, I realize this complacency of 2025 is not my first rodeo; I rode this horse pretty well in times past. However, there was a time when I wrote at least once a month. Y’all, I’ve been on a wonderful cruise in November, celebrating fabulous 75-year-olds, and haven’t written about it yet. And do you think I made one piece of jewelry for VBGold Creations? What?!

I thank GS and Iyanla for the wakeup call. I’ll meet y’all soon in my next post about the cruise, and I have already set up two service providers and connected with my bead source for jewelry-making. I’m on the throne, open to receiving my guidance.

“It’s all good/love/God” – Victorine

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Victorine, Bio

Author of Be S.A.F.E., StillAware, Faithful, Excellent, now available on Kindle Amazon as an e-book.

Don’t forget to check out Garden Spices Magazine.

https://www.instagram.com/gardenspicesmagazine/%post_id%

December 15, 2025December 16, 2025

75 and Alive Celebration: Essentials for Senior Travel

We came by new knees and hips, by walkers and canes, by glittering gym shoes, swagging attire, every hairstyle known to man, some blinging, and all swinging at our Celebration Caribbean Cruise. The stars – everyone born in 1950. What?!

Part I: The First Leg, San Juan, PR

Planning

It took Travel Agent, Maggie Longley of All Seasons Cruises & Tours, to organize and gather us by mail, Zoom, and numerous reminders. Oretha was the Chicago connection, but our personal travel advisor, Nedra Shelton, kept my posse, Janice Bell, Pat Kline, Indria Perrrilloux, and me in the loop. Her constant cry was “Don’t y’all read?!!!” We splendidly ignored her and kept bugging her for the information we needed throughout the cruise, including booking our one-night hotel accommodations. (Thank you, Nedra, for your generosity).

The cruise was setting sail from San Juan, PR. Most folks flew in from Chicago, but I traveled from Huntsville, AL, and Indria from Las Vegas, NV.

Airport Wheeling

Y’all, if walking challenges you in any way, or if you have a short time to make a connecting flight in a large airport, do not hesitate to ask the airline for a wheelchair. The wheelchair porters make their living wheeling you through the airport, providing the utmost comfort and efficiency. Tipping is not mandatory, but again, this is a good part of the wheelchair porters’ job. I suggest tipping at least $5.00.

You have to walk the outside expanse of this airport for the transportation pickup area.

Warning: In PR, you have two porters to tip for wheelchair service – one to baggage claim and the other for taking your bag off the turnstile. What?!! Also, once you pick up your bag, you gotta walk a country mile to the pick-up stand for your transportation. Needless to say, we could not wait to get to our hotel in Old San Juan.

Old San Juan

English: Buildings in downtown San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Date 23 February 2016, 19:35:54
Source Own work
Author Bjoertvedt

Old San Juan was lovely and quaint, with pastel shops lining the streets. We made it to Novona Studios, our small, lovely hotel in downtown Old San Juan, where the owner greeted us and told us we were on the third floor.

Guess what? No elevators!

Warning: When booking a studio or villa, always check for essentials. Some of us ain’t built to do stairs anymore, especially with luggage.

By God’s grace and some x#!##!!!, we made it to our rooms. Indria (my roomie) arrived after us, so we had to make the trek again with her luggage. Y’all!…!

FYI: She had individual fabric packing cubes in her luggage, which made carrying and arranging her belongings easy at the hotel and on the cruise. (Y’all know I’m gon’ find some for my next trip.)

Slideshow of Norvona Studios

outside studios
The infamous steps
Rooms
Roof

We finally settled into our rooms.

Let’s Eat!

Y’all know that by this time, Pat, Nedra, and I were famished, so we set off to find a place to eat. (Indria is vegan and had to order in.) We found a local spot almost across the street from our hotel. Ajo del País was right on time for what we wanted. Not fancy, real local and a server to die for. What?!

We were really hungry, so I didn’t take any pictures of our food: (Sorry, not sorry). Our server helped us navigate the menu, and we settled on Conch Fritters, a shrimp dish, and chicken with vegetables. We all had margaritas, and our server gave us a sample of a Latin liqueur.

The food was delicious, and we had a great entry into an Old San Juan dining experience.

Statins Ain’t for Me

We got back to the hotel and readied for well-deserved sleep. Indria and I were knocked out when, all of a sudden, my left leg cramped… then my right leg cramped. Poor Indria had to try to help me, but I had to moan and move the cramps away. Y’all, them cramps came back every ten minutes. (At one point, I was so out of it, I got up and started to dress, thinking it was morning. Wishful thinking; it was only about 2 AM! Indria was like, WHAT?) Every time I’d try to sleep, the cramping started. Indria and I surmised it was the statin I had recently started taking; I finally had to place a chair and pillow on a chair in front of the bed. Legs raised, I finally got to sleep until…

…Drag Racing

I want to know how cars could drag race down a narrow street. Kids were screaming and cars were racing, Vrooming” loudly all night! The funny thing is, Pat and Nedra were on the same side as us, and they slept so soundly they didn’t hear anything!

The racing and my cramps made things oddly exciting during our night in Old San Juan, but we were glad to call an Uber and get our bags to the street to travel to the boat. Oh, and I stopped taking the statin.

A Few Things:

Every Senior group traveler needs a Nedra Shelton . Someone with a clear head who can read and check details and talk about you when you don’t take care of your business. Check.
Every Senior traveler needs a Pat Kline. You need popcorn or sandwiches? She travels with it. A nail file, lipstick, scissors, she’s got it. My girl has any and everthing you forgot to bring. AND when you need someone to grab some young men off the street to lug your luggage down 3 flights of stairs, , whether or not they speak English, Pat’s your girl. Check.
Every Senior traveler needs an Indria Sita Khan Perrilloux. When you can’t understand your tour guide, Indria interprets what he’s saying and has you rolling with laughter. all through the cruise. Check
Every Senior traveler needs a JB. We need some exotic style to shake us up, and JB is your girl. Check
I can dance. What?!

On the serious side, even though I travel at least twice a year, I am finding I need to focus a bit more to organize, get myself on the road, and stay safe and mobile during my trips. I ain’t saying I can’t do it, but I give myself more grace for preparation and execution.

I got this, and so do you!

featured image: Indria, Nedra, and I (St. Thomas Apostle grad pic.), JB. Pat is on image at the restaurant.

Stay tuned for Part II – The 75 and Alive Celebration Cruise

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Victorine, Bio

Author of Be S.A.F.E., StillAware, Faithful, Excellent, now available on Kindle Amazon as an e-book.

Don’t forget to check out Garden Spices Magazine.

https://www.instagram.com/gardenspicesmagazine/%post_id%

August 11, 2025August 13, 2025

Laughing Amidst Chaos: Finding Balance in Social Media Consumption: Don’t Get Caught Up!

Ok! I have already told y’all how important I think it is to protect my sanity. Meet the Press, The View, and your posts give me the news. I can’t sit languishing in the national news for breakthrough reports. We are so inundated with the craziness of brewing fascism that I must vet my sources and keep my head out of the sand just enough to stay aware of current events. However, lately I have succumbed to a dangerous escape – social media. What?!

When I say social media, I mean all of it – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube X, Pinterest, LinkedIn, with ChatGPT as my chaser. I feel it is my spiritual duty to warn you –

DON’T GET CAUGHT UP!

Whatever you do, don’t get caught up in the real/reel world. Before you know it, hours have passed, and you have been usurped by content-creating, commercial-capturing couples, crimefighters, comedians, and crooners. And yes, they are captivating, and some are hilarious. What?!

Talk about funny…Camille Bennett is doing TLC’s “What About Your Friends” at Kasmine’s 90’s party (She’s gonna kill me, but that’s social media for ya).

WARNING:

Social media can also be particularly dangerous for us seniors, as well as other age groups.

Most of the ads serve as vehicles for content creators to generate income. You click and buy; they get paid. And today, Oprah ain’t Oprah – it’s a bot! What this means for us is that every time you see something for enhanced beauty, a plant that has exceptional growth, or a comfortable, low-cost bra for huge boobs, etc., check reviews for the products. Don’t believe every ad you see. Vet! Vet! Vet! (Ask me how I know).
Be cautious of the news and entertainment content you see on YouTube and social media platforms. I watched the narration of the debate between Jasmine Crockett and Candace Owens. The visual showed only their picture. It was so juicy, I decided to watch the actual debate, except there wasn’t one. The narrated bot voice was the story, and the story was a lie. Be careful to vet all news sources.

What Gets to Me

I’m enticed by the creativity of the videos and podcasts, and while they serve as a diversion from the craziness of these days, they also keep me tied to the reels, instead of reality. What?!

Notice, I haven’t been posting lately? I’ve been too busy emoting over videos. My actor/producer friend encouraged me to start podcasting. I’ve been so busy “researching” (that’s what I call it) that I haven’t invested in starting my channel. What should I do?

Here comes the ask

Should I talk about getting older, rant about things that work my last nerve, and forewarn you about impending diseases? Or should I find the humor in painful politics and soften the blow with spiritual offerings?

Hey…..I already do this in my blog! posts So, I’m ending with my “commercial:”

Y’ALL TURN OFF THE REELS AND READ MY BLOG POSTS!!

(please)

Joy Juice

One reason I am captivated by the social content is the humor – I’m cracking up and amazed by how these folks come up with their material. Introducing spicy…a blog, I say, “Sometimes, you just gotta laugh,” and we do. However, as much as I seek to be entertained, I remain purposeful and intentional and understand the importance of conscious action. Every day at 1PM, I join many others in centering and praying for the planet. I invite y’all to join me, but y’all can still laugh from time to time.

“…a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, – Ecclesiastes 3:4

“…laughter supports us on the eightfold path, teaching equanimity, compassion, patience, kindness (Metta) and supporting us along the difficult path.” – Buddhist teaching

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – African proverb

“It’s all good/love/God” – Victorine

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June 19, 2025June 20, 2025

Memories of Jubilee Showcase: A Gospel Infusion

HAPPY JUNETEENTH!

I’m currently watching a documentary about Black Gospel music on TCM, “How They Got Over.” This film evoked memories of my Sunday mornings, watching Jubilee Showcase with my mom and grandmother. The film is in black and white, and I thought “I been Black a long time.” What?!

The Dixie Hummingbirds, the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Barrett Sisters, the Hutchinson Sunbeams (also known as the Emotions), the Norfleet Brothers, and the Staple Singers, as well as The Soul Stirrers, with Sam Cooke, all traveled the church circuit to sing harmonies unheard of today.

A story…

During his days as a chauffeur, my brother had the honor of driving Little Richard. Back then, we had CDs. Little Richard was talking with some of his entourage when my brother popped in a CD from the Blind Boys of Alabama. Little Richard cried.

This documentary highlighted the creativity and the challenges that Gospel groups faced on the road, as well as their resolve to take their audiences on a “spiritual epiphany.” One of them recalled that success was proven by how many of their audience were “laid out” as a result of their performance. What?!

Like every other genre of music, this genre evolved from the era of slavery. It was the music we created to sustain us during our arduous work and joyful play. We even “waded in the water” in song to signal how to escape from plantations. You had groups like The Mighty Clouds of Joy that took you beyond the strife of Black people. Within their style, they screamed, “I Ain’t Got Long to Stay Here.”

Gospel groups made little money, which is why many crossed over to secular music. Many, like Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, and Lou Rawls, made the transition, and today, we know that almost every R&B singer began their career in the church.

Today, we watch and hear Gospel in a wide variety of venues, but I will never forget the Jubilee Showcase on Sunday mornings in Chicago before I attended church. We didn’t pass out in our family room, but we clapped and sometimes sang with the performers. You see, this gospel music infusion was before we headed out to Sunday Mass at St. Martin’s Catholic Church.

There was no explosion of soul in our pews. What?!

#music #Juneteenth #Gospel #survival #memories

Joy Juice

Music has always been a refuge for us, as a people. We continue to explore all genres of music as expressions of our affirmations. My playlist is vast, including gospel to classical. We create, therefore we are.

“It’s all good/love/God” – Victorine

Exploring Harlem: Local Eats and Iconic Personalities

The Last Go round

It’s Kevin Day!!! What’s so hot about seeing Kevin? He is the ultimate New York talent whose generosity greets my every visit to his city. This time, I insisted on taking him to lunch, so my friend, Pat, and I Ubered to MOM’S KITCHEN & BAR IN NYC to meet him. It was a bit chilly as we waited for our number to be called, but my reunion with Kevin and the delicious food quickly warmed us up. What?

What is it about Kevin?

Kevin Michael-Kennedy

I had to think about it for a moment, but realized it’s his intensity. When he’s with you, he’s all in. He asked about my trip to Paris, and then his eyes went with me with great enthusiasm. I love questioning him about the Business, and he spills the tea on the ins and outs of navigating the entertainment waters.

Y’all, after catching up on travels, the industry, and such, Kevin excused himself. When he returned, I signaled for the check, but Kevin had already paid it! See? That’s what he do! What?!

You can check out the full skivvy on Kevin-Michael Kennedy in Garden Spices Magazine.

Walking in Harlem

We took a stroll to Kevin’s apartment and encountered every genre of restaurant you could ask for. A walk through Harlem is like turning the pages of a United Nations’ Guidebook – food, fashion, and folks from everywhere. We make it to our next destination, The Little Pie Company. You already know.

See? If they were anything other than miniature delicacies in crust, I’d of been OK, but noooo!! Look at what I had to deal with, but I had to do my duty and take home at least three.

Check out their website; your mouth will water, and you will see every pie known to man. We sampled many options, but I ultimately chose the samples that included apple and blackberry. But we walked out with about 6, and I had at least a forkful of them all. What?!

Performance Art Building

We finally made it to Kevin’s apartment. Puleeze, just give me one month in this Manhattan Plaza residential building for Performance Art creatives! It’s in a great location, within walking distance to the heart of the city. It’s rent-controlled, and our friend, Kevin, has resided in a lovely one-bedroom apartment there for years. Kevin and Pat took me to the apartment of one of the early residents, the iconic costumer, Katherine (Kathy) Roberson.

Dolled Up

Recently, Pat has been working for Kathy in costuming and she relied on Kathys city skills to steer us in the direction of free sites in NYC. As a well-seasoned New Yorker, Kathy knows her city, and her apartment reflects her life in this Harlem apartment complex. She collects dolls.

Roberson’s home is decorated with a wide exhibition of dolls in every room, and we sat in their midst as she told me about her dance career turned costumer. Please read Gallery & Studio’s comprehensive profile on Kathy Roberson. What a herstory and how impressive!

Katherine Roberson’s dolls, art, and the lobby of the famous Manhattan Plaza complex for Performance Artists.

Mr. K.’s Visit

While Pat and I were tooling around Harlem, Mr. K. and Pat’s husband, Thomas, were hunting down Mr. K.’s childhood friend. Can you imagine, he got to see his friend after 40+ years, and he lived close to where we were staying – right in the heart of Harlem.

In and Out

That evening, we came home to leftovers, pie, pictures, and goodbyes. New York, we’re out, but you stay in our souls.

Joy Juice

I told y’all this once before; get out of town! I don’t care if you go to the town next door or to Tiimbuktu, spread your wings, breathe, and affirm your life. This is the most precious time we have. We don’t know when it blows into dust, but this life, honor it for the jewel it is.

Perspective is king. It’s such a blessing to explore those that are unfamiliar to your own. Jump in a car, a bus, train, or plane and get going, and tell us about where you went. I love guest bloggers. What?!

Act like it!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”. – Corinthians 5:17

Get movin!

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a lion or gazelle. When the sun comes up, you’d better… – African Proverb

It’s all good/love/God” – Victorine

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