I'll Call It Like I See It

by sheila morris

Category: Slice of Life

  • beware the (fill-in-the-blank) immigrants


    I collect words and quotes like some people collect antique automobiles, and recently I’ve been interested in American presidential quotes on specific topics like, for example, immigration. The American Immigration Center offers quotes from noted Americans on the topic of immigration including the quotes of these presidents.

    “I take issue with many people’s description of people being illegal immigrants. There aren’t any illegal human beings as far as I’m concerned.” Woodrow Wilson, 28th.

    “Our attitude towards immigration reflects our faith in the American ideal. We have always believed it possible for men and women who start at the bottom to rise as far as their talent and energy allow. Neither race nor place of birth should affect their chances.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd

    “As an immigrant, I chose to live in America because it is one of the freest and most vibrant nations in the world. And as an immigrant, I feel an obligation to speak up for immigration policies that will keep America the most economically robust, creative and freedom-loving nation in the world.”  Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th.

    “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries {Haiti, El Salvador, other African nations} come here?” Donald J. Trump, 45th.

    Shame on you, 45, for such a reprehensible comment that sullies the legacy of not only other great American leaders but spits on the words of the Statue of Liberty herself as she has welcomed the world on Liberty Island in New York Harbor since 1886.

    Give me your tired, your poor,

    your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

    the wretched refuse of your teeming shores.

    Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost, to me –

    I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

    And finally, as I celebrate our national holiday today of the birthday of one of the greatest civil rights activists in our history, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I leave you with a personal favorite quote of his.

    “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous

    than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

    Stay tuned.

     

     

     

  • time’s up according to Oprah, and I would never argue with her


    Pretty and I are awards show junkies, and the Golden Globes starts our official 2018 preoccupation with pop culture. To be honest, Pretty is somewhat of the Queen of Pop at our house because I just can’t keep up with the posts and tweets about the movies on Demand, on Netflix and on Amazon like Pretty does. Full disclosure for me is that Pop culture is my worst category in Trivia Crack with a score of 64% so any fool can see I shouldn’t even be playing against Pretty who pounds me regularly (at Trivia Crack). Heh, heh.

    The Golden Globes last night for the 2018 awards was, in my opinion, one of the best shows they’ve ever had. Seth Myers was an acceptable emcee who began the evening questioning what he was doing there since the clearly historic emphasis for the event was women speaking truth to power. And speak they did…loud and long.

    Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Frances McDormand, Allison Janney, Laura Dern, Octavia Spencer, Helen Mirren, and Kerry Washington were a few of the women stars who were eloquent in their remarks on the Red Carpet and during the show iteself  – obviously committed to the cause; but the house rose to its feet three times for one key speaker, Oprah Winfrey, who became the first African American woman to win the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

    “In a room full of master storytellers, Oprah showed them all how it was done. Oprah united the famous and the unknown, the powerful and the powerless, the farm worker and the film star.” – Maureen Ryan, Variety, today

    Oh, how I wish I had written those words because that’s exactly what I felt in Oprah’s ability to transform and transfix the atmosphere of the whole Golden Globes experience. If you haven’t heard her speech, please find it somewhere in cyberspace and treat yourself to 9 minutes of a woman freely and candidly speaking her truth to power.

    Knock, knock, who’s there? It’s Oprah with a warning to those who would abuse power against the powerless: your time is up.

    I would never argue with Oprah and oh my goodness, I would love to vote for her for President.

    Stay tuned. Onward.

     

  • hello, gorgeous – the memories, the music, the magic of Streisand


    When Ellen DeGeneres introduced Barbra Streisand on her show a week before Christmas, I was a member of her mesmerized TV viewing audience… but felt something was slightly off kilter from the moment Barbra made her entrance. What was wrong, I thought, as Barbra walked over from my right to greet Ellen in the center of the screen with the typical hug, smile and air kiss. Then Barbra sat down in Ellen’s chair while Ellen sat down across from her. I was gobsmacked – never in all my 15 years of watching Ellen’s show had anyone dared to sit in Ellen’s chair.

    I mean, this was like a cosmic shift. I felt my universe begin to rotate counterclockwise.

    But the interview confirmed Barbra has a preferred side to be filmed and unfortunately, it was the same side Ellen liked for herself. However, in the interest of fair play (and obtaining the exclusive interview), Ellen gave up her chair for the Streisand visit – and who wouldn’t? Good move, I agreed.

    The rare television appearance on the Ellen show was to promote Barbra’s new Netflix concert; and sisters and brothers, I was happy to answer her altar call for the holy church of Streisand music during the holiday season.

    Pretty made the mistake of sleeping in later on Christmas morning when I got up to see if Santa Claus had left me anything under the tree and lo and behold, he had. I started a fire in the den fireplace and turned on Netflix to find some Christmas music. The first image I saw was Barbra’s concert she had been talking about on the Ellen show, and I knew I must have been a very good girl to get this surprise from Santa.

    who needs chestnuts roasting on an open fire

    Pretty got up in time to see Jamie Foxx and Barbra sing Climb Every Mountain together after the intermission, and she was hooked, too. They made some majestic music together.

    I have to admit I’ve skipped quite a few football bowl games this year that I normally would never miss – in favor of listening several times to the Streisand concert on Netflix. But when a concert begins with The Way We Were, hang on to your misty water-colored memories and settle in for the musical magic that the incomparable Barbra Streisand has brought to us for six decades…that would be 60 years, but who’s counting.

    Thanks, Santa.

    Stay warm – and stay tuned.

     

     

  • in life, it’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with


    in life, it’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with

    (Hallmark Shoebox greeting card – courtesy Lisa Martin)

    I’m not one for making New Year’s resolutions any more since I’ve realized I’ll never keep them. If you’re a person who makes promises to yourself and others and is somehow successful in making them a part of your life every year, my cyberspace hat is tipping toward you right this minute. I envy and admire your fortitude. My spirit is willing, but my flesh is definitely weak.

    What I lack in fortitude I make up in gratitude, and this new year I am grateful for the people I’ve been lucky enough to travel with during the past seven decades of my life. I hope you know who you are…and that you appreciate the journey with me as much as I appreciate the journey with you. Your friendships are the “memory makers” for me, as Granny Selma used to say when she was in her right mind, and I carry you with me wherever I roam.

    For my cyberspace followers, although our travels are in separate places in different parts of the globe, I feel we travel together and I am grateful for everything we share. I am amazed at the close relationships formed through our virtual reality. You guys rock.

    Our holiday season was a happy one at Casa de Cardinal, but we are a little worse for the wear. Pretty has had a bad case of the epizootie but is working on taking down the holiday decorations and putting them away for next year. As for Charly and Spike, my everyday traveling companions, this is how they feel about their new toys and life in general.

    stick a fork in us, we’re done

    Stay tuned in 2018. Onward.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • who knew the 17th. Christmas was the charm?


    The image I’ve used as the header for my blog during December this year is a picture that Number One Son took of his mother and me in our very first home at our very first Christmas together in December, 2001.

    What I remember about that picture, besides how easy it was to get up after it was taken, was the giddy feeling of happiness I felt in sharing that holiday season with Pretty who clearly had a quintessential Christmas spirit that bubbled through every gift bought, wrapped carefully and placed under the tree she had picked out and decorated.

    It was the first year we blended our families, of course, and I remember being nervous about having my mother visiting from Texas to meet Pretty’s family who would be driving down from the upstate. My mom, Granny Selma, was always a wild card under the best of circumstances so the only question mark was whether she would be on her I’m a lady with a lot of dignity so I must be on my best behavior or whether she would deliver one of her Jesus is the reason for the season monologues. Luckily, we had three dogs (Sassy, Annie and Red) that distracted her so she was limited to a long prayer at the dinner table.

    Sixteen Christmases have come and gone since that first Christmas together in 2001, and Pretty has plowed her way through them like an ocean liner crossing the Atlantic. Full steam ahead – refusing to be deterred by lesser Bah Humbug mortals like me who whine about why we can’t cut a corner or two one year…or the heartbreaking absence of family members at her Christmas dinner table during a few of those years. Pretty kept on believing in the miracles of the season.

    Pretty and her tree this year

    Christmas night – Santa’s elves

    The Grinch

    now where did I put Papa’s gift?

    everyone, please listen to me…our order of opening gifts

    will be to go from  the youngest to the oldest

    Pretty Too, Number One Son and Papa

    Pretty with her helper Charly – Jim and Sis paying attention

    Gifts that made us smile…

    I just love it when a plan comes together 

    more gifts

    mallow cups – Pretty’s favorite candy – hooray!

     the miracle of laughter

    “practical” gifts from Pretty for Papa who doesn’t believe in “luxury” gifts

    Papa always made sure we had a box of “practical” gifts every Christmas

    I just love my red apron

     even the Grinch is getting in the spirit

     love – the greatest miracle of all

    more laughter… which is right up there behind love

    presents, presents, everywhere – and not a cookie to be found

    and more gifts, more laughter

    how many more gifts can there be?

    Papa’s shutterfly book: The Barns of Madison County

    (the cover photo is the home in Appalachia where he was born)

    and still more laughter

    Lawdy, Lawdy – the Grinch actually bought me a present this year!

    Merry Christmas to me

    Yes, Merry Christmas to you, Pretty – I do believe this 17th. family Christmas of ours has been the best ever, and I thank you for keeping faith in the miracles of love, laughter and family not only during the holiday seasons but in every season of the year. We love you…