The 1980's had its share of scary movies.  A nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, and Halloween were huge box office smashes.   Although those movies were considered frightening, I never felt that way about them.  Those movies were filled with situations that could never happen in real life.
The first time I truly was scared from watching a movie was 1985. The movie was spine-chilling,bloodcurdling,and alarming.  The Atlanta Child Murders was a mini-series that told the story of 28 black children/young adults that were killed in Atlanta, Georgia between 1979 and 1981. I was around the age thosse kids.  That movie shook me to my core.  After watching The Atlanta Child Murders, I had sleeples nights from the nightmares of someone picking me up while I was asleep, removing from my home and then killing me.  It's been over 30 years since a movie/mini-series shook me like the Atlant Child Murders Miniseries did.

2019

The Netflix original mini-series, When They See Us took me back to those sleepless nights I had after watching the Atlanta Child Murders mini-series.  When They See Us is the story of 5 Black and Latino boys that were falsely accused of raping a White woman in Central Park.  The boys ranged in ages from 14 to 16 and served years in prison.  Known today as The Exonerated Five, their stories were unfathomable, creepy, eerie, and shocking.  

I didn't have sleepless nights watching this series but their stories resonated with me.  The Exonerated 5 made me want to learn more about what to do if you are ever in police custody.  It also made me think about how we need to do a better job teaching students what their rights are and why it is important to know them.

The journey of life always keeps me teaching and learning even when the subject matter is unnerving.    

As a mother of 4 sons who are pretty much grown, I rarely see them on a daily basis.  With their work schedules, school schedules, or just kickin' it schedules, Momma is usually not in the equation.  

I miss 'em.

I miss those days of sitting on hard benches watching football games, creating raps for school talent shows, playing board games, and taking turns choosing the music as we cleaned up the house on Saturday mornings. 

In order to keep up with my boys in this age of living 1ife 100 miles per hour, I had a thought, "What can I do to see them all at one time at least once a week?"  As my brain began to churn, I thought about those $300 weekly grocery bills I use to have.  "Yep, food is how I can get to them".


I texted them all and told them that we would be having Sunday dinner at 2pm the next week. Seconds later, my phone began to buzz as they all agreed that they would be there. 

That was a year ago.

Sunday dinner in the Cook household has now become LAW.  That moment when the spread is on the table and our hands interlock to pray is golden.  Our time together may be as short as an hour or it may go on for the rest of the evening but what I do know is it's time well spent.