What Happens In Vegas...

Las Vegas is truly sin city on so many levels to so many people. I fell right in line on friday and did myself some sinnin' and I'll tell it all. See, what had happened was, I KNEW I was going to FATBURGER before I boarded my flight on wednesday. I knew I was going to indulge in one of my all-time favorite burger joints. Friday evening, it happened. I walked down the strip heading east and there it was, THE place to get a good old fashioned hamburger. FATBURGER! They ARE good! I got mine with "the works", cheese and bacon; an excellent combination. If you want to "take it to another level," you can slop some of their famous chili on it or a fried egg! Since I didn't want my arteries to be COMPLETELY clogged I didn't add those extras. I had a large order of FAT fries and a large drink. It was fast food deliciousness. As I'm typing this, I have a craving for one of those burgers! Aaaaaahhhhhh.... back to the story of sin. After placing my order and leaving a FAT TIP, I chose a table and waited. I looked around and noticed most of the customers were on the large size. Not one thin person in sight. Well, there was one, but she looked like a "working girl" and wasn't eating a thing. "Keep it movin, sister. This here spot is for folks that like good burgers, period" That's what I thought when I looked at her. Well, after the mix-up in order numbers was resolved, the food was brought to my table. A tiny tear formed in the corner of my right eye. What I wanted, what I craved was right in front of me. The sight and the smell were incredible. There was a spotlight shining down on my food. I smiled and took the first bite. Then another bite, and another and so on. GOOD, GOOD, GOOD!!! Each bite was juicy and delicious. The bacon was crisp, which is the way I like it. The melted cheese covered the entire burger with the edges a little brown and crusty. YES!!! The FAT fries were hot and fried to a light golden brown. A slight dip in ketchup was all they needed. The coolness of the ketchup followed immediately by the heat of the potato provided a sensory explosion in my mouth. The lemonade was tart with just the right about of sugar to balance the flavor. I can't say if it was freshly squeezed, but I can say I savored the flavor. I rubbed and lightly patted my belly when I finished my glutenous food feast. A few fries and a piled of used napkins are all that remained. I loved it. I did. It was good to me. This was orgasmic. Hell, I wanted to smoke a cigarette and I don't smoke! In addition to souvenirs, I brought back the extra pounds I gained. One thing I know now, what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay there. It will follow you home.

Happy Birthday, Grandma Ethyl

On November 10, 1899 in Jasper Ralls, Missouri, one hundred and ten years ago today, Edward and Pinkie (Doolen) Johnson welcomed their first born child, Ethyl Mae into the world. The family would move to Vandalia, Missouri and eventually Enterprise, Iowa. This is where Ethyl met Edward Cooley. They were married two weeks after her sixteenth birthday. After moving to Des Moines, Ethyl and Edward had four children; Veltirea, Eugene, Marvin and Doris. A quick glance of Ethyl's descendants shows thirteen grandchildren, thirty-one great grandchildren, fifty-one great-great grandchildren and six great-great-great grandchildren. A point of valuable information; members of this family born with an additional finger should know it comes from the Doolen side of the family. From Pinkie to Ethyl and from Ethyl to her children, the extra finger has passed to each generation. In my family, my mother and her brother had extra fingers. My sister and brother did not. I was the only grandchild of Veltirea to be born with it. I am interested in knowing how many more of my cousins had the extra digit. Back to the my great grandmother. From what I've been told, I know she was a kind individual with a loving spirit. For as much as she was a giving individual, I know that she was a very strong-willed woman. Her point would be heard and her position was unwavering. Grandma Cooley taught her children about loving of one another, respect and the importance of family. Her children learned the lesson well and they taught their children and so on and so on. Let me share this with you. This happened when I was in high school. Having typical teenager angst about my looks, I wanted to change my nose. When I spoke to my grandmother about this, she told me my nose reminded her of her mother's nose. I don't know if it was true or not, but out of respect to the memory of this great woman, I decided I didn't want to change one thing about myself. My nose was just fine. It gave me a closer connection to my great grandmother. I felt I had something in common with her. That was okay with me! So, on this day, the one hundred and tenth year of her birth, we honor Ethyl Mae Johnson Cooley's birth with love and respect. Happy Birthday, Great Grandma Cooley.

Some Folks Got A Little Older

I'll need you to work with me for just a moment. This post will acknowledge some of the October birthdays I missed. Come to think of it, I have missed a couple this month. Yeah well, I've been busy, tired or sleeping. Depending on the day, I may have been doing all three at the same time. With all that behind us, here are some pictures of those family members born in October. Over a span of ninety years, these three; Georgia Elizabeth Cooley, Constance Jean and Maurice Jr were born on October 2nd. Toyia Lynn's birthday is October 26th, with Bessie Colbert Cooley's birthday being the 27th. Anthony Lovell was born on October 30th. Not pictured, but born in October are Louis Branch Jr on the 14th and Denise Marie on October 23rd. Whether here in body or in spirit, we honor and celebrate each family member's special day. Happy Birthday to all the relatives born in the month of October. Folks born in November -- fear not. Plans are in store to celebrate your days. Stay tuned for something just for you. Pictures from top to bottom: Georgia Elizabeth Cooley White, Constance Jean, Maurice Jr (October 2), Anthony Lovell (October 30) and Toyia Lynn (October 26), Bessie Virginia Colbert Cooley (October 27).

Let Me Clear My Throat...

Summer came and went and here I am. It's the first of November. Damn, where did MY summer go? I returned to work full time in September. Back to life, back to reality. I had plenty of time this summer to focus on the blog, which I liked creating. I never called myself a writer, but I do enjoy writing. Putting together the various pictures and stories has been an incredible experience. The sad thing is, I haven't found the time to write. I'll have to make a change and get it together a.s.a.p.p.d.q. I am working it out. I will do a post recognizing the birth of Ethyl Johnson Cooley 110 years ago. I want to acknowledge many dates of importance, including Thanksgiving. Since I mention turkey day, I will be in the kitchen creating a HUGE meal. This is a family tradition I greatly enjoy. I'll leave it there for now. I've got more to share with everyone soon.

Happy Birthday, Dideo

Dideo Cooley was someone you simply did NOT mess with. That statement can be made for any Cooley, but I digress. Marvin DeForrest Cooley was born October 14, 1919 in Des Moines Iowa to Edward Marvin and Ethyl Mae (Johnson) Cooley. Dideo was the second of four children born to the couple. He was educated in Des Moines public school system. After graduating from high school, Dideo would marry his high school sweetheart Bessie Colbert. Their first child, Marlene was born while the couple lived in Des Moines. When the family relocated to Chicago, a second daughter Cheryl was born. Seeking a greater life, the Cooley's relocated to Los Angeles in the mid 1960's. We celebrate the memory and love of Dideo on what would have been his 90th birthday.

Aunt Mac

One of the many good things that happened on the trip to Des Moines, was a visit with Aunt Mac. It has been almost fifteen years since I've seen her. It was nice to sit and talk with her, though I must admit I had little to say. I think I was more in awe. That doesn't happen often to me, but when I have those "quiet moments" I know I am supposed to be still and absorb. That's exactly what I did. I wanted to take in every detail of the visit. I was happy to spend the time with my grandmother's sister. Thanks to Cousin Larry for making this happen.

Cooley - Johnson Family Reunion 2009

I did not take pictures this year, but I did find someone that did. Of course I did what I'm supposed to do -- make copies and share them here. The young ones in these pictures are the great-great-great-great grandchildren of Lacy and Aggie (Lewis) Cooley, John and Nancy (Crouden) Johnson. The family continues to grow. Looking into these young faces, you can see characteristics of relatives from the previous generations. The one thing each one of us possesses is the "Cooley Spirit of Independence." Long before Frank Sinatra, each one of us could say we did it, "my way." Looking into the eyes of this generation, I see things that remind me of myself and other relatives as well. It's safe to say it's genetics. The kids had a great time and the adults enjoyed themselves as well. Cousin Armon provided a feast second to none. This one man cooking machine set one incredible table, filled with so much delicious food! Other family members contributed, but the majority of the food was prepared by him. Another family tradition continues -- good cooks. I will place Armon in the ranks of all the other good cooks in the family.

Timmy and Larry

I have a great amount of love, respect and admiration for this man, my cousin. If you have ever had a person to stay in your life, with all your ups and downs, then you most certainly can relate to what I'm telling you. My cousin Larry is that person. That's my dude. Much has been said about him. Hell, a lot has been said about me. At the end of the day, who cares? We're family and that's all that counts. Not taking no for an answer, Larry and his son Justin drove to Minnesota to get me. He made a way for me to attend the family reunion this year. I stayed with Cousin Larry and his family. I enjoyed each moment I spent with them and the other relatives. As I have been known to say, "A fun time was had by all." To my cousin, my buddy, my friend, "Thank you."

Reunion News...

I'm not sure if this has been made clear, but I'll try. At this point, Armon is not requesting any help with the reunion meal. He has the menu planned and is ready to prepare it. There are options available for those that don't eat pork products. He does have one request for the family. Beverages and ice will be needed, so I'd suggest bringing that. I have some news -- I won't be able to attend this years reunion. I'll need someone to take pictures and get them to me. Thanks.

Happy Birthday, Michael!!!

It's one day late, but I have to acknowledge the birthday of one of the family members. Michael celebrates "the last of the forties" birthday. Like Tony, next year he will walk into the fabulous fifties. Michael is the grandson (and youngest grandchild) of Edward and Ethyl (Johnson) Cooley. His parents are Frank and D. Maxine (Cooley) and the brother of Kevin. Though a day late, I wish him much peace, many blessings and an abundance of love.

The Cooley-Johnson Family Reunion 2009

I still haven't found what I'm looking for, but I did find this. This is one of four flier/announcements I created for the family reunion. The day of the mailing I could not locate them. I put together something completely different and mailed it out. I like this one, but I'll be damned if I'm going to do a second mailing. If you click on the picture, you'll be able to see a larger size. I look forward to the family reunion each year. I enjoy being with my family, sharing old stories and creating new memories. Armon has shared with me the plans for the reunion this year. This brutha is proving he knows what to do. I like that. On behalf of the entire family (yeah, I'm speaking for ev'ry last one of them), THANK YOU, for taking charge and pulling this together. I am proud my cousin stepped up to the plate and is making it happen. Much love and much respect!

Miss Fine and Beautiful

I was telling my friend, Rodney about MY cousin (on Dad's side) Tyra. After I told the story, and he busted a gut laughing, he suggested I share it here. Picture this, it's the 90's and Tyra Fowler was at the top of her game. Being a hair stylist was a natural way for her to express her creative side. Between weaving, braiding, cutting and COLORING, she could take the most jacked up head and make it hot as fish grease. With that said, let me tell the story. I don't remember the actor, but it was the early nineties and this brutha had colored his hair. It worked for him and I thought it would work for me. I wanted to be current with the latest trends and asked Tyra to hook me up. She agreed and the appointment was made. On the appointed day, Miss Fine and Beautiful (that was my nickname for her) applied the permanent color to my hair. She said it would take a little time for the color to take effect. We sat and talked, laughed and did what we normally would do -- enjoy the other's company. After an EXTENDED period of time, it was time to head to the bowl. Tyra was quiet throughout the entire process. That was odd, but I didn't push the issue. Tyra placed a towel over my head and said, "Uh, it's not quite the way you wanted it, but I can fix it." [Sidebar -- my cousin was one helluva stylist. She was human, which means she made mistakes.] Every man, woman and child knows those are not the words you want to hear when someone is working on your hair. As a matter of fact, those would be fightin words. I said, "What does that mean; you can fix it? Is it that bad???" I looked in the mirror with a towel covering my hair. I had no idea how it looked. Actually, I was scared to look. Tyra didn't want to keep me in suspense any longer and snatched to towel from my head. It wasn't quite as RED-ORANGE as Lucille Ball's hair, but it wasn't too far off. I had a color that would not work for me. Hell, that wouldn't work on any Black person. Maybe if they were a circus performer and that's pushing it. "Oh my God! I look like Lucy! This is NOT what I wanted, Tyra! I can't go to work tomorrow looking like this!" Miss Fine and Beautiful flashed her mega-watt smile and said, "We'll cover it with a black rinse. It will be slightly darker than your normal hair color, but no one will notice." Hey, I was in no position to argue. At this point in the game I was willing to try anything. Once the rinse was applied and my hair was dried, I took a look in the mirror. In a matter of minutes, I was transformed from "Lucille Ball" red-orange hair to "Elvis Presley" jet black hair. I liked both of them, I never, never, never, never, NEVER wanted my hair color to be like theirs. She did as she said, she "fixed" my hair. I was satisfied. I wish that was the end of the story, but it's not. A few days later (I don't remember the exact number -- it may have been a week) I washed my hair. Bending over the sink to wash my hair, I opened my eyes to see the jet black shampoo in the sink. My temporary hair color was proving to be that -- temporary. It was quickly going down the drain. I PANICKED!!! I had not looked in the mirror, but felt I had washed all the "Elvis Presley" from my hair and it was the bright shade of "Lucille Ball" I didn't want. After some hesitation I looked into the mirror to assess the damage. I was totally surprised. Some, but not all of the black had washed out. I thought it looked good. I walked around with that feeling for a few days. I liked the results and Tyra commented on how it looked. "I like the color of your hair. That works for you." Everyone was happy as pigs in shit. You know happiness is just a state of mind. The next time I washed my hair more of the black rinsed out. So much, that the red begin to come thru in a way that did not work for me. It was too damned red for me. I phoned Tyra in a panic and told her I needed an emergency haircut, a.s.a.p. and p.d.q! When she saw me she said, "Oh, the black rinse didn't stay in your hair as long as I thought it would." "No shit, Sherlock! Start cutting," I said. Miss Fine and Beautiful was able to "make the best a bad situation." Without going bald, she cut my hair low. My greatest fear was eliminated -- I COULD go to work the next day. From that point on it was just haircuts -- nothing more. I was done with trying to be trendy or current with hair color. I want to thank Rodney. Had we not laughed our asses off when I told him this story (with a special shout out to Dad, for the receding hairline which prompted the telling of this story), there would not have been this post today. "HEY RODNEY, this was a good idea. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Edward Marvin Cooley

I never met my great-grandfather, but I feel as though I know him. He died a little more than six months before the world and my family were blessed with ME. Grandpa Cooley was born August 4, 1894 in Coaling, Alabama. My family was so large, the small town was known as "Cooley" because there were so many Cooleys living there. From Coaling, the family migrated to Missouri and finally settled in Enterprise, Iowa. This is where Edward met Ethyl Johnson, the woman who would become his wife and mother to four of his children. My great-grandfather was a coal miner for many years. An accident in the mines severed a part of his leg. With a settlement he received for his injuries, he purchased a small grocery store, "Cooley's" in Des Moines. A door may have closed, but a window opened. Grandpa and Grandma Cooley worked hard in the store. Grandma Cooley, being a woman with a loving spirit and generous heart, would not allow her neighbors to go hungry. Though the customers would have little or no money, Grandma Cooley would extend them credit for their purchases. A fine idea, but credit purchases do NOT pay the bills. Within a few short years the store closed. Down, but not out, Grandpa Cooley continued to provide for his wife and children. No deadbeat father here - no sir. As I stated, I never met him but feel like I know him. Much of the values he instilled in his children they instilled in theirs. Of course that continued to the next generation and so on and so on. On this day, on what would be his 105th birthday, I honor his memory with this post. Happy Birthday, Grandpa Cooley.

Cooley-Johnson Family Reunion 2009

It's official. We have a date, location and a time for the reunion this year. Armon confirmed the details this morning. We'll gather at the Martin Luther King Park, 1650 Garfield Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa. EASTSIDE, BABY!!! Put a big red circle around September 19th on your calendar. Everything will kick off at 2:00pm, with dinner being served between 3-3:30pm. There will more information mailed out soon. Feel free to send me an email with your contact information. I want to ensure all the family is "in the know" for the reunion. A fun time will be had by all.

Here's Kevin

I enjoy doing research about the family and sharing it with everyone, but I think everyone knows this. I've got something I'd like to share with you. I've made contact with a cousin I haven't seen in years. Y'all know I will track a Cooley down!!! I'm still working on finding Uncle Curtis' family in Detroit, but I digress. I was surprised this afternoon to find/connect with Cousin Kevin. Let me tell you about him. He is the son of Frank and D. Maxine (nee Cooley) and the grandson of Ethyl and Edward Cooley. Cousin Kevin is doing well and living in northern California. This is great news. It's been several, many and quite a few years since we've seen each other. The picture of the three of us, Kevin, his brother Michael and yours truly, was taken when we celebrated my sixth birthday. That was back in 1972. We have gotten older, lived life and learned a hell of a lot. One thing has remained the same -- I love my cousin. I think he looks like Dideo. It would be nice if he could make to this year's family reunion. Sidebar -- I have news about the 2009 Cooley-Johnson Family Reunion. There will be another post containing the latest information. Stay tuned...

Someone Is Turning Another Year Better

Once upon a time, a long time ago, there lived a little girl in the Brewster Projects in Detroit, Michigan. Oh wait, that's not this little girl. That's another diva. This young lady here had her life change the moment she saw The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. When she saw John, Paul, George and Ringo perform she was hooked. She knew it's what she wanted to do. With encouragement from family members, she took music lessons. Those lessons would prove valuable later in life. They provided her the opportunity to travel throughout the world and meet various people in the entertainment industry. "All I want to do is play music." That's been her mantra for years. Find your passion in life and live it! Make it a reality. I learned that from her. On this day, I would like to extend a birthday greeting. Happy Birthday Cheryl. Much happiness today and everyday.


"...and the passion for the music continues!"

I Have Something For You

My grandmother was one cool lady. "I'm plain ole Vel." is what she would say. If you had a dumb moment and crossed her, she'd correct you. Some of the words she used will not be included in this posting. Some of y'all are saved folks, and I don't want your eyes to see such words. Anyhow, my grandmother was a woman ahead of her time. She always made a plan and worked it to completion. Grandma did not believe she could be held back. Being Colored (sidebar: for those that didn't know, in the early part of the 20th century we were Colored) and being a woman could not be considered a deterrent to her life. She fully embraced the person she was, Veltirea. Well, I said she was cool, so let me get back to that. After my grandfather died, my grandmother came out of retirement and accepted a part-time position at the Urban League. She enjoyed it. Working with the seniors program provided Grandma many chances to meet and work with various individuals and programs. I was home from work one day when she called. Grandma said, "I have something for you. I'll give it to you when I leave work." I started to smile. She said she had "something" for me. I wanted to know what it was she was giving me. I never liked surprises. I need to be in the know. So, I said, "Well, Granny -- whatcha got for me?" Veltirea said, "Pardon?" That one word reply said many things. It meant what I said was incorrect; grammatically and otherwise. I was supposed to correct myself, get it together and try again. Okay, take two. "Grandma, what do you have for me?" I thought that would make things good again. She said, "Oh, I'm not telling you. You'll see later this afternoon." That was not the answer I wanted. Though I asked a couple times more, she ignored me and went to the next subject. The conversation lasted a few minutes longer and ended. No further mention of the "something." I had to WAIT until she finished work before I could get it. I didn't like the idea of not knowing what I was getting, but I was happy! My Grandma had a gift for me. I was a grown-ass man of 27 years. This meant nothing. One of the holdovers from childhood. I would get excited when I knew my Grandma had a gift for me. Like an excited kid waiting for Christmas, I waited for Grandma's workday to end. Five o'clock would not come soon enough. I left at twenty minutes to five, a whole fifteen minutes earlier than necessary. I wanted to ensure I'd be at the Urban League on time. It was a five minute drive, but I wasn't taking chances. A little after five, Grandma comes out of the building. I see a big Carson Pirie Scott bag in her hand. I smiled as I got out of the car. I walked over to take the bag from her and said, "Thank you, for the gift." Grandma said, "Oh no. This isn't yours, it's mine. I bought a new bedspread. What I have for you is in my purse." Not a problem, I still had a gift coming. I opened the front passenger door for her to get into the car. When she was seated, I opened the backdoor and placed the bag on the seat. As I walked around the back of the car, I could see Grandma reaching into her purse. Once I was seated on the driver's side she said, "This is for you." She handed me a booklet on safe sex practices AND how to apply a condom on an erect penis. This was not what I expected. I'm not sure what I wanted or thought it would be? I knew one thing, "this ain't it." Grandma reached into her purse and pulled out several condoms. She handed those over as well. I asked her, "Why are you giving this stuff to me? Thank you, but I know all about this. I wasn't expecting all of this from my Grandma." She turned and said, "I know what's going on out here these days and I know you're having sex. I want you to be safe and protect yourself." She made it plain and simple. I was embarrassed then, but I laugh about it now. It cracks me up. My grandmother was far from being a typical grandmother. Not only was she my grandma, she was my friend. She always had my back -- no matter what.

Happy Birthday Akya, Michelle and Nechelle

There are times things slip my mind. I don't blame it on my age (43 and looking damn good), short attention span or someone else. Hey, I forget. To my defense, when I was at the casino with a buddy, I said, "There is some significance to July 18th, but I don't remember." I knew there was something special about the day. At the time it didn't occur to me what made the date notable. That's my story and I'm stickin to it. It took a couple of days, but I figured it out. Saturday was Michelle and her daughter Nechelle's birthday. Ha-ha, I remembered. The fact that I was a couple of days late means nothing. So, with all that said, Happy Birthday Akya (July15). Happy Birthday Shelley. Happy Birthday Nechelle. The three young ladies are from the Eugene Cooley branch of the family. Donna (daughter of Eugene) is the mother of Shelley. Nechelle is the daughter of Shelley. Akya is the daughter of Rob and Rob is Donna's son. I don't have a picture of Akya, but Rob is going to get one to me soon.

Pictures: Nechelle and Shelley

The Four Cooleys

This is the only know picture of Ethyl and Edward Cooley's four children together. This was taken at their grandfather, Edward Johnson's farm sometime after 1931. From oldest to youngest pictured; Veltirea Leonia, Marvin De Forrest, Eugene Lawrence and Doris Maxine Cooley. Veltirea married Dr J. Walter Thompson and had two children; Snookie and Vicki. Marvin married Bessie Colbert and had two children; Marlene and Cheryl. Eugene married Helen Anderson and had three children; Donna, Larry and Connie. Eugene and his second wife Julia Rumley had three children; Bobby, Darlene and Veltirea. Doris married Frank Guess and had two children; Kevin and Michael. There are a total of fourteen Cooley grandchildren. That's the easy number. The total number of great and great-great Cooley grandchildren is much larger. One day I intend to get the names of each great and great-great grandchild. Today ain't that day.

Happy Birthday Justin!!!

If I'm certain of one thing, I know my "little" cousin is going to enjoy celebrating his birthday. Don't let the kewl exterior fool you. This man likes to have a good time and ensure all around him are doing the same. It's safe to save a fun time will be had by all. Happy Birthday, Justin. Much peace, many blessings and an abundance of love - today and every day.

I'd Like To Say...

A big HELLO from me. I enjoy writing so much. I started this blog as a way to share family stories and information. That's the problem. With so much information; documents, photographs, census information, it's not so easy to sit and write about one person. There are so many from which to choose. I want to include (especially for the members that are no longer with us) as much documentation as possible. I promise there will be more family stories and pictures in the near future. As always continue to check the blog every couple of days. You just never know when I'll post some tales of the fam.

Happy Birthday Leah!!!

It's time to recognize the birthday of another Cooley descendant. This young lady is Leah, the daughter of Justin and Libby. She is beautiful in her appearance as well as her spirit. I see a wonderful future for this great-great-great-great grand daughter of Lacy and Aggie Cooley.