A Blast From Christmas Past...

Christmas always made me happy. Like anyone (child or adult), I liked to receive gifts, and give them as well. As a kid, I did my Christmas shopping at Woolworth's, Walgreens, G.C. Murphy's or Grants. My mother, grandmother, sister and aunt would receive, CHARLIE, JEAN NATE, TABU or LOVE'S BABY SOFT perfume. My father, grandfather, brother and uncle would receive BRITISH STERLING, BRUT, OLD SPICE or HAI KARATE after shave. I'm certain I gave my uncle "Snookie" BRUT as a present for Christmas 1975. It played a role in our Christmas thirty-five years later. Toyia told me there was a gift from "Snookie" for me under the tree. When I picked it up and shook it, I jokingly asked, "Is this a bottle of liquor or BRUT?" I had my answer the moment I ripped the wrapping paper. I smiled and laughed when I saw it was BRUT. It took me back to Christmas 1975. I gave him BRUT then, and he gave it to me now. It was a Christmas like so many others. It was one filled with great food, presents, laughter and love. Yesterday we had another one of those Christmases. I got everything I wanted for Christmas; I received some nice gifts, enjoyed a delicious meal and spent time with my family.

Every Year, Every Christmas...

December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas, from Me to You!

A Day In My MinneSNOWTA Life

A snow storm hit the Twin Cities, the likes of which we've not experienced in many years. The airport was shut down, public transportation slowed and taxi cab companies stopped answering their phones. The weather was bad, but I didn't allow it to stop me from leaving home. In the middle of the storm, I ventured out and about. I went to the grocery store and brought along Nephew for the experience and it was memorable. Like so many teenagers today, he wears his pants hanging off his ass or sagging. This would prove to be a problem for him. While we were walking home from the bus stop, his pants began to fall down. We stopped several times on our walk home. Nephew needed to pull up his falling pants every ten feet or so. As we approached the building two teenage girls stepped outside. It was about this time Nephew's pants fell down completely around his ankles. He said, "Thank God I was wearing basketball shorts." I mentioned a belt would have prevented all of that from happening. He agreed. While we were out in the storm and when we were home safe and sound, I thought about the Cooleys living in Iowa in the early part of the 20th Century. How would they have dealt with weather like this? There was no television, cable, radio, cd or dvd player to pass the time. My guess is the family spent the time reading, singing, playing games or simply talking. They endured a Midwest Winter with none of the modern conveniences we have today, We complain about the weather and the horrible condition of the sidewalks, streets and highways. My thought is, if they could make it then, I most certainly can make it now. I have all the things I need right here, with no plans for venturing out this evening or tomorrow. That seems to be the best idea for handling a Winter storm. I think they felt the same way back in 1915. Good ideas are timeless!

Our Family Christmas

I put together a few pics of Christmas with the family over the years.

Press the play button to view the slide show.

Let's Have A Snowball Fight!

Since the family had so much fun last year, let's do this again!

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BLACK SUPER HEROES

Nevaeh Grace Six Months Later...

One look at this little girl and you instantly smile. If you're not smiling, you're a mean one, Mister Grinch is all I'll say. Little Nevaeh Grace became a member of the Cooley Clan on April 27, 2010. Nevaeh is the youngest of Grandpaw Larry's grandchildren. More than six months later we see baby girl is coming along just fine. She's happy, healthy and beautiful. This young Cooley has a very successful life ahead of her. Nevaeh is going to make her mark on the world in a big way. Remember, you heard it here first.

Dideo and Bessie's Boy

Marvin and Bessie Cooley were blessed with two children; Marlene and Cheryl. Their daughter Marlene and her husband John were blessed with one child; Brandley DeForrest. He was welcomed with open arms into the Cooley Clan on November 26, 1978. Young Brandley was born two years after the death of his grandfather, Dideo. Many have said and the pictures prove it, Young Brandley looks very much like young Grandpaw Marvin. Brandley shows an interest in and has some knowledge of the Cooley family history. I'm certain what Marlene didn't tell him he learned from his Grandma Bessie and his aunt, the UNRULEY one. Young Brandley can perform a memorable RASTA remix of the hit, "Meeting In The Ladies Room." Handsome, intelligent, talented AND a Cooley. With these great features and so much more, this young man has a very successful life ahead. Happy Birthday, Brandley!

Happy Anniversary Mr & Mrs Cooley

Ninety-five years ago today, November 24, 1915, Ethyl Mae Johnson married Edward Marvin Cooley. It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the high for the day was a record 65 degrees! Reverend Bolling of the Mount Olive Baptist Church performed the ceremony in the home of Ethyl's uncle, Frank Johnson. "Ethyl and Edward lived with us when they were first married," Aunt Lizzie told me years later. The family welcomed Ethyl and prepared the Thanksgiving feast for the next day. A job with the Norwood White coalmine moved the young newlyweds to Des Moines in 1916. Ninety five years later, some Cooleys are preparing their Thanksgiving feast. The more things change the more they do stay the same. Happy Anniversary Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpaw Cooley.

Looking Out...

For quite a few years the family gathered on this weekend to enjoy The Cooley-Johnson Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner in Des Moines. Two weeks before Thanksgiving the Cooleys and Johnsons would come together for a big feast. The food at these dinners would consist of many delicious, traditional favorites. One year something new was served at dinner - ELK. Cousin Jenny and her husband prepared this additional side meat for the family. Tony had a large HUNK of it on his plate. I had turkey and dressing with a pile of greens on mine. There was no room for the "roast beast" on my plate.We enjoyed the dinner and talked with the cousins not seen in a while. Cousin Marc asked Tony, "Hey Cuz, how do you like that roast?" Tony replied, "Aww man, this is good." That's when Marc asked if he ever, "had ELK before or was this the first time?" Tony's eyes grew WIDE open! It seems he didn't know that "roast beef" was ELK. Tony looked at me and asked, "Why didn't you tell me this was ELK, Timmy?" He's funny! We had a good laugh about it and my brother continued to eat and enjoy the ELK. I thought about that family gathering when I looked out the window this morning and saw the SNOW. This is the weekend we'd be together in Des Moines. Seeing the snow makes me happy to be home chillin this year.

Ethyl Mae Johnson Cooley

There was a time I worked with a woman that made my workday hellish. One day in particular, she made things very difficult for me. In a heated moment, I allowed my reply to this woman to be peppered with profanity. I came close to cussing her completely out, but I didn't. It's not something to be proud of, but I felt I had been pushed to the point. My supervisor suggested I take a longer than usual lunch break to calm down. I decided to go home and take a nap. While I was asleep, my great grandmother paid me a visit. I felt the bed go down when she sat on the side. Great Grandma Ethyl patted my hand and told me I knew better than to act the way I had been acting. I tried pleading my case, thinking she'd understand my point. She wasn't having any of that. Great Grandma Ethyl suggested I would, "...most certainly know this isn't acceptable behavior." She looked at me and smiled. I was told to behave and that she'd see me later. About the time she stood up is about the time my dog Bud barked. I woke up and looked around the room for her. Bud continued to bark and wag his tail. I believe Ethyl's presence was felt by Bud as well. The rest of my workday went without an issue or problem. I wanted to share MY personal story of Ethyl on her birthday. We've not physically met, but I assure you we're connected. Happy Birthday, Great Grandma!

Long Ago And Oh So Far Away...

I had been "out to the farm" several years ago. I attended the 2005 Cooley Johnson Family Reunion with Tony and we decided to make a quick stop on our way home. Traveling north on Interstate 35 we exited on Oralabor Road. As we made a left and headed west this place, this area felt familiar. I told Tony, "This is it, this is where Grandpaw Johnson's farm was located." Tony asked, "How do you know this is it?" I said, "I just KNOW it is - this is the land." Over the years I've heard conflicting reports of the location of Ed Johnson's farm. I knew one person to ask was his daughter Ethyl's daughter, Maxine. Aunt Mac had spent a lot of time on the farm when she was a little girl. She gave me instructions to locate the farm and stated if it was as "clear as mud", she'd try to make it easier for me to understand. Her instructions were on point. I found the area without any problems. I pulled the car into a parking lot of one of the businesses on the land and parked. I wanted to take a few pictures of the land. I found myself walking to the beginning of the property line. "Gramp's Farm was bordered by the railroad tracks on the West, Oralabor Road on the South..." is what she wrote in an email. I repeated the words to myself as I took each step. I thought about all the people that had taken those same steps, had walked in the same place. People like Great-Great Grandpaw Edward Johnson and his wife Orpha; Frank Johnson, Edward's brother and Frank's wife, Anna; Edward and Pinky's children: Ethyl, Helen and Rex; Edward and Orpha's children: Henry, Beatrice, Edward Jr and Hardin; Ethyl's children: Veltirea "Punkin", Marvin "Dideo", Eugene "Eckie Bud" and Doris "Mac". All of these people, our family had/have traveled that route. When I stood on the land it was easy to imagine what used to be. To know about one hundred years ago it was all farmland. "This IS it." I was standing on Ed Johnson's land. I know it's no longer in our family, but I'm proud. Proud that once upon a time, a little less than long ago, a Black Man owned all that land in Iowa. I am the Great-Great Grandson of that man and I am proud of his accomplishments.