God Bless, Ms Maya Angelou
28 MayRIP Maya Angelou.
Phenomenal Woman
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
“#RealTravel: An Accidental Pilgrimage to Italy Put Life Into Perspective”
25 May“#RealTravel: An Accidental Pilgrimage to Italy Put Life Into Perspective”
by Lorraine Chine via “Yahoo“
“Who: Lorraine Chin, 44, a public health educator in NYC. I decided to live the dream as a single, free-spirited woman—with a solo trip to Italy.
Where: I visited eight cities in Italy: Rome, Assisi, Florence, Venice, Padua, Verona, Milan, and Como.
Why: I had traveled prior to Paris, Scotland, Madrid, England—but as a crazy kid studying abroad. I knew seven days in northern Italy sightseeing, shopping, and eating fine cuisine was just what the doctor ordered.

The village of Assisi—one of the stops on Lorraine Chin’s life-changing trip to Italy. (Photo: Xavier / Flickr)
How I Changed After: I was working on Riker’s Island at the time and when I came back all-of-a-sudden I had an OMG moment and my eyes were open: I’m working in a jail. I started questioning how similar and different I was from the inmates I was serving. Could I be one paycheck away from being homeless? One condom away from having HIV/AIDS? I don’t take anything for granted anymore—there’s bigger purpose, bigger reason to life. It prompted me to get my real estate license and also work as a paralegal for a time. To make my life full and open. Continue reading





















