Writing Sample

       The path to destiny is rarely ever a straight line, and for Nassir that was exactly the case. Being the oldest of 5 was not something he thought made him special. He knew he was loved, his parents made sure that it was known, felt, and demonstrated. He loved his siblings and took his care of them seriously, and was proud to be fiercely protective of his family. 

      So on the day that fate came knocking, it caught him and his family off guard. On this, the first day of autumn a strange wind blew into the sleepy town of Atmore. Gathering his siblings from school he noiced a strange new star in the sky that he was sure didn't belong, and could have sworn wasn't there just hours ago as he finished up his daily chores just hours ago, and was most definately not there last night.

     Looking up into the sky as he ushered the smaller children into he grandmothers house, next door to their family home, somthing made him uneasy, setting off alarm bells in his head. Happy cheers of the kids shouting, "Nana," and running into the house for hugs drew him out of his brooding. Mattie, his meternal grandmother, Nana to him and half the children of the neighborhood, owned most of the land on the block around their houses, had for as long as he could remember lived in the little home next door, but heard stories from momma about how  his current room had been hers as the oldest of her 4 siblings. And how, when Grandpa passed away, shortly after marrying dad, she'd had the smaller house built and offered the house to his parents, and mostly because the promise of a convient babysitter, but so she could keep an eye on her mom, it was aparently an offer they couldnt refuse.

     "What's wrong, baby?" his grandmother's voice snapping his attention back to the presant. 

     "Nothing," he says shaking his head, "just some wierd new star or something." He walks over to her for his turn to hug her. 

     His grandmother wasn't a large woman, but she was stout and strong, and he caramel brown eyes had the uncanny wisdom of knowing just what was needed at any given moment. Her careworn, chocolate brown face, uasually had a smile, and as he laned in for his hug, the comforting smell of her cocoa butter lotion hit his nostrils. After the hug, her strong hands gripped his giving a gentle squeeze, "After I get there little 'uns settled show me. You go sit for a moment while I get them snacks.

     He nods, sitting in the comfortable, worn arm chair, "Yes, Ma'am."

Welcome Back

 Well y'all, I know it;s been a hot minute. Where has the time gone. It's been a hand full of years and I have gone thru my fair share of changes, just as I am sure you all have too. So much as changed for me I don't even know where to begin. I'll  give you the cliff notes version and thn we will talk about what I am thnking of doing with this blog moving forward.

Lets see, where to start. Well I've relocated about 100 miles east to just outside of Providence, RI. I've had a few different jobs, and have settled nicely into a job at a restaruant as a cook. And its fun, I fit in well and enjoy the people I work with, even 4 years in and I don't se that changing. Maybe I'll tell y'all more about that eventually, we shall see.

My family, while mostly healthy, has suffered a loss. My mom has passed on from this world leaving a Felicia sized hole, that only she could fit. The feelings of grief while not new to me, I have discovered are as complex and indivdual as the person I am grieving. Mom, you are missed, and I do miss your voice, even as annoyng as it was to hear your phone calls start with, "Hey, My Big Son..." 

Now on to what hasn't changed. I am still single, and not really looking to change that, but who knows what tomorrow holds with that... I've found that at 40, I am still just as bad at saving money as I always was. While I don't make the money I made working at the hospital, I make enough to affrord everything I need and some of what I want. My savings accout, and emergency fund are sorely underfunded <cough, cough $25, cough, cough> as of this writing. I am still just as nerdy and into books as always, with no signs of changing. Still collecting books and cookbooks even whn I know I shouldn't because I don't have space, or money.

I still have many of the same hobbies as before, Warhmmer, still just as expensive as it always has been. I hve even started the undertaking o repainting my whole Necron Army, and should probably be painting those insted of writing this, but here we are. Besides the Necrons there is also The Dark Angels, as well as a new Age of Sigmar army, Stormcast Eternals. as well as a whole host of other games with minis to assemble and paint. I am sure there will be plenty of talk and pics of that to come.

 And here is where you come in, Dear Reader, I am trying to start a side gig of maybe offeing online email based Tarot card readings to start. As well as the potntial of writing more about my adventures thru tabletop games lik Warhammer and the like aw well as TTRPG's like Dungeons & Dragons. I've noticed the majority of contet about any of it, is from people who don't look like me or have my prspective. That is to say they are not Black, urban and Bisexual. So while I have had mostly positive interactions in the hobby space, it should be no suprise that I have had some lees then steller ones which have shaped my perspective. And recently I have thought I should maybe look into shareing some of my perspective for other people of color and help them find this hobby, because it is massivly fun. 

As always I welcome any of your thoughts and ideas. Feel free to email me at chefdoug0723@gmail.com and offer me suggestions as well as to talk about recieving a tarot card reading. 

And to you Dear Reader, thank you for your time, and sticking with me after all this time. Blessings and Prosperity to you and yours.

    Doug