Barbie Perkins-Cooper, Author

Tag: Charleston SC

  • Equality – Not Racism!


    Dearest Readers:

    I imagine a few of my friends will be totally unhappy with what I might say here, but here goes — I have many opinions I will not share here on social medias regarding the racism issues. I’ve read about the riots in downtown Charleston and many of those rioters were arrested for destroying property, burning police cars, etc. Good! If you destroy property, burn it just because you are angry about the racial issues in America, well you are not alone. I was so pleased when the Confederate flag was removed. I’ve always believed the Confederacy stands for racism. But — there have been Too many situations to share and discuss over and over again. One thing I will say to my friends who have said to me, “well if you ain’t happy with Confederacy, then why don’t you move?”

    I laugh! Let me just say, this is the United States of America. Lately, we are the divided States of America. I believe we need equality, hopefully to end the racism angers.

    To those of you who are not aware, the South, especially Georgia and South Carolina, are managed by a system called the “Good ole Boys!”

    Those Good ole Boys do not like it whenever someone disagrees. They want us to agree with them. Recently I saw the Good ole boys system in the works when I filed a complaint of sexual harassment and threats to my life at one of those ‘private good ole boys’ organizations. After doing all I could to get the situation resolved, I was told to have a ‘mediation’. Agreeing to this was my mistake.

    At the mediation, I was belittled, degraded, and made to feel weak, especially after the person who touched me where he shouldn’t, was allowed to verbally abuse me during the ‘mediation.’ Never did anyone with any authority reprimand him! I was told to let this end tonight. After all, “ending this is good for the order….”

    To those of you who’ve never been treated this way, you are fortunate! Seeing how the ‘good ole boys’ are allowed to do things for the ‘good of the order,’ is such an antiquated way to operate. I lost respect for this ‘good ole boys club’ that night!

    I’ve held my head high. No, I didn’t fight it anymore. I was exhausted. I had the bulk of gossip because the issues were shared. I was told it would be confidential. It wasn’t! Many times, I had women approach me, asking my name. Then, quickly they walked away! No doubt, they were only a portion of the gossip clique. I refused to allow them to intimidate me. Trust me, if this situation ever happens to me again, I will call law enforcement. I will not go quietly into the night!

    This is only one example of the ‘good ole boys’ club operation! They cover each other and don’t care when someone files a complaint that could embarrass them.

    And now, here in Charleston, we have protests. Demands to ‘take it down,’ including the John Calhoun statue. I’m certain others will be removed too. Where will they go? Personally, I don’t care. I think it’s time for us to move forward — not look back.

    Many historical issues are embarrassing. Yes, I’m from the South, but I’ve never been proud of the Civil War. Slavery. How women were treated. We were told we couldn’t vote. What women should do is – and I’ve heard this TOO MANY TIMES – “Women should stay at home. That’s where decent women belong. They shouldn’t complain. After all, men will take care of us, IF we OBEY them. We must keep the house. Have the babies, and keep our mouths shut!”

    Once, I heard my husband actually say of those statements to me. Believe me, the Julia Sugarbaker and the Women’s Suffrage Movement kicked in to change his tune. I thank God I wasn’t born during the 1900’s time. I’m certain some ‘good ole boy’ would have done something to ‘shut me up!’

    Incidentally, if you do not know about the women’s suffrage movement I would like to share a bit about the women’s suffrage movement, ‘a decades-long fight to win the right to vote for women in the United States. It took activists and reformers nearly 100 years to win that right!’

    Yes, 100 years! The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution granted women in America the right to vote, a right known as women’s suffrage, and was ratified on August 18, 1920, ending almost a century of protest.’

    Nevertheless, women still have to stand up and ask why when we see the lack of equality we still have. I’ve had friends ask me why I’m “still a feminist.”

    Trust me. I will never stand down or shut my mouth! My father encouraged me to stand up and voice my concerns. Yes. I. Am. A. Woman! And damned proud of it!

    And now, I shall get off of my soapbox and get busy with a few things I must do — for me!

  • What Is It In the Sky Today?

    What Is It In the Sky Today?


    Breaking News – Charleston, SC, January 5, 2019 — – Today, there is something bright in the sky. EVERYONE is shaking their heads saying, “What’s going on? It’s so bright? What can it be?”

    We’ve researched several sources, and checked with meteorologists in the area. According to them: “there is a bright object in the sky today. It’s been missing for so long, people in Charleston have forgotten it. Please wear your sunglasses, if you go outside today.”

    WHAT IS IT?

    Looks like sunshine to me. Sunshine??? I’m hesitant to say the word, or to give an oral description.

    When I awoke this morning, I noticed it and said to myself That can’t be sunshine? I haven’t seen it in such a long time. It’s hurting my eyes. That was over two hours ago. 

    Now, the bright light is still dancing in the skyline. Can it be sunshine returning to Charleston?

    I’m overjoyed if it is, and I pray it stays out. Such a beautiful day! At the moment it is 57 degrees outside, with gusty winds, but who cares? Looks like a beautiful sunshiny day!

  • Day Three – Hurricane Florence Update


    Dearest Readers:

    Thought I’d post a quick update regarding Hurricane Florence. We are ready for her. Today is day three of listening to the Weather Channel, and Channel 2 weather reports. By now, I’m almost burned out from listening to the same thing…over…and over…and over again!

    Hurricane Florence is now a Category Three. Yesterday at this time, she was Category Four. Just shows, you don’t mess with a woman when she’s in a hurry to get somewhere, and forgets the directions. Only then, will a woman a clam up to make others feel as cold as ice, or as stormy and powerful as the winds when she is – shall I say – annoyed!

    My hubby says I’m good at that. LOL! He also says I’m ‘childish,’ whenever I give him the cold shoulder. He should know, so I’ll not confirm or deny. After all, we are discussing a ‘hurricane a-coming,’ aren’t we!

    To those in the direction of this her-I-cane, yes, intentionally misspelled so please don’t say I have a typo! To all of you, I want to say, if you’re lacking faith, or do not pray, maybe tonight is a good night to say a little prayer. Trust me, God is there. He listens, even when storms are-a-comin’!

    Someone in my neighborhood must be having a hurricane party. There are lots of cars parked on the roadway, and I hear laughing, shouting, and maybe a bit of music. Maybe someday I’ll get gutsy and throw a hurricane party. For this hurricane, all I want to do is watch TV and snuggle up with hubby and the Bratty Boys! Yes. I’m sick of listening to the latest predictions, of where…when…and how… I simply want this Hurricane Florence to get to her destination and leave, and I pray the damage and power of her rage will not be as strong as ‘they,’ on the Weather Channel and local TV are predicting.

    During this time I remember when I worked at the culinary college in 1989 during Hurricane Hugo. The administration was looking for volunteers to help with the students, so I volunteered. I don’t think I slept for over 30 hours or longer. I learned a lot about students during that time. The old cliché, the bigger they are, the harder they fall, certainly applied. Several students wanted hugs so, I shared hugs with all of them. Those were good memories during Hurricane Hugo, and after the wrath of the storm, when it was confirmed that we could allow everyone to go outside, just to get a fresh breath, I felt a newfound pride for all that we endured. Some of the students held teddy bears, pillows, blankets during the intense sounds of Hugo. All of them needed the comforts of home, so on the fourth floor of the historical building, now called The Cigar Factory, we snuggled together in a big warehouse room. No windows. Only the roar of a freight train, as we listened to Hugo and his arrogance. Because the building is such an old, brick historical building, at times, I could see the flash of lightning, and when I did, I shivered. I have an intense phobia of lightning, but I knew, I had to be strong. Some of the students wanted to pray, so we joined hands and prayed.

    Standing outside the morning after Hugo, the students thanked me for being Mom to them. How proud I was of myself and these students. We survived a devil’s night of Hurricane Hugo, and we were the better for it. Hugo taught us strength, and mostly, that hurricane taught some students to pray and to have faith. I’ve always said a bad start means a great ending. Suppose that is true.

    It is dark outside now while I am typing this. We’ve had scattered, light showers today. Nothing different from other days when we have afternoon showers. Still, I get phone calls inquiring: Are you leaving? I laugh. Nope, we are staying here. We have the Bratty Boys (our precious, beloved animals). Mostly, we have faith. Phil and I have battled many storms not just the torrential storms, but — all types. Sometimes verbal storms. If you’ve been married, perhaps you understand. 

    Yesterday while talking on the phone to one of my dearest friends, we both laughed when we spoke about Hawaii and what they must do when hurricanes knock on their doors. Just where do they go? They can’t reverse a bridge???  Evacuate? Where??? Well, maybe they drive up in the mountains. On second thought, maybe not. Isn’t that where the active volcanoes are? Sometimes my mind should just shut down!

    I suppose I’ll have another post tomorrow. I still have things to do. Making certain all the laundry is done. Think I only have a couple of things to wash. I want to make sure our undies are nice and fresh. After all, a hurricane is a-coming, and with it, we’ll probably lose power. Need to vacuum again too. Just tidy up a bit – before the Hurricane knows on our door. The door bell doesn’t work, so maybe Florence will leave us alone!

    It is quiet now. No wind is blowing. Perhaps, the calm before the storm…And on that note, I suppose I’ll close and toss a few things into the wash. Until tomorrow!cropped-arthur-ravenel-bridge

     

     

     

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  • Welcome to The Beautiful City of Charleston


    Dearest Readers:

    As stated in the headline, The City of Charleston, SC is crippled — all due to a freak ice/snow storm. The signature bridge of this beautiful city, The Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge, closed last night at 8pm. At this moment, the bridge is still closed. A few curious pedestrians actually chose today to walk the bridge, only to fall down. A few minutes later, the news media announced the Arthur Ravenel Bridge was closed to pedestrians and bicyclists too. Duh. Why wasn’t that announced last night??? I suppose they forgot to remember that in the South, we do things our way! I awoke early at 7am knowing that everything within my neighborhood will be crippled!

    Those of you reading this accustomed to snow are probably laughing. You must understand, people in the South do things a bit slower. It takes quite a bit of time just to get the roads cleared. Normally they are cleared after the weather melts the snow. It would not surprise me if some foolish person decided to head up the bridge and ski down it. Only in Charleston! People here do not exactly think at times. Yes, we are a bit spoiled because our beautiful city is marketed as a ‘mild climate.’ This winter has been the exception! We’ve had many bitterly cold days where I’ve actually worn my long fur coat. Last week, I prayed for snow, so I could make a snow angel. Well, there isn’t enough snow to make a snow angel, so I’m still disappointed. At least, when I walk outside, I feel the crunch, crunch, crunch of the snow/ice under my boots. I struggled to open the gate to outside, but it is frozen shut, so I suppose I will just stay warm and toasty inside my home. We haven’t lost our power yet. The trees are actually beautiful with ice on the branches, and icicles dripping a slow drip.

    My silly four-legged boys are barking outside. They insist on going outside, over and over again. I suppose they are enjoying this refreshing mild climate and the snow crunching under their feet. They really are funny outside — our little snow bunnies! When outside, they rush to sniff their areas, only to kick their feet and run around. They frolic from one side of the back yard, to the other side, sometimes kicking their rear legs and grunting! I suppose they are claiming new territory now. Then, we go inside again, only for Prince Midnight Shadow, our giant, to demand to go outside again. He is enjoying running around like an overgrown bunny rabbit, barking, and playing. I don’t think he is chasing squirrels today! Silly guy. I laugh while watching them. They are so silly today!

    When I got up this morning, the temps continued to decrease as the ice fell. I heard the ice pounding onto my garden window. Quickly, I went outside to see if it was really ice, or snow. The droplets of ice that filled my head reassured me this was most definitely ice. My mimosa tree was covered in ice. How I pray that all of my plants will survive this bitter cold. I confess, I did not prepare them. Walking back inside, I reach for a fresh warm cup of coffee, flopped down in the rocking chair and listen to the morning weather reports only to notice my back yard was now semi-blanketed with a soft thin layer of spotted snow. I am disappointed. I wanted enough snow to make a snow angel!

    What an interesting day this is! Only in Charleston, a city with mild climates???!!!???