The Man, The Smile, The Joy

The expressions directed toward the man who left an impression on everyone he met with his million dollar smile are too infinite to put on paper or type in a word processor. But for sanity's sake I will use this page to serve as an outlet to bare some of the feelings toward the man known as Smiley from our childhood.

From the days of eating cereal from a large mixing bowl, even prior to those were the syrup and butter sandwiches he ate regularly as a young boy, to the Popeyes chicken we shared on Friday nights in our young adulthood. Smiley--a name given to him by one of the older ladies in our neighborhood--had the gift of joy. Even as a child he could make us laugh until we cried and doubled over with cramps by acting a clown. See before there was Tyler Perry(Madea), we had Tony Moore(Many characters). We would be in the front yard drinking a Nehi drink from Will Haynes store and he would suddenly start acting like the bum from In Living Color. That show was not even out yet. Not only could he make you laugh by acting and getting you involved with what he was doing but he could also crack you up with some of his most infamous stories. Call them whatever you like but they were funny.

I can recall several occasions in which he has literally carried me home. One time we, Fred, Tony, and myself were bike riding through the neighborhood and we had gotten word that a new girl was visiting a family up the street. Of course I had Fred on the back of my bike and Tony was on his. As we rounded the back of the homes across the street, we spotted her. It is not a good thing trying to get someone's attention on a 10 speed while pulling someone on a graveled alley. The next thing I know, Fred's foot got hung in my rear spokes and he and I tore that ground up! Needless to say, Tony to the rescue. He and Fred that day carried me home, literally. Another time we ran the court in Constantine, playing against older guys but winning. As I drove in, I rolled my ankle off the edge of the court and he carried me from that court to home without stopping. Later in life while I had the opportunity to stay with them, he put aside what he was doing to come to Atl., help me put a fanbelt on my car, then drive my car home.

Not only was he a joy but also a help. No matter how many squabbles we had or how many times we were upset with one another, nobody else outside the fam. could squabble or threaten us. Tony would always be the one to step up and lay claim that we were his cousins, his people, and if you were going to mess with any of us then you would have to go through him to do it. He was more than a comedian; he was more than a master at storytelling; he was more than Doc Jr.; he was more than even his stature promoted; he was a hidden blessing to us and those he came in contact with. Not one time did I ever hear him complain about doing something for someone. He was always glad to help. He may joke with you later about it but never a single complaint.

From our days of basketball in the backyard; the football games in the front of the house on the corner of Pyle Ave. as well as in the backyard of the same address; the many fishing trips we shared as young boys; the baseball games went to,the many adventures shared with Fred Berry on 10 speed bikes we thought were dirt bikes; the altercations as kids often have; the lawnmower duties which we were paid with sodas; the backyard ball and brawls; the hikes throught the woods; the treasure hunting we went on because we buried the money; the swapping of vehicles with loud music; the arguements over my driving too slow on our state to state driving; the quest to find God and our identities (I believe he found him); to where we are now, a place where it is not appropriate to say good-bye but a see you later Brother.

I Can Make It

The Way It is

The belief that life just happens is taking living to a place that is very difficult to escape. A place where darkness curls its hands around man's origin of breath; a place where we exist but don't; a place where dreams are annihilated and visions don't exist; a place where America is slowly going but fastly approaching like a meteor on collision course with Earth; a place booming with noise but no music or laughter; a place void of discrimination, allowing all who want to be there to be there.

How do we or better yet, how did we get to this place? As those before us struggled, bled, and died for the privileges we possess somehow we derailed from the tracks laid out. Some of us take advantage of the right to choose by never rightly choosing. Some of us talk more about unity but are always dividing. Some of us claim to be for all but are only for ourselves. Some of us say we have overcome many prejudiced and biased opinions and yet yesterday seems to never go away. Some of us claim to be free but are bound by what we see. Some of us claim moral conquests yet are leaders of immoral acts against humanity. We got here due to greed, injustice, and ignorance. We got here due to false promises and lack of guidance from the Source that our country and the Constitution was based. We have arrived at this dark, airless place that just wreaks havoc on us in our entirety by locking out the only One that can help in our time of need as well as our time of prosperity.

So what is this place this posts speaks of and where? The place is called nowhere and you too can get there by continuing to ignore God. Make the right decision and acknowledge Him who is able to keep you from falling.


I Can Make It