Hero, Icon, Father - Nelson Mandela

Back in high school I was fortunate enough to have a modern history teacher named Ms. Beckham who opened my eyes to apartheid in South Africa.  I will always be grateful to that white woman who was so passionate about the struggles of millions of black men, women and children.

She taught us about the sacrifice of Nelson Mandela as he fought to free native South Africans from the brutally racist apartheid regime. With tears in my eyes I typed a letter to the editor of The Plain Dealer denouncing the horrible living conditions and slave like existence of millions who were practically enslaved in their own country.  What a thrill it was for me when The Plain Dealer published my letter.  That letter inspired me to become the author I am today.

Nelson Mandela was a freedom fighter equal to none.  He gave up a life of privilege and prestige to fight the greatest battle of his life against institutional racism that forced millions to live a life of poverty and despair.  He was imprisoned for 27 terrible, long years but he never gave up hope or his dignity.

Upon his release from prison he rebuilt South Africa with love and reconciliation.  Many wanted to murder and abuse the whites and give them a taste of what it felt like to be treated as subhuman based on skin color but Mandela was determined to unite the country and not further divide it.

When he was elected President of South Africa I was elated, happy, overjoyed and downright giddy.  When he embarked on his world-wide tour I took my niece with me to Detroit to see the man who had dismantled one of the most oppressive governments in history.

Detroit was scrubbed fresh and looked polished back then.  The entire city was festive and our collaborated heartbeat was felt all over this nation.  Nelson Mandela took the stage to thunderous applause.  We couldn't keep our seats.  We danced and celebrated with our beloved brother who not only survived but thrived and inspired us all to do the same.

His words rang out as he told his story of tragedy and triumph over a system that at the time I believed would never change.  But change it did and Nelson Mandela was the catalyst that made it all possible.

So rest in peace Tata (father).  Rest with the angels.  Rest knowing that your impact on the world will never be forgotten.

I Was In Love with Paul Walker

And no, I never met him.  But the thing is I felt like I knew him.  In fact, I based my character Adonis after the cool, sexy, totally handsome essence that is Paul Walker.  He will always live on in my mind.  He is one of the finest men that I have ever seen--on screen and off.

In Love, Laughter and Lies I wanted Tia to have a meaningful fling with a blond beach boy and Paul Walker immediately came into view.  He was the epitome of my vanilla dream man.  Tall, blonde, easy-going, laid-back and wealthy.  He inspired me in ways I don't have the words to express.

It was love at first sight for me when he lit up the screen in The Fast and The Furious.  If I ever got jungle fever I wanted it to be with Paul.  I downloaded screen savers of his image.  I spent hours on the Internet looking at his photos.  I learned that he starred in Pampers commercials as a baby and that he was a teenage heart throb.

I loved the way he walked, talked and looked.  It was something about the way he moved that intrigued me.  What I wouldn't do to be able to wrap my fingers around his golden locks.  So what, if he was years younger?  That never stopped my imagination from imagining what it would be like to lie in his muscular arms.

I wondered what he smelled like.  What his favorite food was.  His favorite color or song. Did he like to watch TV?  Go to concerts? And of course, what would it be like to look into those gorgeous blue eyes?

Paul had soul.  Blue-eyed soul.  He touched my soul.  I've never been a groupie before but I would gladly have been his if I were ever anywhere he was.

Rarely have I cried when a celebrity passed.  But when my 19 year old daughter called me with the news I burst out crying.  Hoping it was in Internet prank I rushed her off the phone so that I could go to the Net for verification of the horrible news.  It was true.

I was so twisted I didn't even stop to think how my boyfriend felt watching me cry for a man I never met.  Even my 22 year old son offered his condolences to mom.

It wasn't just Paul's good looks and acting chops.  He was beloved by millions.  All that knew him said that he was a terrific guy.  In my heart I know its true.

The editors of dictionaries world-wide should have a photo of Paul Walker by their definition of classically handsome.

Rest well you beautiful soul.  You will be forever missed and forever loved.