Pamela Jones's Blog

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Tyneshia admired herself one last time in the full-length mirror. Her youthful, feminine assets fit snugly inside her short red dress. She blew herself a kiss. You look good, girl.

In a swift motion, she snatched her clutch off her unmade bed. ���Mama, I���m leaving,��� she yelled when she reached the front door.

Debra burst into the cramped living room. Based on Tyneshia���s attire, she had an idea about her daughter���s destination. ���Girl, where are you going?���

Twisting the chrome doorknob, Tyneshia said, ���To Club Charisma. I told you I got a big tip at work, so I’m going out with������

���And I told you that you got a sick daughter,��� Debra interrupted. Her gloved hand pointed towards her five-year-old granddaughter���s bedroom. ���Imani is throwing up. You need to stay here and take care of your sick child.��� Her voice soared as she ended, ���Forget that damn club!���

���I don���t wanna do that!��� Tyneshia stomped her foot. She whipped around to face her petite, middle-aged mother. ���I wanna go out with my friends and have fun!���

���Let me hit you with some facts, Tyneshia, okay?��� Debra laid her hand against her stiff hip. ���You���re a grown woman with a child���a sick child. You need to have your ass at home with her, not shaking it up at some club!���

���Just because you���re my mother doesn���t mean you have the right to tell me what I need and don���t need to do!��� Her eyes ballooned to drive the point home. ���Like you said, I���m grown!��� She turned and opened the door.

Debra clasped her hands and stepped closer to her daughter. ���Don���t leave Imani, please. Don���t treat her like a doll you���ve outgrown. She’s your daughter. She needs you!���

���You���re here! You can take care of her.���

���Why should I?��� Debra���s hands fell at her sides. ���I didn���t supply the bed or the sperm to make her!���

Tyneshia slammed the door and spun around. She met Debra���s hard stare with her own razor-sharp glare and blasted out, ���You should do it because you���re her grandmother!��� She pointed at Debra and reminded her, ���Grandmama helped you with me, remember?���

Debra froze. Yes, her late mother had babysat Tyneshia many times. The reason, however, differed. She wasn���t clubbing. Instead, she worked long hours to earn a living for them.

Before Debra spoke, Tyneshia blasted another reminder at her. ���You persuaded me to have her���that it would be wrong to do the opposite, remember?���

���Go on, girl!��� Debra waved her only child away. She couldn���t take any more reminders. She felt her chest cave in as Tyneshia swung around, flipped her boxed braids, and laughed.

The door shut. Debra stared at the vacant space. She left without a word of gratitude. She didn���t even voice concern about Imani.

Tyneshia hopped in her Nissan Rogue and drove off. Club Charisma, here I come.

Debra slumped her shoulders. Fatigue weighed her down too much to nurse anyone. She had worked overtime all week. Regardless, Imani needed motherly care.

She won’t get it from her mama. This wasn���t the first time her daughter had abandoned Imani. Nor would it be the last. Lord, let me live long enough to see my grandbaby get grown. She���ll definitely need me. On that note, she straightened her back and headed to Imani’s bedroom.

While she was in Imani���s bedroom, she heard the front door shutting. What��� Tyneshia? She rushed towards the living room. She blinked at Tyneshia���something she���d never done before.

Tyneshia kept her tearful eyes low. She had never believed her life decisions were wrong. However, as she drove to Club Charisma, a new reality struck her. It���s time to kill your ego and give your life to your daughter.

She looked up. ���My daughter needs me,��� she said, her tone softer than earlier. She swallowed hard. ���And I need you, Mama, to������

���I���m here to help, baby,��� Debra interrupted with a warm smile. ���I���m here to help both of you.��� She opened her arms for Tyneshia���s entrance.

Tyneshia dropped her purse and ran into her mother���s arms. ���You���re right, Mama,��� she admitted. ���It���s time for me to be a mother to my baby.���

Debra pulled back and wiped Tyneshia���s wet face. ���Come on, lil��� Mama,��� she said, with a gracious smile. ���Let���s go take care of our baby.���

Stepping sideways, Tyneshia snapped, ���What? You expect me to clean up vomit?��� She wagged her forefinger while shaking her head. ���No way, Mama. I look too good for that!��� She cracked a smile. The two mothers laughed and then walked arm in arm to Imani���s bedroom, marking a new beginning in motherhood.

�� 2025 by Pamela Jones.

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���I���m Dr. Myron Green, Ms. Ellis��� fianc��.��� He slammed his fist into his hand. ���Your professionalism is a disgrace to my fianc��e and the medical community! Enough already, just let someone else help us. This is our medical right.��� Again, he leaned on the counter. He confronted her dull-skinned, worn-out face with a hidden warning. ���We also have a right to file a complaint with the Georgia Medical Board for unprofessional conduct!���

-Dr. Myron Greene,  ���Choice of a Lifetime��� by Pamela Jones

Unless you���re having a baby, a hospital visit is often an unexpected event. In most cases, it���s a situation involving sickness. And nine out of ten times, it���s a severe illness.

Let���s face facts: the rising cost of medical healthcare is staggering. That alone is a significant challenge. You don���t want to grapple with additional issues, such as dealing with incompetent medical staff.

In fairness, medical staff are facing higher levels of stress now more than ever. Some of the stress factors they face include understaffing and employee burnout.

Regardless of the challenges medical staff face, patients deserve to be treated with dignity and respect!

You want to trust the medical staff that will be overseeing your health needs. But if they���re rude towards you before or during medical treatment, can you trust them? Chances are, no. You won���t even be comfortable with them!

Fortunately, patients have medical rights.

State-Level Patient Medical Rights

It���s important to know that while federal laws protect patients��� medical rights nationwide, those same rights differ on a state level. Some variations are:

The statute of limitations for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, and the amount of compensation awardedPatient privacy and consentWhether hospitals or creditors have a legal right to place a lien or foreclosure on a patient���s property to collect unpaid medical debtRegulations about minors having the ability to consent to healthcare and keeping that information private.

Here are some suggestions to find more specific information about medical rights state by state:

State Health DepartmentState Insurance RegulatorState Attorney General���s OfficeAdvocate groups such as PatientRightsAdvocate.orgHospital handbook. They may also have a ���Patient Bill of Rights��� available on their website.

You have a choice about your healthcare, and you choose to be treated with respect. Don���t demand any less! Know your medical rights.

The post Know Your State Level Medical Rights appeared first on Pamela Jones.

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I’m happy for anyone living a glorious life. But the life I live is nowhere near glorious. 

See, I don’t live a trendy life in Beverly Hills. I can’t jet set to a land like Brazil.  And I certainly don’t have billion-dollar designer brands in my closet or drawers. No, I can’t afford any of that rich folks’ stuff. And I’m fine with that reality.

Actually, I’m happy to be part of middle-class America. I have no problem settling into a comfortable standard of living. A livable salary that can afford me a house, transportation, a savings account, and a few extra perks here and there is all good by me. I have this life.

But day by day, it’s slipping away.

So, why is my comfortable middle-class life losing its comfort? I’ll tell you exactly why: money, money, and yes, more money.

Everybody wants more money: utilities, grocery stores, mortgage lenders – you name it. List a creditor, and I guarantee you, they want more money.

The underlying problem with this issue is simple: my money’s not increasing. And because of that, my life ain’t easy.

Make no mistake: I work hard for a living. I work eight hours, six days a week. Yet, my financial wants and needs for sustaining a decent life exceed my available funds. On top of that, my once “generous” job isn’t friendly anymore with bonuses and raises.

A new job is no longer the answer like it used to be. With this economy speeding towards a recession, I wouldn’t even burden myself looking for another job that’s possibly in the same boat as my current one.

At this point in life, I feel like I have more lows than highs!

You know, my Mama insisted I make a good life for myself. “Don’t mess up your life like I did mine,” she often said. “Do better than me. Stay in school. Education is the foundation of success.”

So I stayed in school. I graduated from high school with a 3.0 GPA. I graduated from college Magna cum laude. I even landed a successful career afterwards.

But now, all of that seems about as helpful as two pennies.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against education. I’m all for it. My mother’s advice was correct. However, the reality is that in today’s world, the landscape of life has changed significantly.

See, Mama didn’t see the future. She didn’t know that someday, you could have a degree, live in a nice suburb, and still struggle. She didn’t know that a time would come when, despite working diligently and gaining respect behind your name, it would eventually become ineffective.

She didn’t know that someday middle-class America would be under attack by insurmountable debt, a raggedy job market, and a rising cost of living as high as a tidal wave. She didn’t realize that all these issues would ultimately lead to poverty.

That’s why I’m here to tell you that in today’s world, this ain’t no easy life!

To be honest with you, I wanna scream! Sometimes I feel like I can’t even dream of a better life anymore, much less achieve it!

Life has beaten me down to the ground, and I can’t get up! Oh, sometimes I wish I could flee from this life!

And that’s when I drop to my knees and talk to my Heavenly God.

He needs no introduction to my pain. He needs no explanation for why I struggle to stay sane.

Unlike people, who partially listen, God hears every word I speak in the midst of my tears. And, unlike people, who offer cut-throat criticism, God tells me in a still voice, “Everything will be alright. Do my will and just be still. Everything will be alright.”

And I follow his word. I find my comfort and strength in Him. Sure, I have my moments of doubt and fear. I’m human. I’m bound to fall to weakness. We all do. After all, life ain’t easy for a lot of us nowadays. I’m not alone in this turbulent walk by a long shot.

But I get through the darkness knowing that my heavenly father’s light will shine upon my dark life. My time will come. I tell myself, Markina, get up and stand strong! There IS light at the end of the dark tunnel, and it awaits my arrival.

�� 2025 by Pamela Jones

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The desk nurse disregarded Sabrina’s introduction. She instead concentrated on Sabrina’s black, sleeveless, body-hugging dress. Sabrina’s sparkling ring also caught her eyes as much as Myron’s presence. Lucky bitch, she thought with a throaty groan. The sight of a fashionable woman always ignited hell within her.

-Desk nurse, “Choice of a Lifetime” by Pamela Jones

This is the literary voice of the desk nurse.

You can call me bitter, hateful – I don’t give a damn! I feel what I feel and have no remorse over how I think. And what I feel is this: I can’t stand no pretty ass woman! When I see a “Little Miss Pretty Ass,” I’m ready to throw hands.

That’s exactly what I wanted to do to one who visited my job recently.

I work as a desk nurse in the ER at Williams Memorial Hospital. I work hard, too—a twelve-hour shift. I have to! My husband refuses to work—he claims society has taken enough out of him. I also have five kids to feed, clothe, and house. And every bill that comes into my household bears my name.

My face is weary from all the daily stress I carry. My husband told me, “You look like life kicked you in the face.” No, it’s kicking me in the ass – every day!

And that brings me back to that Little Miss Pretty Ass woman. I was having my usual day when she approached my desk. I can’t lie; she’s well-groomed. Stylish clothes, flashy jewelry, well-laid hair – she looks good.

And I hate her for it, especially since I look like a haggard witch with frizzy hair. I can’t stand her! Why does this bitch get a good life, and people like me get crumbs in life? I work my ass off while she probably sits on hers – it’s not fair!

I bet my whole paycheck, which I really need, that Heifer took one look at me and thought she was better. I’ll go as far as to say she thought she was too good to be at my hospital. See, our patients are low-income.  And that Heifer ain’t low-income in any way, shape, or form! She was just there because somebody she knew was there. Otherwise, she wouldn’t step her toe in Williams.

I know I don’t know her from one stranger to the next. But trust me, she’s a snooty bitch. I just feel it in my bones!

And I have issues with her fiancé, too. I wanted to slap his tall ass down for threatening my job over their medical rights. How dare he talk shit in my face – with his fish-smelling breath – about being a professional disgrace to his fiancé and the medical community.

To hell with you both! I wanted to cross the boundary of professionalism and slap the spit in their mouths!

I have to admit, though, that I wish my husband supported me like her man does her. I could tell right off that he had her back. My man won’t even sell candy bars to help me financially! I can’t trust him to take out the trash—he’ll agree to it and then go to bed for the rest of the day to avoid doing it.

And that’s why I had to back down, fake a smile,  and do my job. It killed me inside to do that, but like I said, I got five kids to feed, clothe, and house. I have a husband who won’t work for societal reasons. And every bill that comes to my address bears my responsibility!

I get tired of thinking about bills, money, and responsibility – good grief! For once, I would love the opportunity to just focus on myself. I’d love to go on vacation, but goddamnit, I stay broke all the damn time! I can’t even afford a cheap vacation to Alabama!

I bet Little Miss Pretty Ass goes on vacations. All the damn time to exotic places! That pisses me off. I want women like her to suffer like me. Feel my pain; live my stress.

If she did, I guarantee she wouldn’t look down on me anymore. Hell, she wouldn’t even survive it!

Why can’t I be happy? Why do I have to be miserable all the time? That’s a big mystery to me. I’ve been told to believe that happiness will swing my way someday. That’s an ongoing lie!

I bet Little Miss Pretty Ass is happy. It irks me to contemplate that beyond her emergency, she’s happy.

I hate that damn woman …Little Miss Pretty Ass!

© 2025 by Pamela Jones

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Buy “Choice of a Lifetime” at: authorpamelajones.com

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Source: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O25821/daffodils-and-a-red-admiral-watercolour-le-moyne-de/

This is the literary voice of Sabrina Ellis, the main character of  “A Choice of a Lifetime.”

I have something that I want to share with the universe. My heart demands I declare it like a news bulletin. So, here it is: I’m in love!

I know many women make this proclamation when they get a new man. Some skeptics might roll their eyes and dismiss me as acting like a melodramatic teen. Well, I’m thirty-two years old. So, I’m quite a few years removed from adolescence! Furthermore, I possess the emotional maturity to recognize true love.

I’m just simply in love! Cupid struck his arrow in me and made me fall in love. And with Mr. Right at that.

That’s right, ladies. Fate brought Mr. Right to my door. He embodies every quality I desire in a soulmate. He’s the type of partner women dream about on lonely nights.

And let’s be honest, ladies: What woman hasn’t lain in bed at night and dreamed of having a good man at her side? What woman doesn’t want a lover who’ll shower her with passionate kisses and never-ending love? I dreamed of having a deep, meaningful relationship for years, and now it has become a beautiful reality.

Let me tell you a little bit about my dream guy. His name is Dr. Myron Green. He’s forty-five years old. He’s a successful ophthalmologist. He’s a homeowner with good credit. He’s divorced with no kids. And he’s sexy enough to make People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” list. Good catch, eh? I certainly think so; in fact, he’s my greatest blessing since moving to Atlanta.

What really makes Myron Mr. Right is that he respects me as a woman. He understands that as a woman, I have self-worth that is not to be devalued by his masculinity. I won’t stand for it! He hears my voice and respects its worthiness.

Plus, he publicly acknowledges me as his lady with his gentlemanly gestures. He opens the door for me every time we approach it. He holds my hand. And he gives me tender kisses without giving a damn to who’s looking. His eyes are expressive in love when he says, “I love you, Sabrina, baby.”

I feel cherished and valued  — whether he’s loving me in or out of bed, which by the way, he does very well. Everything by Dr. Myron Green is done in love, baby. I’m in good hands.

Ladies, I ain’t gonna lie. Myron is an exceptional gem. I haven’t always had this kind of relationship, though.

I’ve had my share of jack-shit relationships. You know, the usual type: substance addicts, possessive, verbal abusers, mama’s boys. I got tired of men with criminal records as long as their arms. I was sick of the guys who specifically stopped by late at night for booty visits and left before sunrise.

I just got tired of having these companionship options as my so-called lovers!

My last boyfriend was the worst, though. He did the ultimate betrayal. The disrespect made me swear off relationships … the low-down bastard and that hoe of a friend! I wanted to burn their asses up, but they weren’t worth my freedom. Instead, I decided to bail out on love and be alone.

And then came Myron. My sweet, darling Myron. He changed my heart���better yet, he won it. He made me fall in love. I willingly released all the toxic energy within my soul from those crazy exes to let this good man in.                                                                

Myron understands heartache, too. His shattered marriage has made him skeptical of love. Fortunately, our loving union has transformed our beliefs about love’s existence. This and our difficult childhoods deepen our bond as a couple.

There’s something else about Myron worth mentioning. He never hesitates to open his wallet and spend his money on me. Whether it’s fine dining or expensive jewelry, he buys it for me. His platinum credit card is a magic wand granting me whatever I wish.

My man is also financially generous whenever I face money challenges. For example, if I’m having car trouble, Myron has me covered like an insurance policy. He just opens his wallet, and boom! It’s paid in full.

He does all this out of love for me.

While I appreciate all this, especially having had a rough, impoverished childhood, that’s not why I love Myron. He’s just a good man. He makes me feel dear to his heart.

As we progress, I’m confident we’ll define our relationship into a more definite status, like marriage. I would love to be Mrs. Myron Green! It would be a dream come true, not because of the financial gain but because I love this man with all my heart. 

I would love an outdoor wedding in spring or fall, as long as it’s not summer.  Anyone from Atlanta knows the summers here are filled with bugs and heat!

Regardless of what season we marry, there’s one thing for sure: I will have a husband I can depend on. Every single word in those wedding vows will be taken to heart by him. He proves that now. I see no red flags that he’d be different otherwise.

If you’re wondering whether we want children, the answer is no. We just want to love each other. A childless couple can be just as happy as parents – maybe happier!

To bring it all home, our love is as beautiful as colorful butterflies dancing in the air, like sweet-scented daffodils swaying in the breeze. Just as butterflies and daffodils are God’s visual gifts to us, Myron and I’s love is our God-sent gift, too – to each other.

My darling Myron and I are united in our hearts and souls. I love my man, honey, just as he loves me. We’re the real deal at this beautiful thing called  love. 

�� 2025 by Pamela Jones

Buy “Choice of a Lifetime” at: authorpamelajones.com

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The southern summer heat baked her bare skin. “Damn,” she mumbled. Mosquitoes binged on her arms as she waited.

-Sabrina, “Choice of a Lifetime”

I truly despise Summer. It’s the one season that’s been on my blacklist forever. As the world gets hotter, it’s sure to have a permanent listing. In my opinion, it’s an unbearable season, and here’s why:

Sweltering temperatures that linger throughout the day and into the night. And if you’re going through menopause, the fierce heat worsens it.Insects that seem to be increasing in population (it’s like they’re seeking world dominance!)Snakes – yes! – snakes. Copperheads are becoming increasingly noticeable in various areas of Georgia, including the citySevere thunderstorms have become more frequent. Growing up, Georgia mostly had light rain. Heavy precipitation was rare. Now, it’s severe to the point that trees are falling on houses! It’s advisable to stay clear of lightning or else risk being reported on the news – because you got struck!

To worsen it, this collection of misery lasts longer than the official calendar end date of Summer. It can be October, even November, and we’re still dealing with these issues!

Despite all this, life goes on. Hot weather doesn’t stop the world from spinning. It certainly doesn’t stop the bills from coming in – it just makes the electric bill bigger!

So, what do you do? Just stay hydrated, keep the air conditioning on, and move forward.

I just have one final thing to say about summer, though: please hurry up, Winter!

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The desk nurse disregarded Sabrina’s introduction. She instead concentrated on Sabrina’s black, sleeveless, body-hugging dress. Sabrina’s sparkling ring also caught her eyes as much as Myron’s presence. Lucky bitch, she thought with a throaty groan. The sight of a fashionable woman always ignited hell within her. 

-Desk nurse, “Choice of a Lifetime” by Pamela Jones

Jealousy is a poisonous emotion. It’s as old as the Earth itself. Sadly, its existence will likely continue after our human existence ends. After all, every day, the world becomes shorter on love and wider with jealous hearts.

There are countless reasons behind jealousy. Here are some of the most common reasons:

A person possesses gorgeous facial featuresAn individual has a high level of confidenceA person enjoys an active social lifeA colleague’s career is thriving A person is involved in a loving, intimate relationshipSomeone sees a painful reminder of something lost

The Green-Eyed Monster Knows No Boundaries

A jealous-hearted person is more than just a co-worker, neighbor, or two-faced friend. Oftentimes, it’s a relative. Sadly, it’s particularly common among siblings.

Please note that men can be jealous, too. Society tends to think women are more prone to jealousy than men. Think again, society!

And there are no boundaries in actions either. A jealous individual is likely to partake in the following destructive actions:

GossipSabotaging relationships that are valuable to the victimPhysical violenceCyberstalking

Regardless of gender, relationship, or action, jealousy develops from insecurities and low self-esteem. Emotional pain can also be a driving force. In short, jealousy has a pathway to rearing its head!

Jealousy Is Neither Necessary nor Good

Let’s be honest, shall we? The grass always looks greener on the other side. And you’ve got to mow that side too!

I state this adage for this reason:

It’s always a bad choice to believe someone’s life is perfect. Nobody lives a perfect life. We all have problems. You don’t get through life without having problems. So, why be jealous of something nonexistent, i.e., a perfect life?

From a spiritual perspective, jealousy steals peace from your soul. It’s a dark energy that blocks you from any chance of happiness. Because your focus is on other people’s happiness, you don’t recognize your own. Envy limits your belief that you can be just as happy or happier.

Don’t let your mindset take you down to a level that blocks your blessings. Move upwards! But how do you do this?

How to Overcome Jealousy

The first step in moving upwards is acknowledging when jealousy invades your heart. Clear your heart and mind of this toxicity. Removing spitefulness is a significant step towards ending something that worsens with time.

Next, be happy for others whenever they’re blessed. You can do this because your blessing is coming, too. Remember: if God blessed that person, he’ll bless you, too. So, hold on!

As you hear and see others be blessed, resist envy. Let it go. And by all means, don’t compare your blessing to someone else’s. This behavior is a definite gateway to jealousy.

Additionally, take action to achieve the goals you want to accomplish. Believe that your goal is achievable. And move forward to attain it.

Here are some additional suggestions to overcome jealousy:

Focus on your strengthsPractice self-loveBuild your confidenceIdentify the triggering points to jealousy and work to suppress those triggersRecognize your accomplishmentsIf necessary, seek professional help

Just one more thing.

Forgive yourself if you’re ever tempted or become jealous. We’re human. Having this guilt is just another way to pollute yourself with dark energy. By all means, don’t block your blessing!

How to Deal with a Jealous Person

Now, what if you’re not jealous but instead dealing with someone who is?

I want to offer this special piece of advice:  continue being yourself. Keep your confidence and happiness. It’s not your responsibility to give up either one so that jealous people can feel better. If you do, then you’ll be miserable.

If the jealous-hearted person exhibits danger, you should avoid contact and take any necessary legal steps for your safety.

Don’t give energy to their jealous behavior, such as sly comments. Such dismissiveness could encourage them to engage in additional misconduct. Embrace your confidence. Stand in your power!

If you and the jealous individual share a personal relationship, consider having an honest conversation. Mention how you’re concerned about their resentful behavior towards you. Approach them in a supportive manner, not confrontational. You might learn what their issue is and possibly help them.

Don’t compare yourself to others. Comparison can be a triggering action! We all have strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, there’s no need to elaborate on your strengths. It appears like you’re bragging.

Conclusion

Life is too short to spend it jealous-hearted. Everyone deserves happiness. However, because jealousy robs you of this opportunity,  do yourself a favor:

Have a compassionate heart toward people. Be happy for others while pursuing your ambitions. In the end, you’ll garner your blessings.

I’m not making myself miserable by sitting around and focusing on someone else’s happiness. I wish them well while seeking my joy. They deserve their happiness, and I deserve mine!

If, for some reason, a person becomes envious of me, hopefully, they’ll realize nobody’s perfect, including myself. We’re all just trying our best to get through life. So, there’s no need to torture your mind with jealousy.

The post Jealousy Garners No Blessings appeared first on Pamela Jones.

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Sabrina laid the dirty cloth napkin on her gold-trimmed plate. “Myron darling,” she said, with a slow smile, “that pecan pie was so good! It made my grandmother’s taste amateurish. And the filet mignon …” She smack-kissed and expanded her fingers. “The flavor made my mouth dance!”

-Sabrina, “Choice of a Lifetime” by Pamela Jones

I love pecan pie. It’s always a third choice of dessert for me behind ice cream and cake. I prefer to eat this heavenly treat warm. Sometimes, I put a shot of whipped cream on it. I usually just eat it without creative toppings—it’s good enough! Honestly, who can resist its caramelized filling and crunchy, toasted pecans? It’s an irresistible dessert—even for dieters!

As scrumptious as this dessert is, pie lovers must eat it cautiously. It’s advisable not to eat pecan pie on an empty stomach, as its high sugar content can cause digestive issues. A blood spike can also occur. This, in turn, leads to crashes, fatigue, and irritability. Oh, such drastic occurrences from a sweet treat!

I should’ve taken this advice some years ago. I didn’t want much for dinner—just dessert, mostly. So I ate some pecan pie with just a piece of chicken. This wasn’t pleasing to my digestive system. No food is worth a stomach ache—not even pecan pie. I learned from this lesson, and I eat a meal first. I definitely want to avoid another stomach ache and drastic blood sugar spikes.

Amid my love for pecan pie, I discovered it’s popular throughout the South. In fact, its roots are believed to originate in New Orleans, courtesy of the French settlers. To its west, in 2013, Texas’s legislature officially designated pecan pie as the “State Pie of Texas.” Make no mistake, though, it’s appreciated throughout the country. Who wouldn’t enjoy a slice on a chilly, wintry day after a good meal? I could be from New York and still enjoy a savory slice of it (or two)!

However, like all good things, you have to beware of something. In pecan pie’s case, it’s not only blood spikes and digestive issues. It’s calories, too. One slice of pecan pie contains over 500 calories. The precise calorie count depends on the ingredients used, and the sliced pie’s size also impacts its calorie count. So, it’s recommended that pie lovers eat smaller portions.

I’ll be honest. Pecan pie is tempting for a second slice, especially a homemade one. Yes, homemade pecan pie … I’ve yet to make one. I don’t have the time these days, so I still eat store-bought pecan pies.

Nonetheless, before I leave this planet, I will bake one!

Some people have time for home baking. That’s good. After all, nothing beats homemade. So, if you love to bake, here are some videos of pecan pies:

German Chocolate Pecan Pie

Dark Chocolate Brownie Pecan Pie

Pecan Cheesecake Pie

Pecan Pie Coffee Cake

Pecan Pie Cheesecake

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Pecan Pie Bars

If you’re contemplating a dessert idea, consider this classic sweet treat. It’s a perfect finale to any meal and never a choice to regret.

Enjoy pecan pie lovers!

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A young, struggling single mother faces a significant challenge: her child is hungry. What will she do to feed her child?

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He sped off like an ambulance headed to an emergency. Within minutes of his highway entrance, traffic halted. He surveyed the dozens of vehicles ahead of them. “Damn … this Atlanta traffic!”

-Myron, “Choice of a Lifetime” by Pamela Jones 

Ask me one thing I hate to do in Atlanta. I’ll tell you quickly, “I hate to drive.” I’ll further tell you I only drive out of necessity, not pleasure. If you are curious why I loathe driving, I’ll say, “It’s the traffic.” There are a variety of reasons behind this answer, though. Some of it even goes beyond traffic congestion.

Allow me to explain Atlanta’s traffic, particularly for those who don’t live here. You’ll probably bob your heads in agreement for readers who live here. It is, after all, a shared frustration that unites us while navigating these congested metro Atlanta streets.

First, I’m grateful to have a driver’s license and vehicle. Without these essentials, the transport alternatives are ride-sharing and public transportation. In the long run, these two transport modes are expensive or unreliable. For these reasons, a license and a private vehicle are the best choice. The trade-off, however, means dealing with Atlanta’s traffic congestion, which only worsens by the hour.

Traffic is horrendous in other cities. However, I’m making a point with Atlanta because I reside here. You might be unfortunate to experience similar traffic in your city or town. If you don’t, then by all means, consider yourself lucky!

Traffic in Atlanta: Hell Yeah, It’s Bad!

The following reasons are precisely what make the traffic in Atlanta torturous:

As Atlanta grew in population, so did its traffic. People realized that living here meant needing wheels to get around town. As a result, Atlanta now has morning and evening rush hours.

The morning rush hour is from 7:00 to 9:00 A.M. People en route to work, school, appointments, etc., contribute to this heaviness. Evening rush hour is also rough. Its peak time is 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., when People are headed home from sporting events, dinner, etc. There is heavy traffic late at night as well. So, no matter the time, the current traffic conditions in metro Atlanta will be bad.

People self-create driving rules by not signaling, braking nonstop, and speeding, particularly in heavy rain. They act like they’re auditioning for the next “Fast & Furious.” These actions baffle me. I scratch my head because most metro Atlanta drivers have nice vehicles. I’m sure they have hefty vehicle payments, too (I nearly fell on the floor when my sister told me her new vehicle’s payment was over $600 five years ago). So, considering drivers pay sky-high prices for vehicles, why would they be risky drivers? Even if your car is paid off, who wants to go into debt for another vehicle because of reckless behavior – especially now?

These risky drivers often create an Atlanta traffic jam via an accident. Don’t believe me? Turn on the local news. You’ll hear, “Breaking news: I-75 (or I-20, I-85, or I-285) has shut down due to an accident.” And now traffic will be backed up for miles, sometimes hours.

Construction zones also create bad Atlanta traffic. Be bad if you want to, and speed through it! If you do, you’ll get fined as much as $2,000. This incident is considered a high-level misdemeanor. So don’t act like a fool!

Sadly, countless people face mental health issues. In Georgia, if you’re 21 or older, carrying a weapon in your vehicle with or without a permit is legal. Put these factors together with driving, and you have drivers committing road rage.

On the other hand, some road rage incidents are committed by lowlifes. Remember when drivers used to wave their fists, flip their middle finger, or curse at you for cutting them off? Those mild-tempered days are gone. Times have worsened.

I’ll never forget the time I witnessed a young man stick his head out the window and yell at a nearby driver, “Hey, I’ll *f* you up!” The innocent driver, who looked older, obviously didn’t hear the threat. He instead looked ahead as the lowlife threatened him again. Fortunately, the light changed without any incident. This was twenty years ago. These days, such a dangerous person wouldn’t just make this threat; he’d carry it out!

These same lowlifes sometimes decide they want to be mischievous and engage in a joyride. Thus begins a speed chase. And let’s not forget the heavy drinkers who suddenly want to drive. That creates a DUI. Both of these selfish, reckless incidents create traffic jams. Too many times, it leads to something worse: death.

And I mustn’t forget driving scams. You have to be careful of these situations. I once had a driver – a senior citizen! – claimed I hit him and caused him back pain. He even got an attorney. Fortunately, the insurance company could see through his scam and didn’t pay him.

Given all the above situations, you’re blessed to reach your destination safely. You might, however, feel as exhausted as having worked a grueling eight-hour workday!

Atlanta Traffic: Yesteryear and Now

I haven’t always felt this way about driving. In my younger years, I loved to drive. It was a pleasure and the perfect way to clear my mind.

Back in the 1970s and 1980s, Atlanta families took Sunday afternoon drives. It was a pleasant, inexpensive way to ease boredom and explore the city. Best of all, it provided an excellent opportunity to share some family time. I enjoyed many rides like this with my family.

These golden days are gone. The pleasure of driving is gone. In its place are traffic jams—a traffic crisis.

However, I don’t want to end on a despairing note. We can’t. We must face Atlanta’s traffic today for what it is: reality. That’s right. As much as I hate Atlanta’s traffic, it’s here to stay.

And we have to keep driving in it. We all have places to go: appointments, work, school, church, etc. Life continues, and heavy traffic is just a part of it now.

How to Deal with Atlanta’s Traffic: Strategies for Coping

Since you can’t avoid Atlanta’s bad traffic, here’s a tip to navigate driving in it:

Use a traffic app such as 511 Georgia, Waze, or WSB Triple Team Traffic. These applications provide up-to-date information on accidents, road construction, and real-time traffic.

Some residents park their vehicles and take public transportation. Please note, however, that its operational hours and geography are limited. This limitation is the main reason most Atlantans drive their vehicles.

So, how do I deal with Atlanta’s nightmarish traffic? I pray for a safe journey before leaving home. Some people prefer to meditate. It’s your preference what you do. It helps, however, to engage in some spiritual practice before driving these congested Atlanta streets.

Hopefully, traffic in Atlanta will improve someday. It would be miraculous to see drivers responsible and compassionate towards one another. It would be great if driving were no longer dreadful but pleasurable again, and you could reach your destination in less than an hour rather than one or two hours later. Let’s all hope that these days will eventually become normal in Atlanta.

Keep the hope, Atlanta!

The post The Big Nightmare: Atlanta’s Traffic appeared first on Pamela Jones.