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If you’ve been watching American Idol, you know that the singing has been off the charts. Sometimes, it feels magical, maybe even sending chills for the judges. The competition prepares the performers to take their singing chops to the next level. After the season is all done, some will go on to become mainstream artists, others might find a new lane in the music industry.
This month, with spring in full swing and graduation season about to ramp-up, we took some time to share content on how folks rise and shine in career or elsewhere with the Celebrity Row and Lead Story columns. Not to be missed is the Life & Times column with my latest book on America’s journey the past 250+ years. Visit the About page to learn more on how this portal of ‘Family Line Influencers’ came to be.
Whether in sports or life, things go through seasons. In some sports it’s almost half a year or more of preparation, education and execution on the playing field or the field of dreams. There’re are droughts or losing streaks that might come into play. But those that come out on the other side find themselves with a new level in perspective. That’s what we hope to deliver this month and beyond.
If you’d like to be among the families covered each month, then link-up by dropping your email below. Hope you’ll enjoy the stories and feel free to leave your comments. Thank You!
The Family Line Mission/Purpose Statement
“Joining hands and hearts across old-timers and next gens to make family connections feel more real, with courage to change and humility to heal.”
Celebrity Row: Here for the Culture – “A Different Shot in Another Game”
As the NBA playoffs go through the rounds, things are getting really chippy, as players complain about referee bias. Take for example the Celtics who got knocked out in the first round by the Sixers. Boston’s Jalen Brown wasn’t too happy about how the series went and sounded off about officiating. The league wasn’t having it, so they slapped him a fine. In other series matchups, the concern hasn’t let-up.
Maybe Rick Fox can remember from his days playing for the Lakers and the Celtics, how the playoff is a whole new level of competition. While he might not have been seen as a franchise player, he sure was a key role player. Well, these days he’s got his eyes on another role as he announced that he’s running for office in the Bahamas where he was raised.
He says he’s running to be a man of the people, sharing and elevating the vision of the people. He’s rallying the constituents to move with clarity, courage and integrity. He wants to level-up the Bahamas in new areas on the world stage. He declared that “We should also honor the fathers and mothers of our nation. Their legacy brought us to this moment. Our responsibility now is to move The Bahamas forward.”
While Fox was born in Canada, the Bahamas is where roots were planted and shoots were grown. As reported by CBS Sports, he migrated to the US and went to high school in Inidiana. His college career at University of North Carolina opened the door on him becoming a recognized name in sports. Now he’s taking a different shot in another game where for him, it’s gotta be more than politics.
Lead Story: “Yes, You’re Seeing Doubles, And It’s a Good Thing!”
A dream deferred isn’t necessarily denied! That might be how a mother feels about her twin son’s becoming Doctors. They are now both working together at the same NY Hospital, doing surgery and other medical procedures. This is one of those times when people find themselves seeing doubles, and it’s a good thing. Meet cardiologist Dr. Andre Cheng (in blue) and his twin, anesthesiologist Dr. Sandre Cheng.
This dream started when Andre was very sick. Their mother Claudia feared she was going to lose him and thought to herself she needed to become a doctor. She sent the boys to Hong Kong to live with their grandmother and then migrated to the US where her sights were set on becoming a pediatrician. It seemed like a longshot and long haul, where Claudia wasn’t sure she wanted to be away from her kids.
As the boys grew, they first wanted to become pilots but found a love for science. After going through college and Med School, they’re now working in their field of dreams. They often get mistaken by patients and staff as they’re identical in looks and almost carbon copies in expertise. Their personal and professional bond is like Batman and Robin, where they’re skilled in their lanes and solid together.
While mom made the sacrifice of not becoming a pediatrician, she got two for the price of one in her boys becoming doctors. It’s like the experience life teaches us where God gives us ideas where some are ours to develop, some are meant to be shared with others, and some we’ll give back to God to determine the final say on the matter. Mom Claudia might have come to that realization and acceptance as well.
Island Vibes: With Scoops of Roots & Culture from the Diaspora
The history some don’t know and others shouldn’t forget. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXgmu20DIum/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
An island chef takes his game to the ‘Next Level Chef’ Reality Show https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXxozXmtlaY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Jamaica has a sister language called…’Mekatelyu’, that’s spoken in Costa Rica. https://www.threads.com/@cdmjamaica/post/DX-eTgDjAhv?xmt=AQG0onVeTGTHFEb_OWO7OZBUAfAJzixjfZz6mfjwO1uwAA
Did You Know? Family Archive Tidbits
As the Major League Baseball season settles in, teams are already dealing with setbacks and personnel shifts. In Philly a new Head Coach is in charge and the team seems to be on a turnaround. The Chicago Cubs are on a roll with a home and away winning streak that’s a long way from their down-in-the-dump days. Those teams and fans are experiencing a new sense of enthusiasm and excitement.
But they might sure remember when they were dealing with the rocky side of Homeplate. Those were the days when home runs were few, and wins were hard to come by. That feeling might be true for baseball players when teams go through a spell, or families go through rocky seasons. Whether due to grief, setbacks, deferred dreams or other missing life ingredients, there’s a period of doubt and distrust.
One expert in the link below gives lessons about family legacy that’s worth its weight in gold. For teams to move forward, there’s usually the need for a shift in team dynamics. How that plays out depends on leadership and kinship. Similarly, there might even be a lesson there for friendship and family dynamics. At the end of the day, knowing the ‘why’ of things will point the way for how to endure anyhow.
Family Legacy Tidbits:
https://www.threads.com/@nealkshah/post/DXs4wjUDAS7?xmt=AQG0xQJSX17dZYoKlCDt_t_XZyzMawmMd-KLeujDT4t7hw
Turn Up Tips: Notes on Trusting the Process
“Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path.” – Paulo Coelho (shared by Yasmine Salami)
“Education is the single most important endeavor of the human race.” – George Lucas
Shared by James Walker on FB
Good Stuff: “Games Upon Games, Records Upon Records!”
The annual pilgrimage to the NFL Draft recently landed in the blue-collar industrial town of Pittsburgh. Fans came from far and wide to cheer on their team and see their favorite players get picked. In pro sports, Draft Day is the ultimate feeling for rising from college to the next level. The equivalent of that is Signing Day at the high school level. This year’s NFL Draft had the usual sure-picks and surprises.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell eased into the evening with an interview on ESPN where he talked about Flag Football. He believes Flag has caught on because it’s accessible, less expensive and popular among female athletes. It will even be in the 2028 LA Olympics, as it’s a fast-growing sport for men and women in the next generation, like Jasmine and Chloe (2nd pic, 2nd from left) from the “Jackson 5’ crew.
These fierce females bring their A-game to the field. Earlier in the year, Chloe’s squad became champs in their league. The Commissioner is proud of what Flag represents for players and fans, both on and off the field. Meanwhile, the league’s new recruits bring their experience of games upon games, and the NFL keeps breaking records upon records, with over 100K fans who attended the Draft in Pittsburgh.
Other Mentions: Added Touch Like Gravy
Congrats to cuz Styles, who became the Atlanta IBJJF Open Jiu-Jitsu Champion for the 4th time. Don’t try to pull a fast one on him on the mat or in life as he’s a discipled and skilled young man!
The runners were too hot to trot at the recent Penn Relays. The vibe has grown so much over the years that even non-Jamaicans are repping for Jamaican squads. They show up and show-out in their colors.
WORLD RECORD! Jamaica just became the first mixed 4x100m team to run under 40 seconds, clocking 39.99s to win the final heat at the World Athletics Relays in Botswana. Something about them yams!
Sending belated birthday greeting to cuz Gerry who turned 7? years old. She was treated to a special show with her daughter-in-law and friends as well as dining at one of Port Royal’s famous fish spots.
Here is Aunt Sheila in California at the Reagan Presidential Library. Plans were to fly there to celebrate her friend’s 90th birthday. But things changed last-minute and became a 7-hr road trip. That didn’t dampen the party though.
Belated happy Mother’s Day to those who do their best work giving, loving and believing in us. A special flashback pic of my mother whose career as a stenographer was a preview to my skillset as a communicator. While we’re on the topic of mothers, here’s a flashback pic of my wife and her BFF.
Wanna do a family project like the Smith family? Well, they got together and turned an old school bus into a mobile home. They came up with a vision and made it plain by stripping down the bus to the shell. Now they can hit the road at a lower cost than buying multiple plane tickets.https://www.threads.com/@thesmithspartyof6/post/DXnZqOeF7rB?xmt=AQG0zVccA8B9jHfzOpSzGLsuGBVFJVFRQQIDTs02-_8awQ
Ever built or climbed a tree house? Well, this man had a vision for doing just that. Now it has become a resort in upstate New York. The venue isn’t your typical vacation hideaway, but it does offer some modern amenities.
Lastly, let’s shoutout Anusca (in light blue) on her recent decision to become a Muslim. Friends and family were there for the ceremony known as The Shahada, which is the Islamic declaration of faith. It is usually accompanied by a personal reflection or prayer.
Smile Emoji
How’d you like to have one of these parked in your driveway? https://www.threads.com/@jbullyy/post/DX5Oi2oGbc-?xmt=AQG0HWsC9vgO-f7NXEbhekESSkYfDL5AwlZ4YG8bc7HFOA
Somebody is in a good groove before summer hits! https://www.threads.com/@troyamess/post/DXFPwOrkpPn?xmt=AQG0wsyXwegeBYWDxRcMubRMLpWwckcYj4dM9oYJFMIK7A
Life & Times Flava (Chill Sauce for the Grind): “Going from Impossible to Possible!”
The big wigs and power players were out in force. It was the annual trip to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby. Considered the first race in the triple crown series, some of the finest breed stallions got the chance to strut their stuff. The event is like a gala for horse race enthusiasts. Maybe the top-tier horses and jockeys get the chance to be serenaded and applauded.
In this year’s showing, something spectacular happened. The winning horse Golden Tempo pulled off a rare feat by going from last to first as the race unfolded. We’ve seen this before in sports, where Tom Brady was drafted last during his early days, but became first-rate as a six-time Superbowl champion. We’ve seen something similar recently in the NBA playoffs where teams in the hole later won the round.
What can we take away from these examples? Well at a minimum, the only way that can happen is first by having the mindset of going from impossible to possible. The jockey for Golden Tempo could easily have been written off as not having a chance at the late stage of the race. But he must have come to realize that winning was still possible. That’s a personal lesson with the release of my latest book.
In the beginning it feels like being in last place. But even before the marketing wheels got going, the belief in publishing the book grew from impossible to possible. So now, all the energy and passion that went into writing the book is shifting towards going from last to the highest possible point of returns (see links below). There’s a next level awaiting us all. We must just lock in on the goal and dig-in on the task.
Marketplace Options
Amazon Kindle eBook Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZFWPFCP
Amazon Paperback Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GZFH5TK3
Direct Buy: https://www.publicgoodsense.com (More points of sale being added)
(For a deeper dive into the issues, checkout https://SeeAmericaInColor.com).
Line Jams
Joy Rhodes – Supposed To – https://youtu.be/5_qSllmuHA4?si=koxjUBPEumkU-z_5
Michael Jackson – Human Nature – https://youtu.be/YNzuiRuQNYY?si=LaI9nNWI8-ZvrxEY
The Family Line Motto: “Open Door to Good Cheer.”
The Family Line 