Keep Walking

Mr. Perry wrote another letter to his fans again. Writing about his movie "Madea Goes to Jail" which was released last Friday, and his new show.


He always thanks his fans, and tell us of any upcoming movies or shows. That is so gracious and it shows what a humbling and grateful spirit that he does have.


Last week on 'The View', Tyler Perry told the story of how one woman approached him on the street shortly after he had opened his studio in Atlanta, GA. This came as no shock to him, as he is used to people approaching him on the street and asking for change. This woman however didn't want any change, she just requested a pair of shoes.


Mr. Perry goes on to say that he was a little shocked at the request, but he remembered the times that he was on the streets with only one pair of shoes. So he took her to the studio and gave her a pair of shoes. The lady graciously thanked Mr. Perry and said:


"Thank you Jesus, my feet are now off the ground."


The reason Tyler related this story was because he was feeling that same way about his success that he has achieved thus so far. He was knocked down, abused, homeless, and then God got his feet off the ground and gave him some shoes to fill and walk on the road less traveled. A road to recovery that millions of us are trying to reach but stumble upon and lose our way. Some of us have family to pick us up and give us a good swift kick in the glutes to keep walking. Others have the will and tenacity to keep going all on our own. That gumption to keep walking takes a lot of strength and willpower, whatever your circumstance.


I would like now to take the opportunity to share this letter with you all:


Number one again! WOW! I’m too full to write. All I can say is THANK YOU! I couldn’t let this day go by without saying thank you. What I know for sure is that you all are with me, and that makes me feel good. When I think about how close I came to giving up, that makes me feel good. When I think about all the hell I went through to get here, that makes me feel good. When I think about all the people who told me I wasn’t going to be anything, that makes me feel good. To know that you all are standing shoulder to shoulder with me--God, that makes me feel good. There is a simple scripture in the Bible that I think about often, and it says when you have favor with God then you have favor with man. So thank you for being a part of my favor. I hope somebody is paying attention to this. Not the number one movie, not the TV shows, not the studio, but simply paying attention to the fact that all things are possible to them that will believe. No matter what is going on in your life. No matter what you’re faced with. ONLY BELIEVE! Believe for the best outcome and that’s what you will receive. Tyler Perry


I am grateful to have been given my shoes from my Grandmother. She is my inspiration to keep walking.

How about you? Anyone you want to thank for getting you up and walking?

I've Been Dreaming

I usually don’t dream but last night I did. If I do dream it is because I’ve slept too much or I tossed and turned all night. I’m hoping it’s the former and not the latter or I’m going to be more tired then a drunken monkey.

I dreamt about Madea. For those of you who don’t know Madea, she is the creation of Tyler Perry who has the shows on TBS called ‘House of Payne’ and ‘Meet the Browns’. He has also made quite a few movies like ‘Diary of a Mad Black Woman’ starring Shemar Moore and Kimberly Elise; and the ‘Family That Preys’ with Alfre Woodard and Kathy Bates.

I love the character Madea. She is loud, boisterous, funny, and downright lovable. It’s a plus that ‘she’ is played by a ‘he’, but that’s okay. I’m no hater. I love people of all shapes, sizes, color, height, breed, and whatever you have between you legs; makes me no never mind. The only person that I tease about their height is my SIL who I’ve told to write a letter of complaint to the town mayor for building the sidewalk too close to her ass. It’s all in fun.

Now I realize that Mr. Tyler has been receiving some criticism from people for wearing the dress and portraying a woman. But hell, he is a success and people worldwide love his Madea! She’s the grandma everyone needs or wants. However my Grandmother is never as boisterous as Madea, but she gets her point across just fine. Plus, I love a man who is comfortable wearing a dress and not afraid to laugh at himself in public. Now back to my dream.

Well, me the hubby and my son were outside this woman’s house just sweep her yard. The yard was full of leaves and we were using brooms. WTF? But it’s a dream. Let me continue. So we finish sweeping and piling the leaves in piles, but we don’t put them into any bags.

I began to help the hubs without even knowing why or what we were doing there at some random stranger’s house. He knew though and insisted that I help. So that’s what I was doing when he said that we should stop and go to the old lady and tell her we were done. Done? “I thought we were to put them in bags?” I shouted at him. Strange, even in my dream I still show my irritation to the hubby.

Anyskittle, we go up these horrendous flights of stairs that go on forever. I mean it was like the sky was the limit. As we climbed up the stairs we stopped and looked at a kite that was aimlessly flying in the wind. No kid holding it on the other end, just floating in the sky without a thought or care. We continued our trek. We come to the ladies door and I knock.

I hear this shrill “Who is it?” I back away. The hubby then opens the door a smidgen and shouts in the crack “It’s me!”

“Who the hell is ‘ME’?” she says. The hubby stands back and looks at me. He has a slight grin on his face but proceeds to say “Umm, we were out sweeping your leaves.”

“Oh is that you? Come on in. Why didn’t you say so?” Madea then opens the door big as life. She has on a turquoise dress with little white flowers. I just stare at her as she is standing there smiling. I don’t move. The hubby and son go in and look back at me like I’ve lost my head.

"Your, your, your Madea!" I stutter.

“Yeah, won’t you come on in? I’ve just made some food for you’ll to eat. Ya hungry?”

I finally nod my head and walk inside. Her house has lots of trinkets and lots of little statues around. Comfy in a sort of maternal kind of way.

“Have a seat.” She leads us to her dining room and we sit down. She brings out all this food like a rotisserie chicken, sweet yams, collard greens, corn on the cob, biscuits, and dinner mints. Can you tell that I went to bed hungry?

Anyskittle, we laugh and Madea told more jokes than I ever heard. The details are kind of fuzzy because this is the time when the hubby began to shift around the bed and blow his fog horn in my ear. Let’s just say if you do decide to visit Madea, I’m quite sure she’ll be a gracious host. Just invite me to come along.

Or better yet, meet me at the theater when you go to see ‘Madea Goes to Jail’. It’s this Friday. Let’s make it a date!

Experiences in Life Know No Color

I am a big Tyler Perry fan. He has a wide audience around the world and I have also signed up for his daily emails. It’s always a pleasure to hear what is going on with him and I feel so honored to receive his letters when he wants his fans to know what is going on and coming up.

Of course, there is always going to be controversy surrounding successful people who have made a name for themselves and has virtually sprung up from nowhere. But I rarely pay any attention to rumors and don’t hold public gab fests, just private ones.

Anyskittle, I just wanted to share this recent email from Mr. Perry with you all. Enjoy!

Hey there,

Okay, I wanted you to know what's going on with me over the next few weeks
so that you can print a schedule and follow me if you'd like. Not as if
you don't have enough to do... (smile). I haven't done this is awhile.
I'll try not to bombard you with too much information, but I just wanted
to let you know what I'm up to in this new year.

I was once told someone that my movies only appeal to black people and no
one else. Now, I know that's not true. I know that even though I write
from an African-American experience and most of the time I have an all
African-American cast, that doesn't mean that other people from other
walks of life can't relate. I think that any human being who goes through
what we all go through can relate to my films (I saw "Slumdog Millionaire"
and loved it and I'm not Indian). I know and remember that when I'm
writing. But when this person said that to me they also said Europeans
would never relate, and that sat in my spirit. So I decided to come to
Europe to find out for myself because I always thought that my work was
universal.

Monday I started in Rome, and then on to Madrid, and will end this weekend
in London. So far all of us seem to be pretty much the same...(smile). We
love to laugh, we all have problems, we all want love, and we all have a
church in every country. And since these are the things I usually write
about, I don't see how that statement can be true. Do you? Hit the message
board and let me know what you think about this, and tell me where you're
from when you do, okay?

Here's my schedule and a few things that are going on:

I get back on Saturday, January 17th, just in time for the BET Honors
award show in which I am being honored. I think it airs February 9th. Now,
they don't know what they are doing bringing me to D.C. to the Warner
Theatre, my home away from home. You know I'm coming to have a good time,
don't you?

On February 12th, I will be hosting the NAACP Image Awards with Halle
Berry. Isn't that crazy? HOUSE OF PAYNE has been nominated for 4 awards, Alfre Woodard for THE FAMILY THAT PREYS and Angela Bassett for MEET THE BROWNS (the movie). It's going to be a fun night! On February 20th, MADEA GOES TO JAIL (the movie) comes out nationwide. Also MEET THE BROWNS (the sitcom) is on TBS every Wednesday. So if you missed it last week check it out this week. You'll see how funny it is. And it's funny at a time when we need to laugh.

And don't forget that Essence Magazine is on the shelves.

I'll talk to you later.

T.P.