Dena Tyson Fans

What's goin on everybody...

Man-o-man I wanna tell you my conference at the Chicago Black Womens Expo yesterday was just AWESOME!! Speaking on the panel for Women Who Survived the "Burning Coals" was phenominal. I met with so many other outstanding courageous women and feel truly honered and blessed to be able to share my story with them as well as the people in the audience. I felt that everyone walked away motivated and inspired. I looked out into the audience as I spoke and could see it in everyone's faces. They were all as excited to be there as we were to speak with them. My heart goes out to so many people that I know who have been able to over come their circumstances and those out there right now that are still trying. I say to you hang in there... never lose hope... and never stop believing in yourself and the heavens above. You are worthy, God loves you and I love you as well.

Can y'all tell I'm still pumped up from yesterday? lol 

I had a chance to meet with Doug Banks, one of my favorite radio personalities over at V103, he was just the nicest person and I signed a copy of Black Beans 'N Rice for him to read. I met his beautiful wife and kids. I had to ask his wife what the heck she was feeding Doug because he was so big! lol I was like... "gurl what 'chu feedin Doug...?" She laughed. I had a chance to meet and speak with Rudy from the station as well, crazy funny guy. lol I guess you could say the fun started for us as soon as I pulled into the parking garage because the parking lady at the booth was awesome and so helpful getting me squared away. She shared her story with me as well as her words of encouragement.

Like I said it was a great day and an even greater event! I will be hitting the road again soon as I continue to promote my new release Black Beans 'N Rice but y'all help me out on this end and be sure and pass the word on. Tell your friends, family, lovers and ex-lovers, and even cousin Pookey 'nem to get they copy of the book! (and yes I meant "they") Don't be sharing the book/passing it around especially if I signed it for you. Help a sistah out... ok?

You all take it easy be safe out there and I'll talk again soon!

Much Love,

~Dena

Such a talented genius. As I think back to a time in my life when I was much younger, a pre-teen in fact, back in Memphis. The buzz around town was quite interesting because the Jackson Five were in Tennessee and actually in my neighborhood. We had seen them on television earlier that day talking about a show they were doing and later that evening I got wind that they were going to be at the Southgate Shopping Center. I lived within walking distance and told my dad and we all piled into the big tan striped Winnebago aka. Camper and headed for the shopping center.

Oooo... I cannot tell you how excited I was as my father drove in anticipation of seeing them up close and personal. Honey I thought I was sumthin else you hear me? I was in the back of the camper lookin outta that window grinning like bucky beaver hoping to meet the Jackson Five!

We get to the shopping center and so many others had already arrived.

As my dad pulled into the parking lot there they were? The Jackson Five, on top of the roof waving at everyone that was standing in the lot. My dad didn?t park the camper immediately instead he paused and he and my mom laughed at the way myself and all of the other people were carrying on. They only stayed on the roof for about 10 minutes and then they disappeared. My dad drove around back of the shopping center and no one was back there at all except a limo that eased out of the lot. I knew they were in there, they had to be right?? Well as the limo drove away some of the crowd made their way to where we were and someone yelled? ?there they are inside the camper? and everyone ran toward us! I couldn?t believe it and my dad drove off as fast as he could because we were being bombarded by these people? the same folks we had just seen moments before in the front of the lot!! A few people ran behind that camper for at least a few blocks finally giving up. We laughed about that much later on but I remember that as if it were yesterday.

Michael I thank you for inspiring me back then that like yourself I could reach higher than I could ever imagine and achieve my god given talent and dream. I thank you for all of the memories both then and now, as I continue my journey through life.

Michael you will truly be missed. Our thoughts and prayers to your famly.

~Dena

I woke up about 2:30 this morning; I was having a bad dream and couldn’t get back to sleep. I guess I was too overstuffed from the dinner we had.

Since I couldn’t sleep I turned on the t.v. and lied on my stomach with my eyes closed and listened, hoping I’d soon dose off.

So this program I was listening to, (and this is my interpretation) was all about the booty, one of those infomercials. They were talkin ‘bout these jeans and how they gave them a “sho-nuff booty” ok…?

Now I ain’t tryin ‘ta say we got the fix on booty alright, so don’t be getting all mad and stuff. Speaking of my other sisters out there and you know I got much love for you, y’all done come a long way since you’ve been workin out and stuff. Throw some collard greens and cornbread in the mix with a few neck bones and you’ll be good ‘ta go …so stay cool.

They had a few women talkin ‘bout what they had on and how their jeans made them look like they had nuthin goin on in the rear. Then I heard the woman say “go and try these on and see how you feel.” After a few seconds they would come back grinning and cheesing about how great they felt and too excited about the booty. Y’all know what I was laying there thinking right…? So they went on and on, couldn’t talk about it enough.

I never looked up still I just kept lying there on my tummy with my eyes shut and listened. The next voice I heard was a sistah talkin ‘bout how upset she was with her current jeans and how they did nothing for her. Said she needed something that would accent her assets. (like I said, my interpretation)

Now you know you don’t even have to look at a person to be able to tell what they look like sometimes, and I knew just by listening to her she had plenty booty. The way she spoke about it just cracked me up though. I was saying to myself, goan and make that money gurl, easy money, sell it, ok…? Then she went and put the jeans on. She came back popping her lips grinning like buckey beaver and said “ooooo… I never looked like this before, I love it… shootz I look good… I got a booty and it really shows.” Y’all know I had to turn over and get my glasses so I could see what the deal was with these jeans.

First of all …dem jeans did not give her all that booty she had back there. OMG I was crackin up! She couldn’t stop posing and turning and when she turned around I noticed something a little different. They were showing pics of before and after and comparing the pics with the others and how they made them look and I realized the back pockets on her jeans were up to her waist, where as the pockets on the other girl’s jeans was raised but not quite as high.

Lawd ham-mercy I fell out laughing!! She done told the secret! The trick to the jeans is this… “pocket placement” you place the pockets high on a non-booty and you got the illusion of booty, you place the pockets high on existing booty and the backka ‘yo jeans looks like two eyebrows raised in the “huh...?” position . -- Oh my goodness I was crackin up! Every time she turned around her booty was like “ … huh, we on camera?” lol, lol, lol

Needless to say I really couldn’t get back to sleep and today I am pretty tired. My work never stops and I gotta get back to it!

Take it easy people, make the most of your day.

~Holla!

So we made big plans to try and do this thing the way we wanted to do it, the two of us. We eloped and headed for Las Vegas. 

The night before,  we sat up laughing and talking in anticipation of our day and I even had myself a glass of wine.  Y'all know I don't drink so that knocked me out before I could even finish the glass. 

I knew how beautiful I was going to look.  My dress was non-traditional... short, just below the knee.  It was silk at the top with spaghetti straps, and tapered at the waist, the rest was lace layered all the way down.  The final piece was a little lace jacket that stopped at the waist ,short sleeved and buttoned down the back with little pearl buttons.  I imagined my hair and make-up, I was perfect.

The next morning... the day of our wedding the phone rang.  There we were lying across the bed knocked out cold.  We whudd't worth two dead flies, you hear me!  I answered the phone and it was the limo driver and the call went something like this...

"Hello...?"

"Good morning... this is the limo driver?"

"Yes, good morning how are you?"

"... uhm, are you still getting married?"

"Oh yes of course?"  (thinking to myself what is wrong with this fool?)

"Well the wedding is at 9:00 and I'm suppose to take you to the courthouse to get your license first, I've been down stairs waiting for you and thought I'd give you a call."

"Well what time is it now...?"

"9:00..."

"Ok we're on our way right now." My first thought was (oh shit..!!!!) but y'all know I didn't say that right? 

We jumped outta bed, threw some water on ourselves in the shower we took together, (was there soap...?  I can't remember...) he gargled, I think I may have grabbed the wrong toothbrush, we quickly got into our clothes, that dress... that beautiful dress was just a blurr... and the lace jacket I carried  in my hand along with my make-up bag I held as we got inside the limo.

Who knew the day that I hoped and dreamed of would wind up in the back seat of a limo trying to put on my make-up as I leaned into the curves of the road ('cuz he drove like a speed racer to make our day happen) and fluff my un-curled hair from the mirror of my compact.

Who knew that once we made it to the chapel the bouquet I carried was purchased on the fly and the same little guy that took our wedding pics would serve as our witness, as well as the pastor that performed the ceremony would be named "Pastor Love" from the "Church of Truth"

Most importantly who knew the day we said "I Do" in the Candlelight Wedding Chapel would mean 20 years when we had never even known each other until 3 months before... 

I certainly couldn't have written this any better myself if it weren't true. 

Here's to many more crazy years to come!

Holla  

To all of our men and women who have served this country

 and many of you still...  you are not forgotten.

I Salute You!

Thanks for being some of my biggest fans

"Continue to Greatness!"

Always my best to you and your families

~Dena