9-10-2024 4:05am

"I AM: Proud"--Writer Aressa V. Williams Shares Precious Memories

Lesley Misko Editor

Ed.: As part of Studio B Art Gallery's "I AM: Proud" project, local writers and artists were encouraged to respond to the theme.

by Aressa V. Williams*

Christmas Birthday Conundrum

Christmas birthdays are like Sweet Tarts. A joyous time to celebrate the birth of Christ and at the same time disappointing because of unfulfilled birthday expectations. In my teens, if I wanted a navy carcoat, matching handbag and shoes, or a purple empire waist dress, Santa did not bring them. Mother made me wait until December 26 to shop for after Christmas bargains. What difference would one more day make if we could buy three dresses on sale instead of one full-priced? I pouted, but she was right. Despite roller coaster feelings about my Christmas Birthday, four memorable celebrations bring a smile.

First, I never had a bakery cake with my name spelled out until my eleventh birthday. Safeway pound cake with no frosting, no happy birthday, no name was our holiday dessert. On Christmas Eve, my oldest sister, Yoma, bought me a birthday cake from Federal Bakery known for its lavish wedding cakes. “Happy Birthday Verdell” in green letters with red candy poinsettias. Proud, giddy, I showed my cake to family, friends, whoever came to the house. I did not cut my birthday gift until the day after Christmas. I couldn’t stop looking at “Verdell” spelled out on the perfect cake.

Next, a friend’s mother taught me a kind practice that I continue today. On my thirteenth birthday, Ricky Williams invited Beverly, his girlfriend, and me to Christmas dinner. His mother ushered us in from frigid weather and offered hot chocolate. Beverly told her that today was my birthday. Mrs. Williams had never met anyone born on Christmas Day. She hugged me, disappeared upstairs, returned with a small gift with a red satin bow. It was a pair of winter white gloves that just happened to match my wool hat. Ricky’s mother made me feel special. After I thanked Mrs. Williams, she said smiling, “At Christmas, I always buy a few extra gifts because you never know.”

Anthony, my boyfriend, and I shared our sweet sixteen surprise birthday party. His birthday was three days before mine. We were going to Christmas dinner at his sister’s house. Tommy, Anthony’s brother, drove us slowly on ice laden roads in their father’s blue Bonneville. When the door with a huge Holly wreath opened, everyone shouted “SURPRISE, Verdell and Anthony”! Family and friends carefully planned a holiday dinner party for both of us. We had separate birthday cakes, savory turkey dinner, refreshing lime sherbet punch. How could family and friends pull off this gala without either one of us knowing? Our sweet sixteen surprise party left Anthony and I feeling like royalty.

Finally, the depth and breadth of friendship made my twenty-first surprise birthday party most memorable. Temperature 19 degrees, streets frozen like an ice-skating rink, snow higher than a fire hydrant. My boyfriend at the time, smooth Donny, was comfortable driving his Volkswagen in bad weather. We went to a Bullet’s basketball game early Christmas evening. After the game, Donny suggested we visit my girlfriend, Harriette, for a glass of Lambrusco to toast my birthday. The Howard U in-crowd, neighborhood friends, my brothers sang “Happy Birthday” to me when I stepped in Harriette’s door! Through Artic conditions to far Southeast, ride-or-die companions carpooled to honor my twenty-first birthday. The best gift of all, their sacrifice.

Ten Dollar Cabaret

Hot pink cocktail dress for tonight

You in your Cavalier’s gray suit

Drive to Knights of Columbus Hall

Cabaret time and band salute

BYOL, free cokes, ice, chips

Our party spread fight for a king

Deviled eggs, fried chicken, salad

Throw down while the “Diplomats” sing

Well-matched dancers turn it out

Loud music rocks the crowded floor

Fun friends sit sipping rum and coke

Then find a spot to slow-drag more

Early years we took for granted

We had high energy full blast

Happy, healthy, young dreamers

Didn’t the good times roll too fast!?

* Aressa V. Williams, a retired Professor of English, is also a creative writer. An active member of Pen in Hand, Poetry X Hunger, Poetry Nation, Aressa is also a Prince Georges County Literary Leader and The Write Women’s poet laureate. The message-maker has published Soft Shadows, The Penny Finder, and Pancakes & Chocolate Milk. She believes poetry is a word-snapshot. Aressa is the proud mother of Aaron Coley and grateful grandmother of Dr. Aressa Coley.

***
Studio B has published 10 anthologies of poetry, prose, and art from local writers and artists in which other samples of Aressa's writing can be found. Copies are available through Amazon and Lulu Press. Further details can be found on studiobbb.org.