Cruisin On Desperation. Pat G'Orge-Walker

      KENSINGTON BOOKS

       http://www.kensingtonbooks.com

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      Some are called, others just show up!

      And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

      —1 Corinthians 12:28

      I give all my love, praise, and honor to my Heavenly Father, the beginning and ending of my faith.

      To my husband, Robert, I can never thank you or show you enough love for your generous love and support. When the chemo and the stem-cell transplant to treat your multiple myeloma should’ve left you weak, you always summoned the strength to encourage me to go on. Continue the good fight.

      I thank my children, Gizel, Ingrid, and Marisa. My precious jewels, Kecia, Desean, Jerome, Nyasia, Shareef, Donald, Gary Jr., Denzel, Maya, Aniyah, Brian, Shyheim, Jada, Sharday, and India, and my future granddaughter-in-law, Patrice Edwards. To my remaining siblings, remain firm. Aunts Ovella and Mildred and Uncle Elbert, God bless and keep you.

      My eldest daughter, Jah Queen Gizel, I thank you for your beautiful poem. From wisdom and experience, you’ve told us to Just Get Over It.

      Ms. BerNadette Stanis (Thelma/Good Times), I so appreciate your support, and I can’t wait to work with you. Ms. Dawn Carter, Producer, Fox Pictures, I thank you.

      New York Times bestselling author Zane, Essence bestselling authors Tia McCollors, Stacy Hawkins-Adams, Angela Benson, and Jacquelin Thomas, I thank you and appreciate your comments and support.

      To my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Bobby Mackey, God bless you for putting up with me. You’re still as pretty inside and out now as you were then. Your continued support is amazing.

      I give a special, heartfelt thank you to Karen Thomas, who followed her heart in 2003. Sister Betty and I will always be grateful to you, Latoya Smith, Jessica McClain, and the entire Dafina family.

      My new editor, Selena James…Hang on, we’re about to fly. Robin Caldwell, who edited tirelessly, I thank you. Content editor Monica Harris, I thank you.

      To my pillars of constant support, Jacqueline Thomas and Tracy Price-Thompson, thank you.

      My agent, Renee Byrd and Vanessa Morman along with the entire Sheba Media Group; a thank you is barely enough.

      I thank one of the other hardest working women in the business, besides me, Ms. Vickie Winans. I’m still shaking loose during every performance.

      Maurice Gray, author, thank you for the “Oh Lawd, Why Am I Still Single?” singles group.

      Thank you to my attorney, Christopher R. Whent, Esq., my pastor, Reverend Stella Mercardo, and the Blanche Memorial Baptist Church family.

      I give thanks to my first church, which remains my love, St. Paul’s Tabernacle, as well as Bishop John and Lady Laura Smith. Thank you.

      To Bishop Noel Jones (Fresh Oil), I love and admire you so much. To the Reverends John and Diana Cherry (From the Heart Church Ministries), you’ve taught me to hold fast and not compromise and I thank you for that.

      To Tyler Perry, who could’ve known how well known Madea, Sister Betty, and Ma Cile would become? I certainly didn’t. I offer a big thank-you for finally knocking down doors and taking those hits for the comedy ministry teams that came before and will follow after.

      I give a special thank-you to my lifelong friend, Akia Shangia. I applaud you. I feel it is a privilege and an honor to have known you for over forty years. I will continue to support the enormous task that you and Sister to Sister International, Inc., have undertaken to ensure the collection and distribution of Maama Kits throughout Africa to eradicate neonatal fatalities.

      In addition, thank you to the Depend Company, for your dedication to helping millions of men and women who suffer from the embarrassing but curable affliction of incontinence.

      Finally, to the many book clubs and bookstores; my readers; the radio, print, and television media; the many churches, libraries and organizations; and so many others too numerous to mention, I thank you for your continuous support. It is always appreciated and very much necessary for my comedy and writing ministry. For those I’ve not mentioned, please blame it on the head and not the heart.

      For more information regarding Akia Shangai and Sister to Sister International, Inc.’s efforts in eradicating infant mortality in Africa, please visit: www.stsi.org

      Please log onto www.depend.com for more information regarding incontinence. You don’t have to suffer with its embarrassing effects.

      Please log onto www.mskcc.org (the Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Medical Center) to learn more about multiple myeloma and other cancers. Please remember to give blood because there is never enough. There is also information regarding using your own blood for its stem cells.

      For Pat G’Orge-Walker, log on to: www.sisterbetty.com, www.myspace.com/sisterbettycomedy, or www.cruisin-on-desperation.com.

      The same day I wrote my acknowledgments, my husband learned that he was in remission. He’d only been given a year to live and didn’t God just show out!!!

      I give all praises to God.

      Desperation…Just Get Over It Needy’s Lament by Jah Queen Gizel

      Just get over it. Just get over it!

      You mean all the mistakes I’ve made and all the times I’ve been played?

      You mean to tell me I’m supposed to just get over it?

      All those relationships where I sacrificed everything, even my dignity.

      All the times people smiled in my face and behind my back, they talked and told lies about me, am I supposed to…just get over it?

      Speaking of back, I’m sick, I’m tired, and I’m desperate, so when can I get my life back? I’ve tried almost everything to be free.

      Just get over it. Four simple words were the key. Desperation left when I discovered truth…just getting over it will keep life from getting all over me, and truth be told…

      YOU NEED TO JUST GET OVER IT, TOO.

      Contents

      Prologue

      Chapter 1

      Chapter 2

      Chapter 3

      Chapter 4

      Chapter 5

      Chapter 6

      Chapter 7

      Chapter 8

      Chapter 9

      Chapter 10

      Chapter 11

      Chapter 12

      Chapter 13

      Chapter