Happy Birthday Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup!!

The Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup is ONE YEAR old and guess what? I didn't realize it until I got a message from Meetup. I started this group to bring together women who have Sisterlocks and other tool-assisted locks. I wanted an informal way for those researching sisterlocks and long-time sisterlocks wearers to meet, share their journeys, swap products and tips, and also to spread the word for their consultants.
The year has flown by so fast and we now have 153 Lye-free and locked up gals. It's been such a great way to meet other natural sisters. It's amazing how it's come along.

Meetup Jan 31:
We had a wonderful meetup last weekend, but since I had forgotten the anniversary I didn't mention it. We met at Lattetude - a cosy coffee bistro in Decatur. ( Many thanks to my client Ronke, who suggested it). I give the venue a big thumbs up.
A lot of new members turned out and it was informative and fun. Thanks everyone. We missed those who couldn't make it and we must celebrate our anniversary next month. Look at Sophia's blog for extra photos. There are a few more on the Meetup site too, in the photos file. The photos taken on my iphone came out so badly as the light was poor.


On Meetups:
FYI: Meetup is a great way to get people together. For those of you in other cities and states looking for fellowship with like-minded natural sisters and who don't have a group, why don't you start your own? You can start a meetup about everything under the sun.
Here is some info from their website.
"Meetup is the world's largest network of local groups. Meetup makes it easy for anyone to organize a local group or find one of the thousands already meeting up face-to-face. More than 2,000 groups get together in local communities each day, each one with the goal of improving themselves or their communities.
Meetup's mission is to revitalize local community and help people around the world self-organize. Meetup believes that people can change their personal world, or the whole world, by organizing themselves into groups that are powerful enough to make a difference.

Dialogue In The Dark - Are We "Blinded" By Sight?

- The only way to learn is by encounter



This Thanksgiving weekend was made even more special (aside from my sister and her
family's presence) by our visit to an unusual exhibition called Dialogue In the Dark at Atlantic Station in midtown Atlanta.

The hour long experience offers the public "an experience that can change mindsets on disability and diversity, and increase tolerance."

Blind guides lead visitors in small groups through different settings in total darkness where they learn how to interact without sight by using their other senses.

At the beginning of the exhibit - after removing anything that could emit light like watches and cellphones - our small group was taken into a room where we sat on lighted cubes on the floor. We had been given canes and a brief lesson on how to use them. Then the light in the cubes was gradually dimmed until we were left in pitch black and the exhibition began.

We went through a garden where we could hear birdsong, touch grass and plants. We went to a store where we felt bread and coconuts and other produce. During the city scene we heard cars and experienced crossing a street with a cane - it was an unnerving and disorienting experience.

But the amazing thing was that the guides - who were blind - would make sure we were all together and safe. They encouraged us along.

It was as though they could see.

The final room was a bar. We bought drinks in the dark. Before we went in they told us: take only two $1 bills. You hand over the money in the dark and are given change. If we hadn't had the single bills there is no way we could know what money to give.

My mother is blind and it helped me to see that blind people can enjoy themselves. One sense is cut but you have four others. I got a heightened awareness of sound, touch and the other senses. I never knew what the bar looked like but I felt the counter and saw the seats we were sitting on in my mind. If anything, I got a sense of peace.

At the beginning of the exhibition it was frightening, but by the end I felt kinship with the other people in our group and new found respect for the guides.

Even so, being blind is hard.

At the end of the "Dialogue" you go into a transition room where the lights come on gradually. It was good to see the light again. The hour had flown past but it was unforgettable.

NEWSFLASH:My Sisterlocks Client In The Atlanta Journal Constitution

I still haven't come down from the clouds after last week's amazing elections.
Well, I was going through my keepsake copy of the AJC the day after the elections when what do you know? There was a quote from one of my latest client's Lakieshia taken from her at Ebenezer Baptist on election night.
"We want to be here to to see history in the making. I mean being here is much bigger than watching it on TV," she said.
Well I was so excited that I put the paper down, called her up and asked was that you? It sure was!!! Yay!! Wish they had had her photo as well. Check out her blog for her progress. She comes for her first retightening on Friday. And she's loving her Sisterlocks.

Contemplating Short Sisterlocks

 

For a while I've been contemplating cutting my Sisterlocks short or even starting again. Why? A bit of frustration with its current length and general dissatisfaction with the way its responding to color and self retightenings. Seeing recently-installed clients Miss A (pictured with me in the top photo) and Jabreka(bottom photos) rocking their short Sisterlocks with pride, gives me added incentive. Jabreka actually got herself a fade cut in between her follow-up retightening and first retightening. Hey presto! I was like...wait a minute? You've shaved off hours of my careful work? However her new look is fierce although we needed a 7 hr session to reinstall all the unravelling.
Hmm....check back and see what I decide to do.
Psst: Our next Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup is on coloring Sisterlocks. Don't miss it.

 

 

Stone Mountain Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup

We had a great time Saturday evening, our third Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup at Stone Mountain Park. The weather was hot and steamy, but the lovely breeze at the top made it worthwhile. We chatted and joked as we went up. My kids went along as did Angela's. (mentioned in the post just before this). My hubby who always acts as photographer, came along too and had a blast.We all voted to do it again soon. Big thanks to Sophia, Onyxcherry and Angela. Sophia and Charanor, who look like sisters, according to my daughter, have attended every single meetup to date and Angela has only missed one. We missed everyone who couldn't make it, but know that this weekend was a big one for graduation ceremonies, weddings and the like. Note Tele in the last photo (on the left). He's due to have his long-awaited brotherlocks installed next week, first week of the summer holidays, as promised. I'll be sure to update with his photos. Don't our Sisterlocks look great blowing in the breeze? - and of course, we didn't have to worry about spoiling our do's. Lovely!

 

We had Our Second Meetup

The Atlanta Sisterlocks Meetup had its second meetup yesterday chez moi. We had eight in attendence, much smaller than anticipated from the rsvps, but we had a good time sharing and talking about our Sisterlocks journeys.
I'm always amazed at how no set of Sisterlocks looks alike. We discussed differences and similarities and swapped products tips and experiences.
Thanks so much to all who came. It's a special thrill to meet bloggers Sophia, Onyxcherry and Docsblogs in person for the second time. Check out their blogs for more photos.