Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela is 88 years old today. I know that readers would expect to see a picture of Mandela based on the title of this post. No disrespect. Personally, I could sketch Mandela from memory because I've seen his picture and image so many times. So, I decided to post a picture of my lovely wife instead. Besides, she's a native daughter of South Africa and she represents Mr. Mandela well in his philosophy and struggle. So, happy birthday to you Mr. Mandela. May God bless you and allow you to see many more.

Also, check out Blackprof.com for a wonderful tribute to Mandela. Kgotso!

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your wife is lovely and I can tell that her spirit is just as beautiful!

If there is one African leader that I truly admire past or present, it is Nelson Mandela. He is someone that I look up to and I admire and believe in his philosophies. Thanks for posting this!

Stephen A. Bess said...

ubfly-
Yes, a truly great man! Thanks for fluttering by and leaving that wonderful comment. :)

Ananda said...

beautiful photo of your beloved wife. i love how you changed the texture. very cool. and happy b-day mr. mandala. thanks for hipping me to this special man of peace's b-day. paz, ananda

Anonymous said...

Hi Stephen!

He is truely a man to be admired and honored in any and all ways possible! Thanks for the info on his b-day.

You wife is SO beautiful, and the pic is cool with "texture" look to the colors. You never stop impressing me with your pics!

Stephen A. Bess said...

ananda-
Thank you! I pass along the compliment.

faith-
Hello! I hope that things are well. Thanks for the compliment. How is life treating you (school, work, etc.)?

Anonymous said...

Hi Stephen,
Life is ok. Busy, but good. I am off of school for the summer. But working 2 jobs instead... Things are actually looking up, my Dad's health problems are NOT heart related! (he is a 75 year old man who has been smoking for at least 50 years) they actually think it is just his gullbladder. So, they have to do a couple of more tests and then if the conclude that is the issue, they will take it out and he will be good as new again. :) I am keeping my fingers crossed! We are extremely relieved to know the Dr's agree with us that he has a good heart!

So, how are things in DC? Work, family etc?

Stephen A. Bess said...

faith-
I'm really happy to hear about your father!! That's great. I did pray for him and hoped that things would go well. That was quick! See, God does answer prayers. Your prayers and mine. :)
Life is going well here in DC. I'm just trying to elevate to the next level while staying grounded. My wife is fine and home life is wonderful. Thanks for asking and have a great evening. Stay cool.

the prisoner's wife said...

lovely, lovely.

Anonymous said...

Your wife exhibits a sense of calm and royalty about her, ya know!!? The kinda woman most brothas are afraid of:) She is very beautiful, you got good taste bro!! Thank you for being such a great example of "Love" to all your audience. It goes without saying what she means to you, it's a beautiful thing indeed.

Mrs Bess, your bill is in the mail :)

Groupies!! ***wink***

Another Conflict Theorist said...

Peace Stephen,

Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela, indeed! I have to agree with the others: lovely pic of your wife.

ACT

Stephen A. Bess said...

pwife-
thank you, thank you. :)

act-
Thank you and hello!

tryphina-
Thank you for your sweet and kind words. I'll pass on the info, but hey...you're my only "groupie." lol! :)

Xave said...

Aaaah, so this is wifey. [huge grin] I know exactly what you mean. And of course happy birthday Mandela!

Dance_Soul said...

She is beautiful - very nice way to capture the spirit of S. Africa. Our asst. pastor is S. African and often prays in zulu. I've also studied - gumboot dance.
Back to you being in college with the Different World cast - Dag - you old Bess. :)

Uaridi said...

I agree with everyone else, wifey (sis)is lovely. A nephew shares the day with Mr Mandela so I cannot forget the day or the man.

Thank you very much for your support and prayers. As you can see, I am beginning to unfreeze.

Have a good day

Stephen A. Bess said...

xavier-
Yeah, that's my little chocolate eclair from juniors. [big, big grin]. Thanks

dance-
Haa haa! Yeah, I'm getting up there and my birthday is next month on the 13th so I'll be even older. I can't wait to be an interesting old man. :)I'll pass the compliment on to my wife. Thanks! She sometimes prays in her language too and people at church thinks that she's speaking in tongues. *smile*

Stephen A. Bess said...

uaridi-
I'm so glad to see you. You're such a sweet lady. I'll pass that compliment on to my wife. I'm happy to see that the healing has started. Blessings~

Anonymous said...

Amen! God certainly does. And thank you for the prayers! In times like that, you cannot have enough prayers for your loved ones! You know it is funny how you can never meet someone, but feel like you know them... like I do with you. (Obviously I do not know everything about you, but I feel like I know you) The power of the written word...

Glad to hear that things are good with you and your BEAUTIFUL wife! Here we are cooling off again! THANK YOU GOD! And as I write, we are getting HUGE thunderstorms outside. it is black as night... we need the rain SO bad though. I hope they get it up in a place called the Boundry Waters area. (Up at the Canada/MN border) they are fighting MAJOR wildfires up there, and the rain would help a lot. I do not know if you are familiar with the Boundry Waters or not, but it is a place that is ALL natural. No motorboats allowed on the lakes, no cabins in most areas, no cars are allowed nothing that is not natural. I have never been there, but I it is GORGEOUS, you take your canoe and camp and nothing but nature. Often you do not even see another person. NO cell phones, no electricity, no running water... no nice to get back to nature for awhile... so hopefully they will get some rain to put out the fires. I cannot help but think of all the poor animals... :(

I hope you cool off out there soon as well. Sorry this got so long! Have a great day!

Bougie Black Boy said...

wonderful pic... hope thigns are going well. hope to see you this weekend

Anonymous said...

Morena, boloka sechaba sa heso,
U felise lintoa le mats'oenyeho,
U se boloke, U se boloke,
U se boloke, morena,
Sechaba sa heso,
Sechaba sa heso.

This is the Sesotho part of the South African national anthem. In Lesotho we sang this bit as kids, because in fact we referred to Africa as a whole. We did not know, at the time, that it would eventually be part of somebody's national anthem. The meaning is vital. It is an African prayer that I chant now, as I wish ntate Mandela a happy birthday.

Happy birthday to Madiba.

Ananda said...

Thank you Rethabile for that information and the song ... I always learn so much on the SBess Educational Blog Channel. Paz all, Ananda

Stephen A. Bess said...

faith-
write until your hearts content. :)Amen sista.

bougie-
hope to see you soon.

rethabile-
Thanks for that. Always a pleasure.

ananda-
Haa haa! That's proof that I must return to the classroom. Thanks! :)

NML/Natalie said...

Happy birthday Mr Mandela. What a gorgeous wife you have! Thank you for sharing - she has great bone structure.

Anonymous said...

All Basotho have "great bone structure."

Shaggy said...

Wow, Bess with this one you have hit a home run and outdone yourself once again. Truly a class act and a great message. Your Wife is lucky to have you.

Now I see the African connection, bloods trully thicker than water.

Keep well bro...

Stephen A. Bess said...

nml-
She does have lovely bones, but the actual flesh had me mesmerized. :)

rethabile-
Amen, brother.

muse-
Hello and thanks

brojero-
Thanks man! I wish that more of us in the Americas, Caribbean and Africa could see that "African Connection." Tribalism is keeping us apart. Peace~

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