Starting Your Dreams Later In Life and Embracing the Detour

Jenee Darden speaking at Creative Mornings I know it's been a while since I've posted anything but that's because of my job. I'm working as a reporter covering Oakland and I host an arts segment on the radio where I get to interview amazing artists from around the Bay Area. Plus I'm publicizing my book  and building my speaking career!  You know what's funny? I thought this would all happen by the time I was 27-30.  Nope. That wasn't God's plan for me. I'm finally beginning to do the things I've wanted to do and I'm almost 40 years old. Some people reading this who are 40 will say 40 is still young. But some younger people reading may think 40 is nearly ancient. But I'm writing this post for those who like me, thought their career and personal dreams would come true much early in life. I'm here to tell you not to give up.  You know, death inspires life. A number of my relatives and friends have passed away, ranging in
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Sensual Saturday
Donna Summer, Love to Love You Baby




For the entire month of November I'm bringing you my Black Women &  Sexual Empowerment series. Follow at #BlackWomenSexuality.

I miss Donna Summer. The Queen of Disco died from cancer at 63 in 2012. I'm sure there are people my age and a little older that are in this world because someone's mama or daddy danced all sexy to some of her music, especially her 1975 hit "Love to Love You Baby."

Critics and prudes considered "Love to Love You Baby"lewd and racy back then because of the steamy lyrics about laying next to her lover combined with Summer making orgasmic sounds. I read her boyfriend and Marilyn Monroe inspired those heavy, juicy sounds. You can hear Summer simulate more than 20 orgasmic ahhhhhs and oooohs in the 17-minute hit song
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From her New York Times obituary:

"She said she recorded that song’s breathy, moaning vocals lying on her back on the studio floor with the lights out, thinking about how Marilyn Monroe might coo its words...But she was increasingly uncomfortable being promoted as a sex goddess. “I’m not just sex, sex, sex,” she told Ebony magazine in 1977. 'I would never want to be a one-dimensional person like that.'"

Summer later became a born again Christian and reportedly stopped performing the song. I still like it. And I can understand her not wanting to be one-dimensional. Sexuality is one part of womanhood. That's why we can be mothers, white or blue collar professionals, friends, church volunteers, artists, students or just that lady who wants to chill on the couch in her sweats. We can be all of that and still let our sex kitten out to play. Sexuality is part of womanhood and Donna Summer made that part sound reaaalll good in this song. 



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